CONCORD, NH – June 4, 2019 – This morning, NEA-New Hampshire filed a Right to Know request with the Department of Education requesting all records and communications regarding the Commissioner’s “Learn Everywhere” proposal.
“The fact is, these rules were written without meaningful input from public school educators, administrators and parents. Members from groups representing teachers, school boards, school administrators, school principals, and special education professionals have all spoken out in opposition to this plan,” said Megan Tuttle, NEA-New Hampshire President. “I cannot recall another time when all five of these groups were as unified on anything.”
“Learn Everywhere completely tramples New Hampshire’s longstanding tradition of local control,” said Tuttle. “The State Board of Education has seen fit to pass rules that require our schools to be accredited, and teachers to have degrees, licenses, continuous professional development and probationary periods in order to grant graduation credits. Those wishing to enter the profession from non-traditional paths have that opportunity through the state’s Alternative Certification process – also approved by the State Board of Education. New Hampshire also has a thriving Extended Learning Opportunity system that already allows students to earn graduation credit outside of the classroom. The Commissioner is asking the State Board of Education to ignore all of this and allow anyone with a background check and a lesson plan access to our students, and award them graduation credit that our school districts must accept – even if they do not meet that District’s graduation requirement.”