Please accept this written statement from the American Federation of Teachers-New Hampshire (AFT-NH) regarding the proposed rules establishing the Learn Everywhere program.  As staunch advocates of public education, AFT-NH is firmly opposed to the creation of the Learn Everywhere program. 

As currently outlined, the Learn Everywhere program removes from local control the decisions regarding standards for credit-bearing activities and courses, thereby reversing longstanding New Hampshire tradition.  As an organization representing educators who work closely with local administrators and school boards, AFT-NH rejects the centralization of authority over graduation standards and supports keeping it at the level closest to students, teachers, and citizens—the local level. 

February 11, 2019 ~ Bow, NH

Guns, guns, guns.  Do you think guns ought to be permitted in schools?  Do you believe school districts should be permitted to set policies on the carrying of firearms on school properties?  Or do you believe the State should simply bar firearms from school properties in NH?  These are questions that matter, and the House Education Committee will be holding hearings on two bills concerning firearms in school this coming Wednesday morning, February 13, starting at 9am.  If you would like to testify regarding this issue, you can simply come to the Legislative Office Building in Concord, Rooms 210-211, for hearings at 9am (HB 101) and/or 10am (HB 564).  You can also email the committee members and express your views regarding regulation of firearms in NH schools—simply write them at HouseEducationCommittee@leg.state.nh.us.  Let your voice be heard!

2019 Legislative Session Underway

Bow, NH - February 4, 2019

The NH General Court (the Legislature) began its substantive work early in January, but it is only in the past two weeks that activity has really picked up.  You may recall that the 2019-20 Legislature is quite different from the 2017-18 version.  Voters erased Republican majorities in both the Senate and the House in the November 2018 elections, so Democrats now control the Senate 14-10 and the House by a nearly 60-vote margin. With a Republican governor still holding office, there will be a fair amount of friction and a need for some degree of cooperation between the Legislative and Executive branches if anything is to be accomplished.  It is a new situation for both Democrats and Republicans, and it will be interesting to watch as the session unfolds over the next five months.

 PRESS RELEASE

AFT-NH President Douglas Ley’s Testimony to “Save Our Summer” Commission

BOW, NH      NOVEMBER 2, 2018

AFT-NH President Douglas Ley provided written testimony to the Governor’s “Save Our Summer” Commission to make recommendations whether or not there should be a change made at the state level that would have schools only be allowed to open after Labor Day.

In relevant part, President Ley stated, “AFT-NH supports our long-established NH tradition of local control and local preference in matters of school year scheduling.  We believe those closest to the community and to the students are best situated to make appropriate decisions in regards to scheduling.  We ask that the Commission respect local control and draw appropriate conclusions in your report due on November 30, 2018.”

He further offered that, “There is a strong preference for local control—i.e., leaving the issue of start-dates in the hands of the locality.  Different localities and districts may have different perspectives and AFT-NH strongly endorses leaving this issue in the hands of the local school districts.  They are directly responsible to their community and are best positioned to meet the needs and desires of their constituents and to serve the interests of their students. 

Read the full testimony at "Save Our Summer" Testimony".

Read the Executive Order creating the "Save Our Summer" Commission at  Executive Order creating "Save Our Summer" Commission.