The NH senate once again rescheduled HB 323 to the following session. It is now on the calendar for Thursday, May 21, 2015.
This bill has been very hotly debated and multiple efforts have been made to “fix” it. Thankfully, we have a good amendment submitted by Sen. Jeb Bradley, #2015-1752s.
This amendment removes the problematic language and tightens it to specifically allow only the SAT and ACT as alternative assessments for grade 11. This should satisfy district superintendents without giving undefined authority to the state Department of Education.
Although the SAT is not a great option, it is much better than the Smarter Balanced Assessment. It will be aligned to Common Core effective Spring 2016, but it is not an integrated assessment like PACE, and parents can still refuse participation, although it is less likely for their college-bound students. It also respects local control.
This is a big step forward and should be supported. We appreciate the senate’s willingness to address parents’ concerns and find an acceptable resolution.
Please contact the NH senate before Wednesday, thanking them for their efforts and to urge their support of the Bradley amendment, #1752s.
We will again gather outside the senate chamber on the second floor of the State House on Thursday morning at 9:15am. We want to encourage the senators in their latest efforts to support parents’ rights and local control. The session begins at 10:00am, and our bill should be early in the agenda. Please join 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 [email protected].
Jeff Woodburn — District 1, Dalton
[email protected]
(603)271-3207
Jeanie Forrester — District 2, Meredith
[email protected]
(603)271-4980
Jeb Bradley — District 3, Wolfeboro
[email protected]
(603)271-2106
David Watters — District 4, Dover
[email protected]
(603)271-8631
David Pierce — District 5, Lebanon
[email protected]
(603)271-3067
Sam Cataldo — District 6, Farmington
[email protected]
(603)271-4063
Andrew Hosmer — District 7, Laconia
[email protected]
(603)271-8631
Gerald Little — District 8, Weare
[email protected]
(603)271-4151
Andy Sanborn — District 9, Bedford
[email protected]
(603)271-2609
Molly Kelly — District 10, Keene
[email protected]
(603)271-3207
Gary Daniels — District 11, Milford
[email protected]
(603)271-2609
Kevin Avard — District 12, Nashua
[email protected]
(603)271-4151
Bette Lasky — District 13, Nashua
[email protected] (603)271-3091
Sharon Carson — District 14, Londonderry
[email protected]
(603)271-1403
Dan Feltes — District 15, Concord
[email protected]
(603)271-3067
David Boutin — District 16, Hooksett/Manchester
[email protected]
(603)271-3092
John Reagan — District 17, Deerfield
[email protected]
(603)271-4063
Donna Soucy — District 18, Manchester
[email protected]
(603)271-3207
Regina Birdsell — District 19, Hampstead/Windham/Derry
[email protected]
(603)271-4151
Lou D’Allesandro — District 20, Manchester
[email protected]
(603)271-2117
Martha Fuller Clark — District 21, Portsmouth
[email protected]
(603)271-3076
Chuck Morse — District 22, Salem
[email protected]
(603)271-8472
Russell Prescott — District 23, Kingston
[email protected]
(603)271-3074
Nancy Stiles — District 24, Hampton
[email protected]
(603)271-3093
