New Hampshire HB 1571: requiring the department of education to review statewide academic standards and curricula.

Bill Text

HB 1571-FN-A - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

19Feb2026... 0412h

26Mar2026... 0900h

04/23/2026 1519s

2026 SESSION

 26-2852

 12/06

HOUSE BILL 1571-FN-A

AN ACT requiring the department of education to review statewide academic standards and curricula.

SPONSORS: Rep. Noble, Hills. 2; Rep. Thibault, Merr. 25; Rep. Peternel, Carr. 6; Rep. Freeman, Belk. 8; Rep. Korzen, Coos 7; Rep. Belcher, Carr. 4

COMMITTEE: Education Policy and Administration

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

 This bill requires the department of education to revise the statewide academic standards decennially beginning in July 2027.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

19Feb2026... 0412h

26Mar2026... 0900h

04/23/2026 1519s 26-2852

 12/06

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT requiring the department of education to review statewide academic standards and curricula.

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

 1 New Paragraph; Educational Content of an Adequate Education; Decennial Revision Required. Amend RSA 193-E:2-a by inserting after paragraph II-a the following new paragraph:

 II-b. The statewide academic standards, as defined in RSA 193-E:2-a, VI(b), shall be reviewed for possible revision every 10 years, beginning in July 2027. The department of education shall initiate a revision of these standards, as well as the current science standards, to ensure alignment with high-quality criteria that emphasize rigor, clarity, and relevance. The revised standards shall reflect a coherent progression of knowledge, skills, and competencies across grade levels. The development process shall include meaningful participation by students, parents, and educators, consistent with the intent of RSA 193-C:1, III.

 2 New Subparagraph; Educational Content of an Adequate Education; Curriculum and Materials List Added. Amend RSA 193-E:2-a, V by inserting after subparagraph (b) the following new subparagraphs:

 (c) The department shall make available a list of high quality curriculum and instructional materials based upon the revised standards from which school districts may select new curriculum and materials. 

 (d) The state shall revise the statewide education improvement and assessment program, as established in RSA 193-C, to align with the revised standards developed pursuant to RSA 193-E:2-a, II-b.

 3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2027.

 LBA

 26-2852

 04/24/2026

HB 1571-FN-A- FISCAL NOTE

AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT #2026-1519s)

AN ACT requiring the department of education to review statewide academic standards and curricula.

FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.

 Estimated State Impact

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

 Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Revenue Fund(s)

None

 Expenditures*

$0

$0

$1,792,000

$1,121,000-$1,221,000

 Funding Source(s)

General Fund

 Appropriations*

$0

$0

$0

$0

 Funding Source(s)

None

 *Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

METHODOLOGY:

This bill, effective July 1, 2027, requires the Department of Education to review statewide academic standards for possible revision every 10 years, including revising current science standards to ensure greater rigor, clarity, relevance, and progression of knowledge across grade levels. The bill also requires the Department to make available a list of high-quality curriculum and instructional materials aligned with the revised standards (from which districts may choose) and to update the statewide education improvement and assessment program to align with the revised standards. 

To estimate the fiscal impact of this bill, the Department reviewed prior costs associated with statewide academic standards revisions, prevailing market rates for contracted content-area experts, and typical expenditures related to stakeholder engagement, publication and dissemination, assessment alignment, and high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) review and vetting. The Department also considered anticipated costs associated with hiring or filling Department staff positions necessary to support this work. Estimated costs were assigned by fiscal year based on when required activities would reasonably occur during implementation, recognizing that these activities will span the 10-year revision cycle.

The Department estimates it would need the following positions to implement this bill:

• One (1) Instructional Coordinator III – Science including Engineering and technologies, an