New Hampshire SB 579: modifying the language for intra-district public school transfers to include schools within school administrative units.

Bill Text

SB 579-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2272

 12/09

SENATE BILL 579-FN

AN ACT modifying the language for intra-district public school transfers to include schools within school administrative units.

SPONSORS: Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18; Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Rep. Noble, Hills. 2; Rep. Freeman, Belk. 8; Rep. Rice, Hills. 38; Rep. Notter, Hills. 12; Rep. Popovici-Muller, Rock. 17

COMMITTEE: Education

-----------------------------------------------------------------

ANALYSIS

 This bill extends parents' ability to transfer their children to other schools to include students within school administrative units (SAUs). The bill also authorizes providers of superintendent services to approve or disapprove of school transfers depending on the best interests of the student.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

 Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2272

 12/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT modifying the language for intra-district public school transfers to include schools within school administrative units.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 School Administrative Unit School Transfers. Amend RSA 193:3, I to read as follows:

 I.(a) The parent or guardian of a student may apply to the superintendent of the student's district of residence or provider of superintendent services as defined in RSA 194-C:5, II(a) of the student's school administrative unit (SAU) to change the student's school or assignment to another specific public school, public academy, or an approved private school within the district or SAU. The parent or guardian of a student may also apply to the superintendent of the student's district of residence or the provider of superintendent services of the student's SAU if the parent or guardian believes it would be in the best interest of the student to change the student's school or assignment to another public school, public academy, or an approved private school which is outside the district or SAU. Unless the student is experiencing a manifest educational hardship, applications pursuant to this paragraph shall be made no later than July 1 for the upcoming school year.

 (b) For requests to change assignments to schools outside the district or SAU, or for requests made after July 1 for the upcoming school year, the superintendent or provider of superintendent services shall schedule a meeting with the parent or guardian, to be held within 10 days of the request.

 (c) Prior to or at such meeting, the parent or guardian shall make a specific request that the student be re-assigned by the school board to another public school, public academy, or an approved private school within the district or SAU or to a public school, public academy, or an approved private school in another district or SAU. If such a request is made to reassign the student to another public school, public academy, or approved private school within the school district or SAU, the superintendent or provider of superintendent services shall approve the request unless it fails to meet the requirements under this section.

 (d) At such meeting, the parent or guardian may present documents, witnesses, or other relevant evidence supporting the parent's belief that it is in the best interest of the student to change the student's school or assignment. The superintendent or provider of superintendent services may present such information as he or she deems appropriate.

 (e) In determining whether to authorize a request to transfer to another school within the district or SAU, the superintendent or provider of superintendent services shall consider only whether the specifically requested school has the ability to accommodate the student based on existing school capacity. In determining whether it is in the best interest of the student to change the student's school or assignment to a school outside the district or SAU, the superintendent or provider of superintendent services shall consider the student's academic, physical, personal, or social needs.

 (f) If the superintendent or provider of superintendent services finds it is in the best of the interest of the student to change the student's school or assignment to a school outside the district or SAU, or finds the requested school in the district or SAU has the ability to accommodate the student, the superintendent or provider of superintendent services shall initiate:

 (1) A change of assignment within the student's current assigned school;

 (2) The student's transfer to another public school or public acad