Education (Teachers)

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 1778 bars public schools in New Hampshire from teaching any approach that prioritizes personal identity factors (like race, gender, or sexual orientation) over individual merit in curriculum or policies. It requires school districts to create policies banning DEI-related curriculum, trainings, and programs, while prohibiting staff or students from being required to declare gender identity or pronouns. The law also mandates schools to promote equal opportunities for all students regardless of identity, with violations subject to civil action or educator disciplinary measures. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, and does not provide new state funding for implementation.

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.