Education
Taxpayers ask court to block statewide education property tax
A group of New Hampshire taxpayers have chosen a new target in their quest to sue the state over its school funding system: the statewide education property tax. In a filing in Grafton Superior Court Wednesday, the taxpayers are asking the court to grant an injunction against the tax to stop it from being implemented […]
Disability rights advocates: Sununu mischaracterized special education rights in private schools
During a recent campaign event, Gov. Chris Sununu said students with disabilities will not lose their right to special education services if their parents use the state’s school voucher-like program to place them in private school. That’s not true, according to disability rights advocates and the parental handbook put out by the Children’s Scholarship Fund, […]
During Banned Books Week, a school district wrestles with how to allow book challenges
Milford High School students didn’t just recognize Banned Books Week: They painted a tribute in their hallway. Directly in front of the school’s library this week is an art installation with 11 lockers painted to resemble the spines of 11 commonly challenged books, from “The Catcher in the Rye” to “Maus,” the graphic novel about […]
After oral arguments, four things to watch in lawsuit against ‘banned concepts’ law
Lawyers for state teachers unions and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire faced off against the Attorney General’s Office last week over a new law banning certain concepts from being taught in New Hampshire schools. The law, known by many as the “divisive concepts” law after an earlier title, bars New Hampshire educators […]
U.S. education secretary urges boost in teacher pay, touts college debt relief
WASHINGTON — Amid K-12 teacher shortages, book bans and attacks over critical race theory, U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona at a meeting with reporters on Wednesday stressed the need for higher salaries to attract prospective educators to the profession. Cardona also touted the Biden administration’s recent student debt relief announcement in late August. The White House said President Joe Biden […]
As a new school year begins, teacher hiring remains a challenge
As summer ends, Moultonborough is entering into what Superintendent Patrick Andrew calls a personal first. The district is starting the school year without a full roster of teachers in its classrooms. After months of efforts to attract candidates, the district is still short a chemistry teacher and a physics teacher. Until further notice the district […]
How to apply for school lunch assistance in New Hampshire
This story was updated on Aug. 30 at 10:46 a.m. to indicate that the universal school meals program is no longer operating, but that eligible families have a 30-day rollover period as classes start to continue receiving meal assistance as they submit an application. School is starting this week for many New Hampshire families, and […]
Proposed changes to religious exemption form for school vaccine mandates draw pushback
Under a new state law, the Department of Health and Human Services has dropped its requirement that parents get a notary’s signature when they submit a form exempting their child from school and child care vaccine mandates for religious reasons. But the department is proposing new requirements that have angered the law’s prime sponsor and […]
What monkeypox outbreak? Little planning by colleges as students resume classes
WASHINGTON — College students are heading back to campus following more than two years of a pandemic that led many schools to empty out for full semesters and later move to hybrid schedules in a struggle to curb the spread of COVID-19. But the attempt by colleges and universities to return to something resembling normal […]
Career and technical education programs in high demand throughout the state
Four decades ago, Wilbur Palmer had a vision for a different type of education in Hudson. The school should offer vocational courses in agriculture, Palmer decided. After dismantling and rebuilding a pair of greenhouses on campus, the school’s career technical institute was born, and Palmer became its first director. Today, the Wilbur H. Palmer Career […]
State launches training programs for educators, caretakers to teach reading
New Hampshire’s Executive Council approved a $5 million federally funded program to train teachers and caregivers how to teach reading to kids, part of an effort by the state to boost literacy. In a vote Wednesday, the council approved a contract between the Department of Education and Lexia Learning Systems, a Concord, Mass., company that […]
State seeks to use federal funding for SAT, ACT tutoring
The New Hampshire Department of Education is hoping to use federal pandemic aid to pay for online tutoring for standardized admission tests – potentially until 2027. In a request to the Executive Council ahead of its meeting Wednesday, the department is requesting to set aside $4.8 million in federal school pandemic aid to contract with […]