This bill mandates the Department of Education to revise the statewide academic standards every ten years, starting in June 2026. The new legal language inserted into RSA 193-E:2-a includes a requirement for the department to review and potentially revise the academic standards for English/language arts, mathematics, and science, ensuring they meet high-quality criteria that emphasize rigor, clarity, and relevance. Additionally, the bill introduces a new subparagraph that requires the department to provide a list of high-quality curriculum and instructional materials aligned with the revised standards, as well as to revise the statewide education improvement and assessment program to align with these new standards.

The bill also includes an appropriation of $1 for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2027, and June 30, 2028, to support the development and implementation of the revised standards. However, the fiscal note indicates that the actual costs of implementing these revisions will be significantly higher, with estimated expenditures of $1.3 million in FY 2027 and between $625,000 to $725,000 in FY 2028. The Department of Education will need to engage in extensive stakeholder participation, coordinate standards revision committees, and contract with subject-matter experts to ensure the successful implementation of the new standards and curriculum materials.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 193-E:2-a
As Amended by the House: 193-E:2-a
HB1571 text: 193-E:2-a