Revision: Dec. 11, 2025, 4:10 p.m.
HB 1716-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-3028
12/08
HOUSE BILL 1716-FN
AN ACT relative to the academic accountability of education freedom accounts.
SPONSORS: Rep. Bricchi, Merr. 15; Rep. Fellows, Graf. 8; Rep. M. Hall, Merr. 9; Rep. Kluger, Hills. 6; Rep. O'Rorke, Ches. 7; Rep. Weinstein, Rock. 10
COMMITTEE: Education Policy and Administration
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires that records of educational attainment for students participating in the education freedom account program be reported to the department of education. The bill also directs the division of learner support within the department of education to develop a rubric for educational attainment portfolios and to compile data obtained from all records of educational attainment.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
26-3028
12/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to the academic accountability of education freedom accounts.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Education Freedom Accounts; Application Approval; Educational Attainment Records. Amend RSA 194-F:3, III(d)(3) to read as follows:
(3) To provide an annual record of educational attainment by:
(A) Having the student take a nationally-standardized, norm-referenced achievement test and to provide the results to the scholarship organization by the end of each school year which the scholarship organization shall [make available] report to the department as aggregate scores; or
(B) Having the student take the statewide student assessment test pursuant to RSA 193-C:6 and to provide the results to the scholarship organization by no later than the end of each school year which the scholarship organization shall report to the department; or
(C) Maintaining a portfolio which conforms to the rubric established by the department in RSA 21-N:6, X which includes [including,] but is not limited to, a log which designates by title the reading materials used; samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials used or developed by the student. The parent shall have a certified teacher [or a teacher currently teaching in a nonpublic school], who is selected by the parent, evaluate the student's educational progress upon review of a portfolio and discussion with the parent or student. Upon completion of the evaluation and discussion, the certified teacher shall report their evaluation to the department.
2 Department of Education; Division of Learner Support; Duties. Amend RSA 21-N:6, X to read as follows:
X. Administering the provisions of RSA 193-C relative to the statewide educational improvement and assessment program.
(1) The division of learner support shall develop and maintain a rubric to be used for the evaluation of portfolios pursuant to RSA 194-F:3, III(d)(3)(C), which shall include but is not limited to assessment of sources of learning, evidence of subject area competency, mastery of knowledge and skills learned, and evidence of reflection of learning outcomes. The rubric shall be published annually.
(2) Upon receipt of a report required by RSA 194-F:3, III(d)(3), the division of learner support shall analyze and compile all data from such reports to determine academic proficiency rates amongst pupils participating in the educational freedom account program. Such data shall be compiled based on graduation rate, grade level, gender, race, and differentiated aid categories.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
26-3028
12/10/25
HB 1716-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to the academic accountability of education freedom accounts.
FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | $427,000 | $342,000 | $357,000 | ||
Funding Source(s) | General Fund | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires that records of educational attainment for students participating in the education freedom account (EFA) program be reported to the Department of Education. This bill also requires a rubric be developed and maintained by the Department and published annually. The Department would analyze and compile the data from all these various reports to determine academic proficiency rates of EFA pupils and compile data based on graduation rate, grade level, gender, race and differentiated aid categories. The Department states it would need three (3) new positions (program specialist III, SOC 13-05, step 5) to meet the requirements of this bill at an estimated cost of $327,000 in FY 2027, $342,000 in FY 2028, and $357,000 in FY 2029 (this bill provides neither authorization nor appropriation for new personnel). In addition, the Department estimates a one-time cost in FY 2027 of $100,000 to upgrade data systems to collect data required by this bill.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Education