Blueprint for Change in New Hampshire: State Teacher Policy Yearbook, 2010
Author: National Council on Teacher Quality
Date: 2010-00-00
Type: Numerical/Quantitative Data
Subjects: Teaching (Occupation),Elementary Secondary Education,Educational Policy,Teacher Evaluation,Teacher Effectiveness,Teacher Improvement,Tenure,Teacher Dismissal,State Government,State Regulation,Academic Achievement,Educational Improvement,Teacher Certification,Alternative Teacher Certification,Needs Assessment,Yearbooks,Retirement Benefits,Educational Change,Teacher Education,Special Education Teachers,Elementary School Teachers,Middle School Teachers,Educational Objectives,Comparative Analysis,Public Schools

The 2009 &quot;State Teacher Policy Yearbook&quot; provided a comprehensive review of states' policies that impact the teaching profession. As a companion to last year's comprehensive state-by-state analysis, the 2010 edition provides each state with an individualized &quot;Blueprint for Change,&quot; building off last year's &quot;Yearbook&quot; goals and recommendations. State teacher policy addresses a great many areas, including teacher preparation, certification, evaluation and compensation. With so many moving parts, it may be difficult for states to find a starting point on the road to reform. To this end, this paper provides a state-specific roadmap, organized in three main sections. Section 1 identifies policy concerns that need critical attention, the areas of highest priority for state policymakers. Section 2 outlines &quot;low-hanging fruit,&quot; policy changes that can be implemented in relatively short order. Section 3 offers a short discussion of some longer-term systemic issues that states need to make sure stay on the radar. In the 2009 &quot;State Teacher Policy Yearbook&quot;, New Hampshire had the following grades: (1) Delivering Well Prepared Teachers (D); (2) Expanding the Teaching Pool (D); (3) Identifying Effective Teachers (F); (4) Retaining Effective Teachers (D-); and (5) Exiting Ineffective Teachers (D-). New Hampshire has an overall grade of D- for 2009. In the last year, many states made significant changes to their teacher policies, spurred in many cases by the Race to the Top competition. Based on a review of state legislation, rules and regulations, the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) has identified the following recent policy changes in New Hampshire: New Hampshire added &quot;pupil course information&quot; to the list of data elements that are to be submitted by schools to the state. This additional element will provide the data necessary to link student performance to individual teachers. In response to NCTQ's policy update, New Hampshire added that Commissioner Virginia M. Barry has convened a task force on teacher effectiveness to (1) provide a common definition of effective teaching for all schools; (2) identify different teaching frameworks that are research-based and critical components of a fair and equitable teacher evaluation process; (3) develop a system of preparation, professional development and continuous advancement of teachers to affect student learning; and (4) develop a set of recommendations that will lead to a statewide system of teacher effectiveness. Additionally, Professional Standards Board subcommittees are in the process of drafting new teacher standards and strengthening the administrative rules for professional growth and recertification, linking performance evaluation to the Individual Professional Development Master Plan. The Professional Standards Board, whose work will be responsive to the recommendations of the commissioner's task force, will also be reviewing the requirements for beginning, experienced and master teachers with a focus on demonstrating effective teaching and learning. Finally, the state asserted that it does not provide for tenure as such. &quot;Although there is a provision for a continuing contract after three years of continuous employment, administrators report that decisions by principals to offer a fourth contract are taken very seriously to avoid granting increased job protection to teachers with weak performance evaluations.&quot; Individual sections contain footnotes. (Contains 5 figures.) [For the related reports, see &quot;Blueprint for Change: National Summary. State Teacher Policy Yearbook, 2010&quot; (ED515614) and &quot;State Teacher Policy Yearbook, 2009. New Hampshire&quot; (ED511920).]