Bill > SB579

This bill modifies the existing law regarding public school transfers to expand parents' options for transferring their children between schools within a school administrative unit (SAU), which is a local educational administrative area. The bill allows parents to apply to either the superintendent of their district of residence or the provider of superintendent services to transfer their child to another public school, public academy, or approved private school within their SAU or to a school outside their SAU. When considering such transfers, the superintendent or provider of superintendent services must evaluate the request based on specific criteria, primarily focusing on the student's best interests and the receiving school's capacity. For transfers outside the original district or SAU, the decision will consider the student's academic, physical, personal, or social needs. The bill also requires school boards to develop policies for managing transfer requests when school capacity is limited. If a transfer is approved to a school outside the original district or SAU, the involved superintendents will jointly establish a tuition rate, which may be partially or fully waived. Parents will be responsible for transportation, and the transfer process includes provisions for requesting a hearing if the initial transfer request is denied. The bill will take effect on July 1, 2026, and adds a new authorization for providers of superintendent services to approve school transfers.

Education

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=1472&inflect=2