Education A State Capitals Roundup

N.H. Board Kills Kindergarten Plan

By Debra Viadero — April 12, 2005 | Corrected: February 22, 2019 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Corrected: This news brief erred in saying that New Hampshire is the only state that does not require public school districts to offer kindergarten. According to the Education Commission of the States, six other states also do not mandate kindergarten.

The New Hampshire state school board has voted against requiring districts to provide kindergarten, leaving New Hampshire’s status intact as the only state without such a mandate.

The proposal was part of a package of sweeping changes the board hoped to make this year in its rules for accrediting schools.

State school board member Fred Bramante said the panel stripped the kindergarten mandate on March 30 in response to opposition from some lawmakers who argued that the proposal was an “unfunded mandate” prohibited under the state’s constitution.

Ellen J. Shemitz, the president of the Children’s Alliance of New Hampshire, a Concord-based advocacy group, noted that lawyers for the state had disagreed with the legislators’ legal interpretation.

“It truly is a no-brainer that we should have kindergarten as a matter of law and policy,” she said. According to Ms. Shemitz, 16 of New Hampshire’s 88 districts do not provide public kindergarten for 5-year-olds.

Events

Student Well-Being Webinar After-School Learning Top Priority: Academics or Fun?
Join our expert panel to discuss how after-school programs and schools can work together to help students recover from pandemic-related learning loss.
Budget & Finance Webinar Leverage New Funding Sources with Data-Informed Practices
Address the whole child using data-informed practices, gain valuable insights, and learn strategies that can benefit your district.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Classroom Technology Webinar
ChatGPT & Education: 8 Ways AI Improves Student Outcomes
Revolutionize student success! Don't miss our expert-led webinar demonstrating practical ways AI tools will elevate learning experiences.
Content provided by Inzata

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Briefly Stated: May 17, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Briefly Stated: May 3, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Briefly Stated: April 26, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Briefly Stated: March 29, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read