Secondary Teacher Preparation: New Hampshire

Analysis of New Hampshire's policies

New Hampshire does not ensure that its secondary teachers are adequately prepared to teach grade-level content.

Although New Hampshire requires Praxis II subject-matter testing for its secondary teachers, the state undermines this policy by allowing an exemption for those candidates with a master's degree or higher in the subject area. Further, New Hampshire offers a general social studies license—and does not require subject-matter testing for each subject area within this discipline (see Goal 1-H).

To add an endorsement to a secondary license, teachers in New Hampshire may either pass a Praxis II content test or earn a master's degree or higher. 

Citation

Administrative Rules for Education, 513.01(c)

Recommendations for New Hampshire

Require subject-matter testing for secondary teacher candidates.
As a condition of licensure, New Hampshire should require its secondary teacher candidates to pass a content test in each subject area they plan to teach to ensure that they possess adequate subject-matter knowledge and are prepared to teach grade-level content. While a degree—even an advanced degree—may be generally indicative of background in a particular subject area, only a subject-matter test ensures that teachers know the specific content they will need to teach.

Require subject-matter testing when adding subject-area endorsements.
New Hampshire should require passing scores on subject-specific content tests, regardless of other coursework or degree requirements, for teachers who are licensed in core secondary subjects and wish to add another subject area, or endorsement, to their licenses.

State response to our analysis

New Hampshire recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.