HB 671-FN-A - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0534
02/11
HOUSE BILL 671-FN-A
AN ACT establishing a kindergarten literacy readiness program.
SPONSORS: Rep. M. Pearson, Rock. 34; Rep. Cordelli, Carr. 7; Rep. Wheeler, Hills. 33; Sen. Long, Dist 20; Sen. Lang, Dist 2
COMMITTEE: Education Policy and Administration
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a kindergarten literacy readiness program to provide early childhood literacy and increase kindergarten readiness among children in the state.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0534
02/11
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT establishing a kindergarten literacy readiness program.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Kindergarten Literacy Readiness Program. Amend RSA 186 by inserting after section 70 the following new section:
186:71 Kindergarten Literacy Readiness Program.
I. There is established a kindergarten literacy readiness program to provide early childhood literacy and increase kindergarten readiness among children in New Hampshire by offering an innovative, evidence-based early literacy program for children 4 and 5 years old not yet enrolled in kindergarten.
II. The kindergarten literacy readiness program is a statewide program that uses a home-based or center-based educational technology program and family engagement to develop school readiness skills of preschool children delivering age-appropriate readiness preparation in reading, math, and science.
III. Definitions.
(a) Department" is the New Hampshire department of education.
(b) "Preschool Child" is a child who is a 4- or 5-years old who is not enrolled in kindergarten.
(c) "Home-based" means an educational program provided to children in a home setting, including but not limited to home-based childcare, preschool, or other early childhood education programs conducted in a residential setting.
(d) "Center-based" means an educational program provided to children in a childcare kindergarten literacy readiness program.
(e) "Kindergarten literacy readiness program" is a statewide nonprofit digital program provided in a home-based or center-based setting developing school readiness skills of preschool children.
(f) “Educational technology provider” is a registered non-profit organization that shall:
(1) Provide individualized software instruction for preschool children in a home-based or center-based environment, including providing technical support to families or childcare centers for the installation and operation of the instructional software; and
(2) Conduct a randomized controlled trial that supports the efficacy of the program for preschool children, including at least one that meets tier 1 benchmarks under the US Department of Education Every Student Succeeds Act for evidence-based programs for use with prekindergarten students.
(g) “Family” means a preschool child and the preschool child’s legal guardian or guardians.
IV. The New Hampshire department of health and human services shall notify any approved applicants for either the Financial Assistance to Needy Families Program (FANF) or the Women, Infants & Children Nutrition Program (WIC) of the availability of the Adaptive Kindergarten Readiness Program if the applicant indicates that he or she has at least one child who would qualify based upon age.
V. The department shall, subject to the extent funds are appropriated, provide the kindergarten readiness literacy program to the preschoolers in the state.
VI. Each year, the kindergarten literacy readiness program shall make an annual report to the governor, speaker of the house and president of the senate. The report shall include but not be limited to the following information:
(a) The number of families participating in the program;
(b) The number of children participating in the program;
(c) The number of children who receive computers, tablets, or other electronic or peripheral equipment, and Internet service;
(d) The number of private preschool providers and public preschool providers participating in the program;
(e) The frequency of use of the instructional software;
(f) The obstacles encountered with software usage, hardware, or providing technical assistance to families;
(g) The assessment of the readiness progress of the children when they enter the program and when they complete the program; and
(h) The comparison of the student performance of the kindergarten assessments conducted by school districts and charter schools for students who participated in the kindergarten readiness literacy program and those who did not participate in the program.
2 Appropriation. The amount of $1 is appropriated to the department of education to fund the kindergarten literary readiness program pursuant to this act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant from the general fund for any sum not otherwise appropriated. These funds shall be nonlapsing.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.
25-0534
2/10/25
HB 671-FN-A- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT establishing a kindergarten literacy readiness program.
FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding.
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | NHED Costs $600,000 per year
DHHS Costs $63,500 in FY 2026 and $25,500 in FY 2027 and FY 2028 | ||||
Funding Source(s) | General Funds, Federal Funds | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $1 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill establishes a kindergarten literacy readiness program, to be administered by the Department of Education (NHED). This bill requires NHED, to the extent that funds are appropriated, to provide the kindergarten literacy readiness program to New Hampshire preschoolers (defined as 4- or 5-year-olds, not enrolled in kindergarten). This bill appropriates $1 to NHED. Based on the implementation of a similar program, NHED states it would cost, at a minimum, $600,000 per year to operate the kindergarten literacy readiness program through a contract with an outside vendor. This does not include any related NHED staff costs (estimate of such costs have not been provided).
This bill also requires the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to notify approved applicants of Financial Assistance to Needy Families (FANF) program or the Women Infants and Children (WIC) program of the availability of the kindergarten literacy readiness program if the household reports that they have at least one child that is either four or five years of age. DHHS states it will have costs of approximately $38,000 in the first year to make system changes and $25,500 each year related to notification costs (staff time, mailings, training costs, etc). DHHS estimates its total cost would be $63,500 in FY 2026 ($38,100 from general funds and $25,400 from federal funds), and $25,500 (all general funds) in FY 2027 and beyond.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 10, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 12, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 12, 2025 | House | Floor Vote |
Feb. 25, 2025: Division II Work Session: 03/07/2025 09:00 am LOB 209
Feb. 20, 2025: Referred to Finance 02/20/2025 HJ 6
Feb. 20, 2025: Ought to Pass: MA VV 02/20/2025 HJ 6
Feb. 12, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass 02/12/2025 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 12 P. 5
Feb. 5, 2025: Executive Session: 02/12/2025 09:30 am LOB 205-207
Feb. 5, 2025: Public Hearing: 02/10/2025 09:30 am LOB 205-207
Jan. 21, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Education Policy and Administration HJ 3 P. 22