Bill Text - HB1236 (2022)

Relative to the legislative oversight committee for the education improvement and assessment program.


Revision: Nov. 18, 2021, 3:10 p.m.

HB 1236  - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2022 SESSION

22-2508

10/08

 

HOUSE BILL 1236

 

AN ACT relative to the legislative oversight committee for the education improvement and assessment program.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Ladd, Graf. 4; Rep. Cordelli, Carr. 4

 

COMMITTEE: Education

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill reestablishes the legislative oversight committee for the education improvement and assessment program.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

22-2508

10/08

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two

 

AN ACT relative to the legislative oversight committee for the education improvement and assessment program.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  New Section; Education Improvement and Assessment; Legislative Oversight Committee.  Amend RSA 193-C by inserting after section 8 the following new section:

193-C:8-a Legislative Oversight Committee.

I.  An oversight committee shall be established consisting of:

(a)  The chairperson of the house committee with jurisdiction over education matters, or a designee.

(b)  The chairperson of the senate committee with jurisdiction over education matters, or a designee.

(c)  One member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(d)  One member of the senate, appointed by the senate president.

(e)  One member of the house finance committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(f)  One member of the senate finance committee, appointed by the senate president.

II.  The legislative oversight committee shall

(a)  Review the development and implementation of the school performance and accountability program set forth in RSA 193-H to ensure compliance with state and federal law.  Implementation of the program shall be in conjunction with the committee's review.

(b)  Review the provisions of RSA 193-H and submit a report of such review annually to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the governor, and the chairpersons of the house and senate education committees.

(c)  Propose legislation that is needed as a result of the review of the progress and results of the policies implemented under this chapter and under RSA 193-H, including any changes necessitated by federal law.

(d)  Confer with the commissioner and the state board of education to identify operational principle's which should guide the work of the department of education in supporting improved school performance and accountability.

(e)  Analyze existing department of education programs and initiatives which support improved school performance and accountability.

(f)  Receive reports from the commissioner regarding the status of public education in New Hampshire, updates on the improvement made by local school districts toward achieving satisfactory progress in statewide student performance under RSA 193-H:2 and status reports on the on-going issues and implications of school accountability at the state and federal level.  Reports by the commissioner shall occur at least once annually or more frequently as needed, as determined by the committee and the commissioner.

(g)  Review and approve statewide performance targets required under RSA 193-H:2 developed by the department of education and recommended to the legislative oversight committee by the state board of education.

(h)  Receive reports from the state board of education including rules recommended by the department to be adopted by the state board of education under RSA 541-A relative to statewide performance targets required under RSA 193-H:2.  The legislative oversight committee shall propose legislation to be submitted to establish such statewide performance targets in state statute during the legislative session following the approval of any recommendations which the state board of education is required to make.

(i)  Review the unique pupil identification system established in RSA 193-E:5 and propose legislation needed as a result of the review.

(j)  Review the implementation and results of the program relative to accountability for the opportunity for an adequate education established in RSA 193-E, consult and receive reports on such program, evaluate and review existing and emergent performance-based measurement tools, and propose legislation for improvements to the accountability program, as necessary.

(k)  Receive security breach reports from the department of education pursuant to RSA 189:66, consult with the commissioner of the department of information technology, and propose legislation needed as a result of the review.

(l)  Review and make recommendations relating to academic standards under consideration by the state board of education pursuant to RSA 193-E:2-a, IV(c).

2  Performance-Based Accountability System; References Added.  Amend RSA 193-E:3-c to read as follows:

193-E:3-c  Performance-Based Accountability System.

I.  At least every 4 years the commissioner shall review the performance-based accountability system and make recommendations for future legislation to the legislative oversight committee established in RSA 193-C:8-a.

II.  The department shall have the following duties:

(a)  Implement the performance-based accountability system to be used by schools that will ensure that the opportunity for an adequate education is maintained.

(b)  Identify performance criteria and measurements.

(c)  Establish performance goals and the relative weights assigned to those goals.

(d)  Establish the basis, taking into account the totality of the performance measurements, for determining whether the opportunity for an adequate education exists, which may include the assignment of a value for performance on each measurement.

(e)  Ensure the integrity, accuracy, and validity of the performance methodology as a means of establishing that a school provided the opportunity for an adequate education as defined in RSA 193-E:2-a.

III.  The performance-based accountability system shall be based on data and indicators aligned to the New Hampshire consolidated state plan, as required by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 20 U.S.C. section 6301 et seq. as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act.  This plan shall be approved by the legislative oversight committee established in RSA 193-C:8-a.  

IV.  The commissioner shall submit a report of its findings with recommendations for future legislation for the performance-based accountability system to the legislative oversight committee established in RSA 193-C:8-a.  After the report is approved by the legislative oversight committee, the commissioner shall submit the report to the chairpersons of the house and senate education committees, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate president, the governor, the house clerk, and the senate clerk.

V.  The department shall annually prepare a detailed report documenting the results of each school on the performance-based school accountability system to be developed pursuant to this section, and identifying all schools that can demonstrate the opportunity for an adequate education through the performance-based methodology.  The report shall be submitted no later than January 15 annually to the same individuals receiving the final report under paragraph IV.

3  New Subparagraph; Adequate Education; Minimum Standards; Review by Legislative Oversight Committee.  Amend RSA 193-E:2-a, IV by inserting after subparagraph (b) the following new subparagraph:

(c)  The state board shall not amend any existing academic standards and shall not approve any new academic standards without the prior review and recommendation of the legislative oversight committee established in RSA 193-C:8-a.

4  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.