A New Hampshire Citizen s Guide to the State s Minimum Standards for Public Schools

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1 to raise new ideas and improve policy debates through quality information and analysis on issues shaping New Hampshire s future. One Eagle Square Suite 510 Concord, NH (603) Fax: (603) Board of Directors Martin L. Gross, Chair John B. Andrews Cotton M. Cleveland John D. Crosier Todd I. Selig Donna Sytek Georgie A. Thomas James E. Tibbetts Kimon S. Zachos A New Hampshire Citizen s Guide to the State s Minimum Standards for Public Schools Minimum standards are the rules of the State of New Hampshire that must be met by a school in order to be approved for student attendance and state funds. There are additional laws and rules outside of the minimum standards that schools must follow governing areas such as school building regulations, statewide assessment, health services, teacher certification, and special education, to name a few. In addition to these minimum standards, the state also recommends curriculum frameworks for certain grade levels and subjects that correspond with required state accountability standards. This citizen s guide summarizes the current minimum standards for school approval under Chapter Ed 300 part 306 of the New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules. The full minimum standards are significantly more detailed and may be found at: I. School Year and School Day A school year must contain no fewer than 180 days of instruction. An additional 10 days must be set aside to accommodate teacher training, staff development, parent conferences or snow days. ( ) The elementary school day must be 6 hours long with at least 5¼ hours devoted to instructional time. The middle, junior high, and high school day must be 6 hours long with at least 5½ hours devoted to instructional time. To be counted as a full day during emergencies, a day must consist of at least 3½ hours of instructional time at the elementary and middle school level and 4 hours in higher levels. (306.04) Co-Executive Directors Douglas E. Hall (603) doughall@nhpolicy.org Richard A. Minard, Jr. (603) rminard@nhpolicy.org Half-days must contain at least 3 hours of instructional time. School districts may request approval by the Department of Education for alternative calendar and day schedules. (306.05) II. Maximum Class Sizes Maximum class size for grades K-2 is 25 students; for grades 3-12, 30 students. Certain situations such as study halls or assemblies can exceed these class-size requirements. (306.16)

2 NH Citizen s Guide to School Standards August III. Staff and Staff Qualifications Schools must have a principal, library media specialist, and teachers. Elementary schools must have a reading specialist. Schools with 500 or more students must have an assistant principal. Elementary schools must have one full-time guidance counselor per 500 students. Higher levels must have one full-time guidance counselor per 300 students. Each staff member must be certified for his/her assignment by the Department of Education. Staff must improve content knowledge and skills through participation in a local staff development plan. (306.17) IV. Curriculum Requirements for Elementary Schools Elementary schools are defined as having grades from K-8. Kindergarten is optional. Each elementary school must have a broad and well-balanced curriculum. Required subject areas are: arts education; computer education; English language arts and reading; health education; mathematics; physical education; science; and social studies. How much instructional time is devoted to each subject is up to the local school board. ( ) V. Curriculum Requirements for Middle Schools/Junior High Schools Middle Schools are defined as having any combination of grades 4-8. Junior High is any combination of grades 7-9. While the program requirements for these schools are essentially the same, there are some minor differences. Required subject areas for middle schools are: arts education; music; computer education; family and consumer science; English language arts and reading; health education; industrial arts/technology; mathematics; physical education; science; and social studies. How much instructional time is devoted to each subject is up to the local school board. The school can decide the scheduling pattern to meet those requirements. Required subject areas for junior high schools (with minimum yearly clock times) are: arts education (40 hrs.); music (40 hrs.); computer education; family and consumer science (35 hrs.); English language arts and reading (120 hrs.); health education (40 hrs.); industrial arts/technology (35 hrs.); mathematics (120 hrs.); physical education (35 hrs.); science (120 hrs.); social studies (120 hrs.). Schools can decide the class scheduling pattern to meet these minimum time requirements. However, for art, music, health education, physical education, family and consumer science, and industrial arts/technology, the Department of Education will consider whether the yearly requirement is met where it is doubled and distributed over a twoyear period. Grade 9 must comply with high school curriculum requirements. (306.22) VI. Minimum High School Course Offerings High schools with fewer than 300 students must provide course offerings totaling no fewer than 43¾ units of credits and high schools of more than 300 students must offer one additional foreign language credit. One unit of credit must consist of no fewer than 135 hours of instructional time for schools on an eight-period schedule and no less than 150 hours for schools on a seven-period schedule.

3 NH Citizen s Guide to School Standards August High schools must offer arts education (3 units, including 1 unit each in visual art and music); business education (5 units, including 3 in business communication, 1 numeric/clerical; 1 basic business economics); computer education (1/2 unit); family and consumer science (3 units); foreign language (4 units in at least one language if fewer than 300 students but 5 units in at least two different languages if more than 300 students); health education (1/4 unit, including topics of physiology, hygiene, substance abuse, venereal disease, AIDS, and nutrition); industrial arts/technology (4 units, including 1 unit in energy, materials, and visual technology areas); English (6 units, distributed across two general content areas); mathematics (6 units, including 1 unit each in introduction to high school math, elementary algebra, geometry, intermediate algebra; and advanced math); physical education (2 units); science (5 units, including the areas of physical science, biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science); social studies (5 units, including 1 unit of either sociology, psychology, anthropology, political science or philosophy; 1 unit composed of national and state history; ½ unit in basic business and economics; and 2½ units composed of either geography, economics, world history, or global studies). (306.23) High schools must offer a vocational program locally or regionally that provides experiences leading to licensure and/or certification for entry level careers and further education and training. The vocational program must also meet applicable safety standards. (306.38) VII. Minimum Credits Required for Graduation High schools may require more than 19¾ units for graduation but may not require fewer. Minimum units required for graduation must be no less than: arts education - ½ unit; computer education - ½ unit; English - 4 units; mathematics - 2 units; physical sciences - 1 unit; biological sciences - 1 unit; US and NH history and government 1 unit; basic business & economic education - ½ unit; social studies elective - 1 unit; physical education - 1 unit; health education - ¼ unit; open electives 7 units. No more than three credits may be earned via correspondence and distance learning. Schools may allow for credits earned via alternative educational experiences outside of formal school programs. Students must carry a minimum of 4 units per year with modifications allowed under certain circumstances. School boards may adopt early graduation policies as long as they meet all state and local requirements. (306.23) VIII. Co-Curricular Programs Middle/junior and high schools must offer a co-curricular program that provides opportunities for students to participate in activities which supplement academics, such as sports, clubs, performing groups, and community service. ( ) IX. Student Assessment A school s assessment program must include the following elements: consultative assistance for teachers in selecting, using, and interpreting age-appropriate student diagnostic and assessment tools; a process for collecting and analyzing information and test data to identify needs and to evaluate the educational program and instruction; periodic student assessment through formative and summative/objective instruments; participation in a statewide assessment program with reporting to local constituencies; and procedures for using assessment results to identify opportunities for improvement, to make improvements, and to measure accountability. (306.19)

4 NH Citizen s Guide to School Standards August X. School Facilities Schools must be clean, healthy, and safe and must comply with specific space requirements for areas such as classrooms or bathroom facilities. Schools must meet all local, state, and federal fire, health, safety, and accessibility laws, rules, regulations, and requirements and maintain corresponding compliance documents. (306.06) (Chapter 305 addresses building construction requirements.) XI. Ancillary Services Local school boards must ensure that schools have custodial and maintenance services which include daily cleanings and regular maintenance. (306.07) Schools must have secretarial services to maintain all school records in accordance with local policy, and state and federal laws, rules, and regulations. (306.08) Schools must make a meal available during school hours. (306.12) Schools must have trained personnel to do health inspections, treat minor injuries and make referrals to health agencies. (306.13) Schools must provide for guidance services including the delivery of career, occupational and educational information; student appraisal and placement; and identification of students in need of special services, including suicide prevention and psychiatric referrals. (306.14) High school guidance must include college counseling and career counseling. (306.24) Schools must provide a developmentally appropriate collection of instructional technology resources supportive to the curriculum and instructional student needs; the necessary equipment and technology; designated spaces for accessing these resources; and instruction in the retrieval and utilization of these resources. (306.15) XII. Policies and Procedures School boards must obtain up-to-date education laws and the Board of Education Code of Administrative Rules. Schools must comply with all these laws and rules. (306.09) School boards must adopt and implement written policies and procedures relative to absenteeism and attendance; safety; discipline; records retention; character and citizenship; and meeting instructional needs of each student with different talents. (306.10) Schools must have a written philosophy and statement of goals and objectives. These must be consistent with the state board of education and reviewed at least every 5 years. (306.11) Schools must have written policies and procedures for dealing with immediate emergency care for students/staff injured or ill during school hours or activities and for meeting the special physical health needs of students. (306.13) Schools must develop and implement a written plan for guidance and counseling programs to meet student developmental, educational, and career needs. (306.14)

5 NH Citizen s Guide to School Standards August Schools must have a written plan for developing and updating the library and technology collection based on student and user needs that establishes priorities for acquiring material, for weeding and replacing outdated items, and for cataloguing, organizing, and managing the collection. (306.15) Schools must have a policy for assigning incoming students; a policy on homework that also explains its relation to grades; a plan for recording student progress in meeting program objectives; a policy for promoting students from one grade level to another; materials and resources that are matched to student skill levels; and a policy for awarding credits for required and elective subjects. (306.18) Middle/junior/high schools must have an instructional program with procedures for diagnosing learner needs, evaluating student outcomes, and providing remedial instruction. (306.22) XIII. Alternative Compliance School boards may request approval by the commissioner of education of alternative methods of compliance with the minimum standards. (306.39) About this paper This guide was written by Mary Krueger, research assistant to the NH Center for Public Policy Studies, in July The Center has produced this report with funds donated by individuals, foundations, and businesses around New Hampshire. The Center s supporters do not necessarily endorse, nor has the Center asked them to endorse, any aspect of this report. This paper, like all of the Center s published work, is in the public domain and may be reproduced without permission. Indeed, the Center welcomes individuals and groups efforts to expand the paper s circulation. Copies are also available at no charge on the Center s web site: Contact the Center at info@nhpolicy.org; or call Write to: NHCPPS, 1 Eagle Square, Suite 510, Concord NH 03301

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