Senate approves 10-year standards review bill; critics say it duplicates existing statute

The Senate adopted the committee amendment to House Bill 15-71 and ordered the bill to the Finance Committee following a floor debate about whether the measure duplicates an existing 10-year review duty in state law.

The bill directs the Department of Education to initiate a 10-year review cycle for statewide academic standards in mathematics, English language arts and science; the department would develop revised standards for Board of Education approval and publish a list of recommended standards-aligned instructional materials for districts, as well as a new statewide assessment aligned with the revised standards.

"The current common core framework has not delivered the outcomes our students deserve," the Education Committee said in introducing the bill on the floor. Supporters said the bill establishes a clear cycle for review and aligns instructional materials with evidence-based curricula.

Senator Altschuler argued the proposal "duplicates a law that already exists" and read RSA 193-E(2)(a) aloud, warning that adding another statutory review requirement without clear rubrics for what constitutes "high quality" could erode local control. "A department-curated list without defined criteria is not a resource, it's a thumb on the scale," Altschuler said, urging a vote of inexpedient to legislate.

The committee amendment was adopted by voice vote and the Senate ordered the bill to the Committee on Finance for fiscal consideration.

The bill's next step is the Finance Committee review; proponents and opponents asked for clearer definitions and measures of how recommended materials would be selected and safeguarded to preserve local decision-making.