NH Input Based School Accountability System

In 2009 the NH Legislature passed Senate Bill 180 which is now written into RSA 193 E. This bill completed the third component of the task assigned by the Supreme Court to 1) define, 2) cost out, and 3) create an accountability system for guaranteeing that schools are offering the “opportunity for an adequate education.”

A task force of your peers and a Commissioner’s Task Force created by the legislation have been working to develop a system that will satisfy the law, be fair, and not be burdensome for either schools or the Department. RSA 193-E:3-b includes a two pronged approach for accountability: an input based system and a performance-based system. In brief, the input based system requires that:

• school officials submit a narrative explanation of compliance with each of 12 specified ‘adequacy’ standards
• the commissioner review each school’s responses
• schools meeting the standards resubmit every 2 years
• schools not meeting the standards resubmit annually until met
  

The twelve 'adequacy' standards specified in RSA 193:E are:

• English/language arts and reading
• mathematics
• science
• social studies
• arts education
• world language
• health education
• physical education
• technology education
• information and communication technologies
• school year, and
• minimum credits for a high school diploma

This new requirement for the twelve standards identified above will augment the existing school approval process, not replace it. The remaining 36 minimum standards for school approval will continue to be evaluated every five years. Even if your school is currently approved through the School Approval System, you must respond to the Input-Based Accountability Survey.

During the the 2011-2012 school year, each school was evaluated using both systems. A school that satisfies the requirements of either system will have demonstrated that it is providing the opportunity for an adequate education.

• Individual School Summary Reports (if a trangle appears, click on it to access the reports)
• Explanatory Videos
• 2012 Adequacy Report

For more information, read the letter to administrators and the User Guide posted below.

• Letter to Superintendents and Principals
• NH Input Based School Accountability System User Guide
• NH Input Based School Accountability System Videos

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