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State Board of Education votes for Learn Everywhere rules
Innovative program will give students credit for outside-the-classroom learning
CONCORD – Today, the State Board of Education voted 4-3 in favor of draft rules implementing the Learn Everywhere program. The innovative education initiative would allow New Hampshire public school students to earn credit toward graduation for accredited learning outside of the classroom. In 2018, the Legislative approved and Gov. Chris Sununu signed SB 435, directing the State Board of Education to adopt rules “relative to the approval of alternative programs for granting credit leading to graduation.”
"Learn Everywhere will expand learning opportunities outside the classroom, giving students and parents greater control over their high school educations," said Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut, an early champion of the Learn Everywhere program. "I want to thank New Hampshire's education community for embracing the spirit of innovation, and thank the Board for supporting Learn Everywhere."
Under the proposed rules, for-profit and non-profit organizations wishing to offer credit under Learn Everywhere must apply to the State Board of Education, which would review the proposal and maintain oversight of it. To ensure that every New Hampshire public school student has equal opportunity to obtain Learn Everywhere credits, all schools must allow a student to earn up to 1/3 of his or her required graduation credits through the Learn Everywhere program. Schools may, but are not required to, accept as much as 100 percent of credits required for high school graduation.
"Learn Everywhere offers all New Hampshire children the opportunity to earn high school graduation credits in a promising variety of rigorous programs that otherwise might not exist in their local school district. Learn Everywhere will create new learning opportunities, and empower New Hampshire families to build better educations for their children," said Andrew Cline, Chairman of the State Board of Education. "I'm looking forward to seeing the innovative and engaging programs that New Hampshire businesses and non-profits design."
The draft rules will now be sent to the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (JLCAR).