New Hampshire
Center for School Reform
Newsletter Update
May
21, 2004
We are pleased to bring attention to New Hampshire's
progress.
Please direct inquiries to Susan Hollins, Ph.D. (susan@nhschoolreform.org)
NEW HAMPSHIRE APPROVES 2
MORE CHARTER SCHOOLS
Two impressive charter schools were approved
Wednesday by the State Board of Education:
THE LAURENT CLERC ACADEMY (serving students deaf
and hard of hearing) and the
COCHECO ARTS AND
TECHNOLOGY ACADEMY (serving high school students
in the Dover area). Both schools gave impressive
presentations--demonstrating planning and community
support. Both schools have high academic standards
in common.
SCHOOL REFORM CONFERENCE
HELD
With written and oral introductions by Governor,
Commissioner of Education, and Chairman of the State
Board of Education, a conference on New Hampshire
School Reform was held in Concord last week. Titled
"Real World Learning: Thinking Outside the Book,"
attendees were encouraged to think in new and
different ways.
Topics included choice
and charter schools, innovations, special education,
accountability, career and technical education,
arts, citizenship, and high school reform. Ideas
generated on high school reform and choice will soon
be posted on
our site.
The clear goal was
stimulating new ways of thinking about reform and
learning:
-Where and when does
education occur?
-Does all learning
have to be in a school building?
-How much regulation
do we really need?
-How do we assure we
don't lose students and prevent drop-outs?
-What real world
learning will prepare students for their future?
-Can we change?
Sessions focused
broadly on rethinking high-standards education with
real world experiences.
SCHOOLS PLANNERS SEEKING
ADVISORS
Two charter school proposals are in planning stages
and seek advisors,
contributors, and sponsors.
HOPE FOR AUTISM envisions a small, excellent
school for autistic children with grade-level
academic standards using well-researched and
successful forms of teaching. The school plans to be
a demonstration and training center for
professionals working with autistic children.
A high-standards
HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE ACADEMY with an emphasis on
integrated sciences and environmental studies is
also being planned. Both schools are seeking
advisors and contributors to their projects.
For more information,
Contact
Us.
2004 CHARTER SCHOOL
LEGISLATION UPDATE
As of Wednesday, May 19 , 2003, SB 61 no longer
addressed public school teachers having a 3-year
leave of absence to work in a charter school. The
last revision addressed charter school funding.
Coming out of
Committee of Conference, SB 421 was stripped of all
provisions related to charter application and
accountability and retained only two elements: 1)
giving the State Board of Education discretion to
deny a charter application (discretion they already
have), and 2) requiring all public charter schools
to register with the Secretary of State (a state
office that registers private school businesses and
corporations).
No public school or
SAU corporation in New Hampshire is currently
legislatively-authorized as a public entity and also
required to register as a private entity with the
Secretary of State.
For more information
about charter school legislation, visit our
Legislation Watch.
