Education (Curriculum)

HB 1307 establishes a 11-member commission to study developing a statewide civics curriculum for New Hampshire public schools. The commission includes educators (elementary, middle, and high school teachers), student representatives, state officials (like the Secretary of State and Education Commissioner), and legislative appointees. It will create a curriculum framework aligned with educational standards, design teacher training programs, and submit recommendations to the state education department and legislature by November 1, 2026. This bill directly affects public school teachers and students by initiating a formal process to enhance civics education, though it does not mandate curriculum changes itself.

HB 1077 requires New Hampshire public schools to include domestic violence prevention education within the existing health, physical education, and wellness curriculum for all students. It amends state law to explicitly mandate that school boards teach this topic alongside other health subjects like substance abuse prevention and HIV education. The bill directly affects all K-12 pupils in New Hampshire public schools by adding this specific content to required classroom instruction. This policy change focuses on integrating prevention education into standard health curricula without altering other existing requirements.

HB 1815 defines what constitutes an "adequate education" for New Hampshire public schools by specifying 11 required learning areas: English/language arts, math, science, social studies (including Holocaust education), arts, world languages, health/wellness, physical education, technology/engineering, personal finance, and computer science. It directly affects all public elementary and secondary schools in New Hampshire by mandating these subjects as core components of the state's definition of adequate education. The bill revises state law to replace previous standards with this detailed list of required content areas. It does not address funding mechanisms or budget allocations, focusing solely on curriculum requirements.

HB 1212 establishes a 18-member commission to review draft rules for minimum standards in public school approval and state academic standards before they are submitted to the New Hampshire state board of education or legislature. The commission includes representatives from school administrators, principals, curriculum specialists, teachers (elementary, middle, and high school), and a competency-based education expert, appointed through specific educational organizations. It requires the commission to provide written recommendations within 120 days of receiving draft rules, ensuring reviews incorporate competency-based education principles, research-based practices, and accountability measures outlined in existing law. This bill directly affects the New Hampshire Department of Education and state board of education when developing or revising school standards.

HB 1493 requires all New Hampshire public school districts to incorporate a specific, scientifically accurate video into health education curricula. The video must demonstrate the gestational development of the heart, brain, and other vital organs during embryonic and fetal stages. This applies to all students in the health curriculum, with the requirement effective September 1, 2026. The bill mandates that the video be age-appropriate and medically verified, but does not specify which video or impose direct costs on schools.

HB 1571 requires New Hampshire's Department of Education to review statewide academic standards for English/language arts, math, and science every 10 years, beginning in June 2026. The review must align standards with rigor, clarity, and relevance, incorporating input from students, parents, and educators. School districts must select new curriculum materials from a department-approved list based on the revised standards. The bill appropriates $1 for fiscal years 2027 and 2028 to fund this process.

HB 1545 defines "evidence-based" in education as teaching methods validated through reproducible, well-designed studies across disciplines, excluding subjective measures like surveys. It requires all public education methods in New Hampshire - such as classroom pedagogy, teacher training, and school policies - to meet this standard, with teacher preparation programs in colleges having three years to comply. The Department of Education will review these programs, impose penalties for non-compliance (including fines up to $5,000 or loss of accreditation), and mandate data collection for limited two-year pilot programs. The bill explicitly excludes curriculum content itself from the requirement and mandates clear disclaimers when the "evidence-based" term is misused.