Bill > HB129

This bill, known as the Science in Education Act, establishes a strict scientific definition of "evidence-based" for educational methods and requires the New Hampshire Department of Education and local school districts to adhere to this definition in all communications. The bill defines "evidence-based" as methods or techniques that meet rigorous scientific standards, specifically requiring either reproducibility in multiple well-designed studies within a single discipline or independent confirmation across multiple disciplines. Importantly, the definition explicitly excludes surveys, self-reported data, and subjective measurements like student progress reports. The legislation mandates that the Department of Education and local school districts must publicly disclose the scientific studies supporting their educational methods, and if a curriculum is provided by a third party, they may require the provider to furnish these studies. The bill emphasizes the importance of scientific methodology, particularly the concept of falsifiability and repeatability, over peer review alone. While the bill does not provide additional funding, it is expected to increase administrative costs for the Department of Education and local school districts as they review and potentially revise existing educational methods, materials, and training to comply with the new definition. The act will take effect 60 days after its passage.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_status.aspx?lsr=0205&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB129