Representative Lorie Ball is currently proposing legislation that targets improving reading education for all students in New Hampshire. I urge you to watch her presentation before the House Education Committee on March 5th, 2024. She explains the problems with reading instruction in our public schools, and then how some changes could positively impact reading proficiency for students.
What’s even more disturbing is those who speak after her who oppose a bi-partisan effort to improve reading literacy in our schools.
Start at the beginning:
Here are the facts: according to NH DOE 2023 statistics, 48% of NH students scored below proficiency in English Language Arts, 58% scored below proficiency in math, and 62% scored below proficiency in science. In addition, according to the 2022 NH DOE Statewide Census by Disability, of the 30,917 students identified with a disability, 10,077 are identified with a Specific Learning Disability (SLD) in English Language Arts and/or Mathematics. Clearly, this data shows that NH needs to do more than address reading proficiency. NH needs to address all aspects of foundational skills needed to set the path for future educational success and lifelong learning.
Using federal expectations for ruling out students with SLD, HB 1015-1106h meets that criteria. This bill goes beyond addressing the five components reading literacy (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension), by requiring public and charter schools teach spelling, grammar, and writing mechanics. This bill assures students are provided the instruction they need to learn the specific skills used to determine if a student needs specialized instruction, rather than being identified as a student with SLD because they were never taught the skills.
HB1015-1106h provides a proven pathway to effectively addressing NH’s low proficiency scores in all areas of English Language Arts. In addition, it addresses the low proficiency scores in mathematics reasoning and mathematics calculation (including fluency) by providing explicit, systematic instruction through grade five. More importantly, as amended, this bill allows districts to maintain local control to choose the program that best meets the needs of their district and students.
School districts will have three years to pilot programs, budget, and train staff for full implementation of new programs by July 1, 2027. While, at first glance, this mandated start date seems far away, it is a reasonable amount of time for districts to make the change. In fact, many NH school districts are already well underway in the process of moving in the direction this bill specifies.
Now is not the time for legislators to ignore the needs of NH students and use the mandated start date as an excuse to vote against this bill. Doing so only kicks the can further down the road, leaving our students’ academic needs unmet. Experienced educators know that explicit, systematic instruction is a proven method that benefits all students and assures all students in public and charter schools will be able to access the general education environment. Given the time it takes to pilot new programs, budget, and train staff, I encourage our legislature to pass NH1015-1106h so districts can have programs in place no later than July 1, 12027.
This Bill came out of the House Education Committee 10-10 with democrats supporting and republicans opposed. I believe the Republicans are making a big mistake and need to reverse their opposition to support HB1015-FN.
FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES HERE, AND ASK THEM TO SUPPORT HB1015-FN
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Author: Ann Marie Banfield
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