Bill > HB671

This bill establishes a statewide kindergarten literacy readiness program designed to improve early childhood literacy and prepare young children for kindergarten. The program will offer an innovative, evidence-based educational technology program, delivered either at home or in a center-based setting, to children aged 4 and 5 who are not yet enrolled in kindergarten, focusing on reading, math, and science readiness skills. The New Hampshire Department of Education (NHED) will administer the program, and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will notify eligible families receiving certain assistance programs about its availability. The program requires an "educational technology provider," a registered nonprofit, to supply individualized software instruction, technical support, and conduct research to prove the program's effectiveness, meeting specific federal benchmarks for evidence-based programs. The bill appropriates a nominal amount of $1 to the NHED for the program, with the understanding that additional funds will be needed for its operation, and mandates annual reporting on participation, usage, challenges, and student readiness outcomes.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=541&inflect=2