Except where the context makes another meaning manifest, the following words have the meanings indicated when used in this chapter:

1. (a) “Academic standards” means ”academic standards” as defined in RSA 193-E:2-a, VI(b);
2. (b) “Achievement of competencies” means a student has demonstrated competencies at a proficient level through a collection of evidence;
3. (c) “Career and technical education or CTE” means “career and technical education or CTE” as defined in RSA 188-E:2, III;
4. (d) “Cocurricular” means “cocurricular” as described in RSA 193:1-c, I. The term also includes “cocurricular program”;
5. (e) “Competencies” means “competencies” as defined in RSA 193-H:1, II;

6. (f) “Competency-based” means an educational approach that includes the following tenets:

   1. (1) Competencies are explicitly stated and measured;
   2. (2) Assessment practices are varied, authentic, transferable, and meaningful;
   3. (3) Students advance to new learning opportunities upon proficiency;
   4. (4) Students are offered timely interventions in response to their learning; and
   5. (5) Attention is paid to work study practices;
7. (g) “Course of study” means a progression of related competencies leading to graduation;
8. (h) “Credit” means the official record that a student has achieved competencies associated with learning opportunities;
9. (i) “Curriculum” means “curriculum” as defined in RSA 193-E:2-a, VI(c);
10. (j) “Department” means the New Hampshire department of education;
11. (k) “Developmentally appropriate” means activities, materials, and environments that are suitable for a person’s age, level of maturity, and stage of development including cognitive, emotional, social, and physical abilities;
12. (l) “Differentiation” means the adjustments made to learning opportunities for groups of learners based on similar learning needs;
13. (m) “Educator” means “educator” as defined in RSA 21-N:8-d, I(c);
14. (n) “Equitable” means the distribution of resources, delivery of programs, and implementation of policies based on individuals’ or groupings of individuals’ identified needs to adjust for nonachievement of competencies or other barriers to success. The term also includes “equity”;
15. (o) “Extended learning opportunities (ELOs)” means a personalized learning process that allows for achievement of competencies through means outside of the classroom;
16. (p) “Individualization” means adjustments made to learning opportunities based on specific needs of individual learners;
17. (q) “Instruction” means deliberate and strategic approaches to facilitate student learning;
18. (r) “Instructional time” means the period of time during which instruction is offered;
19. (s) “Learning level” means a student’s identified readiness to receive instruction in a competency;
20. (t) “Learning opportunities” means educational experiences, including but not limited to in-person, online, blended, and self-guided classes, ELOs, work-based learning, and alternative learning plans that lead to achievement of competencies. The term also includes “course”;
21. (u) “Local school board” means the local school board of a district under RSA 189:1-a;
22. (v) “Mastery” means a high level of demonstrated proficiency with regard to a competency;
23. (w) “Personalization” means adjustments made to learning opportunities responsive to the learner’s interests, talents, passions, and aspirations. The term also includes “personalized learning”;
24. (x) “Plan” means a written document that outlines specific goals, objectives, or desired outcomes;
25. (y) “Proficiency” means the minimum student performance required to satisfy the achievement of a competency. The term also includes “proficient”;
26. (z) “Program” means a grouping of interrelated activities, opportunities, and resources designed to implement a particular goal;
27. (aa) “Rigor” means the depth and cognitive complexity with which students are expected to demonstrate, communicate, and apply knowledge and skills aligned to competencies;
28. (ab) “State board” means the state board of education established in RSA 21-N:10; and
29. (ac) “Work-study practices” means “work-study practices” as defined in RSA 193-H:1,VIII.

Source. (See Revision Notes #1, #2, #3, and #4 at part heading for Ed 306) #14150, eff 12-13-24