Initiatives & Priorities

NH Environmental Literacy Plan

Environmental literacy requires an understanding of the natural world and the capacity to interpret environmental systems. An environmentally literate citizen can make informed decisions about the environment based on scientific, aesthetic and ethical considerations while bearing in mind the interconnectedness of the social, cultural, economic, and political systems.

• Whereas environmental literacy is gained through an interdisciplinary approach to education that employs hands–on, place-based and inquiry-based learning experiences in order to understand the environment as a whole, and incorporating a number of content areas, environmental education uses real-world experiences, giving students a chance to explore the matters at hand to gain experience investigating, defining and creating solution to issues;
• Whereas learning about and from the environment encourages outdoor activities, which improve both physical and mental health;
• Whereas this type of education encourages students to get involved in science, technology, engineering and math;
• Whereas environmental education also increases overall student engagement and motivation leading to improved academic achievement in all subject areas;
• Whereas the environmental literacy plan was developed through a participatory process led by New Hampshire Environmental Educators and the New Hampshire Children in Nature Coalition involving four state agencies, twelve non-profit organization, four universities as well as input from the public;
• Whereas the NH Environmental Literacy plan provides an organized framework to ensure environmentally literacy for people of all ages;
• Therefore be it resolved that on this day, the 18th of April, 2012, the New Hampshire State Board of Education hereby endorses the New Hampshire Environmental Literacy plan.

More information can be found at www.nhenvironmentalliteracyplan.wordpress.com.

Support for Quality Early Learning Programs

The State Board of Education voted on June 8, 2011 that the mission of the New Hampshire Department of Education is “to provide educational leadership and services which promote equal educational opportunities and quality services and programs that enable New Hampshire residents to become fully productive members of society.” Therefore, we, the New Hampshire State Board of Education, make a motion of support for the importance of quality early learning programs in helping us realize our mission. We endorse the attached statement on the importance of early learning because, along with Governor Lynch, we understand that success in high school, college, and career is directly related to a successful early childhood. We wish to recognize proven and effective early learning programs, such as quality child care, Head Start and preschool, which promote the optimal development of every child and use developmentally appropriate, intentional curricula. We also know that qualified early childhood educators can be instrumental in the early identification and intervention of a developmental delay or disability, which can make all the difference in improving outcomes for our students.

We make this motion of support for quality early learning programs because, when we ensure that all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential, the next generation will pay that back through a lifetime of productivity and responsible citizenship.

Meeting Notes for the September 29, 2010 Retreat

Meeting Notes for the February 12, 2010 Retreat

Meeting Notes for the September 17, 2009 Retreat

Meeting Notes for the March 27, 2009 Retreat (Contains Priorities)

NH State Board of Education and the Business and Industry Association Discuss Expectations of Graduates

Representatives of the BIA and State Board members discussed ways they could work together to ensure that all of our students graduate from high school and those graduates are better prepared for their next steps in life.

Charter School Funding

The members of the State Board of Education at their February 13, 2008, meeting voted unanimously to publicly acknowledge their continuing support for charter schools as an important public school option in New Hampshire. The State Board of Education urges the legislature to move expeditiously to provide sustainable long-term funding for New Hampshire's charter school students.

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