Schedule for Week of April 2, 2018

Two of our important school choice bills have action this week. The first, HB 1744, a bill that empowers families with the ability to refuse their children’s participation in statewide assessments, has a public hearing in the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday, April 3rd at 9:30am. Read more below. And SB 193, the Education Savings Account (ESA) bill, has a work session in the House Finance Committee Division II on Wednesday, April 4th at 10:00am. We understand they will introduce another amendment, what is expected to be the final version. It is very important to reach out to the committee and your state resps about these bills as we expect the committees may move very quickly now.

Below is the upcoming schedule for the next couple weeks; we include our analysis and recommendations for priority bills. As a courtesy, we list additional bills, meetings, and events relevant to education issues.


OVERVIEW

Public hearings are the best opportunity to communicate with committee members and share your opinion. The Legislative Office Building (LOB) is located immediately behind the State House at 33 N. State Street in Concord. For Senate hearings, sign the white sheet on a side table just inside the door to indicate your support or opposition for a bill, and if you intend to speak. The protocol is a little different in the House. The public may sign the blue sheet near the room entrance to indicate support or opposition to any bill; fill out a pink card if you intend to speak. If possible, provide written copies for each member plus the committee secretary. Generally, committee chairmen limit remarks to three minutes or less. Personal stories are most effective. If you are unable to attend hearings, email the committee, or better yet, call members individually and indicate if you are a constituent.

Bills may have an executive session at any time after the public hearing. This is when the committee discusses and votes on legislation; it is very influential when the entire chamber votes. Consequently, prompt action on legislation is highly recommended.

Once bills are exec’d, they are usually scheduled for a vote by the entire chamber soon after. This is when all members of the NH House or Senate will vote YEA (to support the committee’s recommendation) or NAY (to oppose the recommendation). Contact your legislators before the session day with brief, polite messages and mention you are a constituent.

Education committee members’ contact information is at the end of the article. For other committees, their group email addresses are in the analysis.


SCHEDULE

TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2018: SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, ROOM 103, LOB

Public hearings for the following bills

9:00 a.m. HB 1598-L, relative to the vote to withdraw from a cooperative school district.

9:10 a.m. HB 1612, relative to data security in schools.

9:20 a.m. HB 1674, relative to computer science and digital skills required for an adequate education.

9:30 a.m. *** HB 1744, authorizing a parent to exempt his or her child from participating in the statewide assessment program.

Position – SUPPORT the bill

Information – This bill has had three rounds before: HB 276 (2017) that died in the Senate, as well as HB 1338 (2016) and HB 603 (2015) that were vetoed by Gov. Hassan. This bill will break the stranglehold on our students and teachers. This bill is in response to increasing demand from parents to refuse their children’s participation in mandatory testing, including the statewide assessments that are aligned with College and Career Readiness Standards (aka Common Core). There are many reasons why parents may wish to have their children not participate in the statewide assessment. Given that these tests have no academic or diagnostic value, many parents believe them to be a waste of valuable instructional time. This bill addresses documented instances of NH students being harassed and punished for non-participation. The bill is consistent with existing NH DOE policies, the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), and US Supreme Court rulings. Even the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) acknowledges that parents may refuse their children’s participation in statewide assessments. Unions also oppose using them to evaluate teachers. Unfortunately, federal ESSA only recognizes refusals if state law allows them; this bill will do exactly that. Again, accountability should be to parents, not politicians. This bill empowers parents to direct their children’s education within the public-school system. Also diminishing the hyper-testing mechanisms of Common Core will encourage educational options and variety. Read more at End Testing’s Stranglehold and Children are More Than Test Scores. For information about how to refuse your child’s participation in statewide assessments, read Testing Time.

9:40 a.m. HB 1761, relative to the math learning communities program in secondary schools.

 

TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2018: HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, ROOM 207, LOB

Public hearing for the following bill

10:00 a.m. SB 357, relative to safe school zones and relative to syringe service programs.

 

WEDSDAY, APRIL 4, 2018: SENATE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, STATE HOUSE ROOM 100

Public hearing for the following bill

9:10 a.m. HB 1686-FN, relative to applications for and the use of education tax credits.

Position – Support the bills

Information – This is a reasonable and modest expansion of the existing tax-credit education law. It allows individuals to declare donations against their taxes. It also allows businesses and individuals to declare contributions against their tax on interest and dividends.

 

WEDSDAY, APRIL 4, 2018: HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE DIV II, LOB 210-211

Work session on the following bill

10:00 a.m.  *** SB 193, establishing education freedom savings accounts for students.

Position – Support the bill

Information — The House Finance Committee will hold another work session on Wednesday, April 4th when they are expected to introduce another amendment. ESAs are the next step in educational options for children across the Granite State. All students, regardless of their zip code and income level, deserve the opportunity for an education that fits their unique needs and goals. Even if 5% of eligible students participate in the ESA program – that is more than double the utilization seen in other states with ESAs – districts will retain roughly 99% of current funding, including all local money and federal grants. This is not a hardship to districts and they are compensated for children they no longer have a responsibility to educate. As a state we have an obligation to fund each child’s education, not one possible provider of that education. We would rather focus on people instead of systems and buildings. Even if the committee severely restricts eligibility, each child’s education and future matters. If the ESA can only help a few hundred children, it is still a big impact on their individual lives and the program can grow in the future. Additional articles about ESAs regarding the financial impact, constitutionality, and effect on NH families are available in ESA Articles.

This is the critical time to encourage the committee to keep eligibility as broad as possible. Supporters can send a note to their state representatives and House Finance members in support of ESAs with this easy email form. If you want to compose your own message, we developed tips and information; resources with links can be found in Contact Legislators re ESAs. Additional articles about ESAs regarding the financial impact, constitutionality, and effect on NH families are available in ESA Articles. Please take a few minutes to email the committee asking them to support SB 193; their email is HouseFinanceCommittee@leg.state.nh.us.

 

THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2018: HOME EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL (HEAC)

3:30 p.m.  Department of Education, Londergan Hall, 101 Pleasant Street, Concord

Their schedule and minutes are available here. The original meeting for March 8th is postponed to April 12th. Read about the council’s recent activity at Opportunity for HEAC to Prove Its Value, Slow Progress for HEAC and Educational Neglect Bill, What is HEAC’s Purpose, and Is HEAC Ignoring Rules.


CONTACT LEGISLATORS

Brief phone calls are most effective, but personalized emails directed to an individual are also helpful; mention you are a constituent.

To find your Representatives, go to “Who’s My Legislator?” Brief and polite phone calls and emails are effective, especially if you mention you are a constituent. Mass emails are far less effective, but the email for all Reps is hreps@leg.state.nh.us.

To find your NH senator, and his or her contact information, refer to the senate’s roster page, or you can email all of them at senators@leg.state.nh.us.

To contact the Senate Education Committee, email or call them directly. Members of senate committees do not have a shared email address.

2022 Legislation of Interest

LSR #Prime SponsorAdditional SponsorsTitle
2022-2047Brodie DeshaiesPatrick Long, Linda Massimilla, Dan Wolf, Bonnie Ham, James Allardrequiring parents of public school students to submit a survey when electing an education freedom account
2022-2103Linda TannerSherry Frost, Stephen Woodcock, Jaci Grote, Sue Mullenrelative to the state board of education rules for credit for alternative, extended learning, and work-based programs
2022-2145Sallie Fellowsrequiring a performance audit of the department of education, education freedom account program
2022-2147Timothy LangJason Osborne, Kevin Avard, Michael Moffett, Howard Pearl, Bob Greene, Michael Yakubovich, Judy Aron, Gregg Hough, Aidan Ankarbergrelative to driver education
2022-2166Bill BoydDavid Watters, John Reagan, Rick Ladd, Glenn Cordelli, Mark McLean, James Spillane, Michael Moffett, Kevin Vervillerelative to the definition of a child with a disability for purposes of special education
2022-2172Maureen MooneySharon Carson, Kenneth Weyler, Jeanine Notter, Ruth Ward, Robert Healeyrelative to notice to a chartered public school of a special education services meeting
2022-2178Maureen Mooneyrelative to the provision of special education services by chartered public schools
2022-2342Glenn CordelliCarol McGuire, Jason Osborne, Gregory Hill, Michael Moffett, Alicia Lekas, Tony Piemonte, Deborah Hobsonrelative to eligibility for the education tax credit
2022-2371Marjorie PorterMarjorie Smith, Paul Berch, Mel Myler, Linda Tanner, Mary Heath, Patricia Cornell, Jay Kahn, Stephen Woodcock, Arthur Ellison, Sue Mullen, Suzanne Prentissrelative to the source of funds for education freedom accounts
2022-2376Glenn Cordellirelative to special education services for children in chartered public schools
2022-2407Bonnie Hamrequiring the department of education to administer the education freedom account program
2022-2411Bonnie HamBrodie Deshaiesrelative to verification of eligible students under the education freedom account program
2022-2416Bonnie HamBrodie Deshaiesrelative to funds of the education freedom account program after termination of a student's participation and responsibilities of the scholarship organization
2022-2515Erica Layonrelative to student participation in the education freedom accounts program and relative to administration of the program
2022-2519Patricia CornellRobert Renny Cushing, Marjorie Porter, Mary Heath, Arthur Ellison, Sue Mullenrelative to participation in the education freedom accounts program by students with disabilities
2022-2543Erica Layonrelative to requirements for home education students
2022-2651Susan Almyrelative to driver education and the driver training fund
2022-2739Sue MullenMarjorie Porter, Mel Myler, Mary Heath, Patricia Cornell, Stephen Woodcock, Arthur Ellison, Catherin Rombeaurelative to education service providers under the education freedom accounts program
2022-2757Linda Tannerrelative to unique pupil identification for pupils in the education freedom accounts program
2022-2774David Luneaurelative to eligibility criteria for education freedom accounts
2022-2775David Luneaurelative to misuse of education freedom account funds
2022-2776David LuneauMarjorie Smith, Richard Amesrelative to liability as taxable income of education freedom account payments
2022-2777David Luneaurelative to transfers of adequate education grants under the education freedom account program
2022-2778David Luneaurepealing the education freedom account program
2022-2779David Luneauauthorizing any taxpayer to initiate a private cause of action for misuse or fraud involving education freedom account funds
2022-2780David Luneaulimiting education freedom account funding to budgeted amounts
2022-2782David Luneaurequiring the scholarship organization to refer suspected cases of misuse of funds or fraud in the education freedom account program to the attorney general
2022-2811Patricia CornellRobert Renny Cushing, Mel Myler, Mary Heath, Arthur Ellison, Sue Mullenrelative to record of educational attainment under the educational freedom account program
2022-2812Patricia CornellMarjorie Porter, Suzanne Vail, Mary Heath, Constance Van Houten, Sue Mullenrelative to education service providers under the education freedom account program
2022-2814Alicia Lekasrelative to student eligibility under the education freedom account program
2022-2818Gregory HillKenneth Weyler, Rick Ladd, Glenn Cordelliestablishing an education freedom account program administrator in the department of education and making an appropriation therefor
2022-2834Marjorie PorterMel Myler, Stephen Woodcock, Arthur Ellison, Sue Mullenprohibiting the department of education and the state board of education from directing or limiting school instructional options, such as remote learning
2022-2853David Wattersrelative to dual and concurrent enrollment for career technical education center students
2022-2921Jay Kahnrelative to the authority to offer multiple education instruction options
2022-2978Jay KahnLou D'Allesandro, David Watters, Donna Soucy, Kevin Cavanaugh, Tom Sherman, Cindy Rosenwald, Suzanne Prentiss, Rebecca Whitley, Rebecca Perkins Kwokarepealing the education freedom account program
2022-2999Tom ShermanLou D'Allesandro, David Watters, Donna Soucy, Marjorie Smith, Mel Myler, David Luneau, Jay Kahn, Kevin Cavanaugh, Cindy Rosenwald, Suzanne Prentiss, Rebecca Whitley, Rebecca Perkins Kwokarelative to participation in the education freedom account program

 

To contact the entire House Education Committee, you may send one email to HouseEducationCommittee@leg.state.nh.us. At the bottom we’ve supplied a list of the committee members’ emails for an easy copy/paste.

2021 Home Education Enrollment

Participating Agencies20212020201920182017
Public Districts3,8425,8092,9523,0052,865
NH DOE1058431210
Private Schools23821702350
TOTAL4,1856,1102,9553,2522,875
Home education data provided by the NH DOE.

 

ladd.nhhouse@charter.net

terry.wolf@leg.state.nh.us

beshaw3@comcast.net

glenn.cordelli@leg.state.nh.us

bob.elliott@leg.state.nh.us

carolyn.halstead@leg.state.nh.us

Mel.Myler@leg.state.nh.us

patricia.cornell@leg.state.nh.us

jimgreniersullivan7@gmail.com

josh.moore@leg.state.nh.us

Mary.Heath@leg.state.nh.us

David.Doherty@leg.state.nh.us

joe@joepitre.com

patchessul@comcast.net

Wayne.Burton@leg.state.nh.us

linda.tanner@leg.state.nh.us

Mary.Gile@leg.state.nh.us

 

Send a note to your state representatives and House Finance members in support of ESAs with this easy email form. If you want to compose your own message, we developed tips and information; resources with links can be found in Contact Legislators re ESAs.

To contact the entire House Finance Committee, you may send one email to HouseFinanceCommittee@leg.state.nh.us. Below is the list of the members’ contact information as well as a simplified email list for an easy copy/paste.

[table “7” not found /]

 

rep03281@aol.com

lynne.ober@comcast.net

kweyler@aol.com

timothy.twombly@leg.state.nh.us

tracy.emerick@leg.state.nh.us

erin.hennessey@leg.state.nh.us

Maryjane.Wallner@leg.state.nh.us

msmithpen@aol.com

Tom.Buco@leg.state.nh.us

bobwalsh2@comcast.net

karen.umberger@leg.state.nh.us

frank.byron@leg.state.nh.us

peterjspanos@gmail.com

Sharon.Nordgren@leg.state.nh.us

Cindy.Rosenwald@leg.state.nh.us

William.Hatch@leg.state.nh.us

Patricia.Lovejoy@leg.state.nh.us

robert.theberge@leg.state.nh.us

bedrep7@gmail.com

Rep.Bates@live.com

nhlpm@myfairpoint.net

Daniel.Eaton@leg.state.nh.us

prleishman@aol.com

Katherine.Rogers@leg.state.nh.us

andrew.renzullo@leg.state.nh.us