HB 1828-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

 

11Mar2026... 1109h

2026 SESSION

26-3008

12/09

 

HOUSE BILL 1828-FN

 

AN ACT requiring the department of education to establish an auditing process relative to teacher preparation programs at the post-secondary educational level.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Noble, Hills. 2; Rep. Layon, Rock. 13; Rep. Peternel, Carr. 6; Rep. Freeman, Belk. 8; Rep. Korzen, Coos 7; Rep. Litchfield, Rock. 32; Rep. Colcombe, Hills. 30; Sen. Ward, Dist 8

 

COMMITTEE: Education Policy and Administration

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill requires the department of education to review professional educator preparation programs to ensure effective literacy instruction is provided in institutions of higher education.  The bill also authorizes the department to make rules relative to the auditing process of preparation programs.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

11Mar2026... 1109h 26-3008

12/09

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

 

AN ACT requiring the department of education to establish an auditing process relative to teacher preparation programs at the post-secondary educational level.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  New Section; Preparation Program Literacy Audit.  Amend RSA 189 by inserting after section 58 the following new section:  

189:58-a  Preparation Program Literacy Audit.

I.  The department of education shall review New Hampshire approved professional preparation programs to:  

(a)  Ensure that all applicable educators complete coursework in evidence-based strategies for effective literacy instruction aligned to the science of reading, which includes phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary teacher development, and is part of a structured literacy program; and

(b)  Ensure that clinical preparation for all educators who are responsible for teaching reading only occurs in the classrooms where the local education agency has verified that the practicing teachers have training in literacy instruction strategies aligned to the science of reading, use instructional materials aligned to the science of reading, and actively implement a structured literacy approach.  

II.  The department of education shall develop an auditing process with metrics that document the degree to which every educator preparation program at an institution of higher education is effectively teaching the science of reading and publish the audit results on the department’s web site.

III.  The department of education shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A relative to the  auditing process.

2  New Subparagraph; Literacy Audit Rulemaking.  Amend RSA 21-N:9, II by inserting after subparagraph (cc) the following new subparagraph:

(dd)  The auditing process for literacy instruction in professional preparation programs, as defined in RSA 189:58-a.

3  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

 

LBA

26-3008

03/19/2026

 

HB 1828-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2026-1109h)

 

AN ACT requiring the department of education to establish an auditing process relative to teacher preparation programs at the post-secondary educational level.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:   This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.

 

 

Estimated State Impact

 

FY 2026

FY 2027

FY 2028

FY 2029

Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

Revenue Fund(s)

None

Expenditures*

$0

$130,000

$130,000

$136,000

Funding Source(s)

General Fund

Appropriations*

$0

$0

$0

$0

Funding Source(s)

None

*Expenditure = Cost of bill                *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill requires the Department of Education to review and audit approved educator preparation programs to assess the extent to which they provide coursework and clinical training aligned with evidence-based literacy instruction, commonly referred to as the “science of reading.” The requirements apply to all State Board of Education-approved programs that prepare educators responsible for teaching reading or foundational literacy skills. The bill also requires that clinical training for such educators take place only in classrooms where the local education agency has verified that the cooperating teacher has received training in science-of-reading-aligned instruction, uses instructional materials consistent with this approach, and actively implements a structured literacy model.

 

The Department states under this bill it would be required to:

 

The Department states historically it has reviewed educator preparation programs primarily through program approval/renewal processes. Under this bill, the Department’s role would expand beyond program approval to include the development and administration of a literacy-focused auditing process to evaluate educator preparation programs for alignment with the science of reading requirements. To implement this bill, the Department anticipates the need to add one (1) full-time position (Instructional Coordinator III, SOC 25-07, starting step 7), beginning July 1, 2026 (FY 2027), to support the development and administration of the educator preparation program literacy auditing process required by this bill. The estimated total cost for the position is $130,000 in FY 2027, $130,000 in FY 2028, and $136,000 in FY 2029. It should be noted that this bill provides neither authorization nor appropriation for new personnel.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Education