Identifying Effective Teachers Policy
New Hampshire's requirements for licensure advancement and renewal are not based on evidence of teacher effectiveness.
In New Hampshire, to advance from a Beginning Educator Certificate to an Experienced Educator Certificate, teachers are required to have at least three years' full-time teaching experience.
New Hampshire does not include evidence of effectiveness as a factor in the renewal of a professional license. Teachers must renew their licenses every three years. New Hampshire teachers employed by a public school, or a private school covered by the New Hampshire Master Plan for professional development, need to complete the program created by their local professional development committee. All other teachers must complete 75 hours of approved continuing education credits in the previous three years for renewal.
Require evidence of effectiveness as a part of teacher licensing policy.
New Hampshire should require evidence of teacher effectiveness to be a factor in determining whether teachers can renew their licenses or advance to a higher-level license.
Discontinue license requirements with no direct connection to classroom effectiveness.
While targeted requirements may potentially expand teacher knowledge and improve teacher practice, New Hampshire's general, nonspecific coursework requirements for license advancement and renewal merely call for teachers to complete a certain amount of seat time. These requirements do not correlate with teacher effectiveness.
New Hampshire asserted that its administrative rules governing professional development requirements for license renewal require that activities link to school and district goals as well as the individual's endorsement area. Job-embedded professional learning is encouraged and the approved activities should link to the goals contained in the Individual Professional Development Plans. Plans are to be based on data regarding student performance at the school and classroom level.