NH 2003 Legislative Session

Compulsory attendance, dropout issues, suspensions and expulsions

last updated 04/06/03 11:00AM

The home education law (RSA 193:A) and rules (ED315) were created as an alternative to compulsory attendance at a public school. Changes to the compulsory attendance law can affect home education programs directly.

Dropout issues are related to home education programs in three ways. The first is that because of the way in which attendance is determined at public schools, home educated students can appear to be dropouts when they turn 16 and no longer have home education programs. With the recent attention being paid to dropout rates (tied to school accountability), schools and legislators are looking at ALL factors which contribute to dropout statistics. The second is that school officials look at many students who withdraw from public schools after age 16 as dropouts, even when they behave like home educated students in all respects except for the lack of an acknowledged home education program. The third way is that one solution to the dropout problem offered during this session is to raise the age of compulsory attendance to 18, which affects home educated students directly.

Public school suspensions and expulsions are related to home education in two ways. The first is that if a student is suspended or expelled from a public school, the parent can provide a home education program to continue the child's education and meet the requirements of the compulsory attendance law. (There is some question about whether this is necessary, as an expulsion or suspension may exempt the parent from the compulsory attendance law.) The second is that parents and school officials sometimes use home education as a way to avoid suspensions and expulsions from appearing on a student's record, and to relieve the district of the obligation of dealing with a troublesome student.

NH Senate Bill 55 (LSR 686)

an act raising the age at which a child may terminate his or her public education.

last updated 04/06/03, 11:00AM

Analysis

Original bill

The bill affects home educated students in two ways. The first is it amends RSA 193:1 to include 16 and 17 year olds. Since home education was created as an alternative to attendance at a public school, home educating parents would have to comply with the compulsory attendance law until their children reached age 18 or face truancy charges. The second is it amends RSA 193-A to include 16 and 17 year olds in the definition of "child", re-inforcing the need to create home education programs until the age of 18.

The prime sponsor has indicated her willingness to amend the bill so that somehow it affects only public school students and not home educated students. She also intends to amend it to exempt students under 18 who graduate from high school.

Senate Education Committee Amendment

3/12/03 -- The bill as amended by the Senate Education Committee affects home educating parents in exactly the same way. No changes were made to Sections 1 & 5.

Senator O'Hearn's Floor Amendment #0930

03/20/03 -- The bill as amended by the sponsor, Senator O'Hearn, on the floor of the Senate would seem to leave parents of children ages 16-17 only able to homeschool at the discretion of the district. While this was not the intent of the sponsor, the language exempting homeschoolers from the increase is vague and ineffective.

Status - committee recommends amendment and adoption

You can also go to this site and type in "SB55" in the box labelled "Bill Number" to find the status of the bill.

• Referred to Senate Education Committee 01/09/03
• Senate Education Committee Hearing 02/05/03
• Report on hearing
• Senate Education Committee voted 03/14/03 to recommend amendment and adoption
• Senate Voted 03/20/03 to amend as recommended by the Senate Education Committee (12-10 Roll Call Vote)
• Senate Voted 03/20/03 to amend as recommended by the sponsor, Sen O'Hearn (Voice Vote)
• Senate Voted 03/20/03 to adopt SB55 as amended (Voice Vote), and refer to Senate Finance Committee (fiscal note)
• Senate Finance Committee 04/04/03 Voted 4-2 to recommend veto
• Senate Vote Scheduled 04/10/03
• House Education Committee Hearing
• House Education Committee Vote and Reports
• House Vote
• Conference Committee Vote
• Governor Signs/Vetoes Bill

Sponsors

NH Senate Bill 116 (LSR 686)

an act establishing a committee to study methods to prevent or reduce the high school dropout rate.

last updated 03/15/03, 11:00AM

Analysis

The bill creates a study committee. It will have an effect if it results in future legislation. Proposed reforms may affect home educated students who wish to enter public schools when some particular issue is addressed. They may also lead some public school students to withdraw and pursue home education as an alternative to public schools if they do not like the solution. There is also the possibility that the recommendations of the study committee may result in legislation which impacts home education programs. The composition of the study committee can be important.

Status - hearing held; awaiting committee report

You can also go to this site and type in "SB116" in the box labelled "Bill Number" to find the status of the bill.

Referred to Senate Education Committee 01/30/03
Senate Education Committee Hearing 03/12/03
Senate Education Committee Vote and Reports
Senate Vote
House Education Committee Hearing
House Education Committee Vote and Reports
House Vote
Conference Committee Vote
Governor Signs/Vetoes Bill

Sponsors

NH House Bill 139 (LSR 140)

an act establishing a committee to study the collection and reporting of school drop-out, suspension, and expulsion data.

last updated 03/15/03, 11:00AM

Analysis

The bill creates a study committee. It will have an effect if it results in future legislation. Proposed reforms may affect home educated students who wish to enter public schools when some particular issue is addressed. They may also lead some public school students to withdraw and pursue home education as an alternative to public schools if they do not like the solution. There is also the possibility that the recommendations of the study committee may result in legislation which impacts home education programs. The composition of the study committee can be important.

Status - hearing held, subcommittee appointed

You can also go to this site and type in "HB139" in the box labelled "Bill Number" to find the status of the bill.

Referred to House Education Committee 01/09/03
House Education Committee Hearing 01/21/03
    subcommittee created, met 01/29/02, 02/05/03, 02/19/03, 03/19/03
House Education Committee Vote and Reports
House Vote
Referred to Senate Education Committee
Senate Education Committee Hearing
Senate Education Committee Vote and Reports
Senate Vote
Conference Committee Vote
Governor Signs/Vetoes Bill

Sponsors

NH House Bill 619 (LSR 191)

an act expanding opportunities for dropout prevention and dropout recovery and making an appropriation therefor.

last updated 03/15/03, 11:00AM

Analysis

The bill establishes a dropout prevention and dropout recovery program in the department of education. The department is authorized to provide the services described in this subdivision to the state and to public, quasi-public, and private entities to assist pupils in successfully completing high school. Reforms the program brings about in may affect home educated students who wish to enter public schools when some particular issue is addressed. They may also lead some public school students to withdraw and pursue home education as an alternative to public schools if they do not like the solution. There is also the possibility that the program may provide assistance to home educated students pursuing a high school diploma. It may also result in the creation of both in-school and out-of-school programs in which homeschooled students may wish to participate.

Status - House amended bill; re-referred to Finance Committee

You can also go to this site and type in "HB619" in the box labelled "Bill Number" to find the status of the bill.

Referred to House Education Committee 01/09/03
House Education Committee Hearing 03/03/03, 1:15PM, Room 207, LOB
House Education Committee Voted 16-0 to recommend amendment and adoption 3/5/03
House Voted to amend and adopt 3/12/03
Rereferred to House Finance Committee
House Finance Committee Vote and Reports
House Vote
Referred to Senate Education Committee
Senate Education Committee Hearing
Senate Education Committee Vote and Reports
Senate Vote
Conference Committee Vote
Governor Signs/Vetoes Bill

Sponsors