New Hampshire House Bill HB671

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/21/25
• Refer: 1/21/25
• Report Pass: 2/12/25
• Refer: 2/20/25

Caption

Establishing a kindergarten literacy readiness program.

Impact

The bill outlines that the program will be administered by the New Hampshire Department of Education and will require funding appropriated as necessary to implement the program effectively. However, the bill itself only allocates a symbolic dollar ($1) for appropriation purposes, which raises concerns about the actual funding and sustainability of the program. The estimated operational costs are around $600,000 annually, along with additional costs incurred by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for notification processes related to families eligible for assistance programs such as WIC.

Summary

House Bill 671 establishes a kindergarten literacy readiness program aimed at improving early childhood literacy and ensuring that children aged 4 and 5 years old who are not yet enrolled in kindergarten are adequately prepared for school. The program is designed to be evidence-based and utilizes a combination of home-based and center-based settings to provide educational resources tailored to preschool children. The implementation of this program will involve partnerships with nonprofit organizations to deliver the necessary digital tools and instructional support to families and childcare centers.

Contention

While the bill generally received supportive comments related to enhancing literacy and educational readiness for young children, there are notable points of contention regarding the lack of direct funding mechanisms. Critics may question the feasibility of the program without a dedicated financial structure to support it in the long term. Additionally, the requirement for families to engage with the program through technology may also present barriers for lower-income families, who might struggle with access to necessary digital devices or stable internet connections.