HB1183

Until the legislature fully funds all public schools in each district to be able to truly provide the adequate education required for all students, there must be no further mandates placed by the state on what schools are required to provide.

While it is clear that our current educational system is rendering many students not ready for colllege or employment, this bill would only worsen the problem by 100% ensuring that a great deal many more students will not be eligible for graduation. It forces students to earn 4 math credits for graduation without any legislative insurance or investigation into the quality of this education. The incredibly inequitable funding from community-to-community in NH leads to entire math courses being unstaffed or taught by noncredentialed teachers in some towns. Thus, this will inevitably impact poorer communities much more than wealtheir communities. Currently, the state requirement is 3 math credits, with only wealthier communities like Oyster River and Milford requiring 4 credits. This is likely because they can ensure that all of their math classes are properly staffed and taught, which isn't the case in many communities. I'd much prefer seeing the legislature write an outright ban on the Fountas & Pinnell (F&P) reading system, which has been mandated in schools for decades despite being known to be ineffective, and in my belief, is the biggest reason students today lack academic competency. Let's address the core issue, not punish students further for struggling to meet standards due to insufficient funding and curriculum.

the 4-year math requirement is not fleshed out well enough and might be punitive toa student whose interests lay in, for example in art or music. Would the math in a carpentry course satisfy as a math credit? As written, the bill may give hope but little direction.

There is already a standard for the fourth year which allows some flexibility - which means parental and student input. Now you don't want parent and student input? Or choice??

While I fully support increasing math proficiency, requiring four years of math when minimum standards just increased is an unfounded mandate. As the principal of a NH high school, we are beyond challenged hiring math teachers and with declining enrollment and budget reductions, we will neither afford nor find additional math staff. Please oppose this legislation as the increasing such a requirement will result in a reduction of graduation rates.

We can't be giving vague and undefined laws inorder to give stiff penalities on our educators based on lies about classroom teachings. The attacks on teachers needs to stop. We need to be supporting the very people who are shaping our next generation. Stop the maddness and the dumbing down of our public schools.

Please oppose this bill.

I definitely oppose this bill.