1. (a) The local school board shall require that the curriculum content and learning opportunities developed for each high school outline district competencies leading to graduation.
2. (b) School districts shall develop district competencies, based on state academic standards where applicable, for all courses of study. School districts may use state model competencies to develop minimum district competencies.

3. (c) The required locally approved curriculum content shall comply with the following:

   1. (1) The program of studies as outlined in (q) below shall include those learning opportunities in which students demonstrate achievement of competencies as outlined in Table 306-1 or Table 306-2 when applicable;

   2. (2) Learning opportunities shall include:

      1. a. Procedures for identifying learner needs and interests;
      2. b. Methods and strategies for facilitating learning, including but not limited to personalization, individualization, and differentiation;
      3. c. Techniques for the evaluation of student outcomes, including performance assessment of competencies; and
      4. d. Opportunities for students to receive timely, personalized, and differentiated support based on their individual learning needs;
   3. (3) Learning opportunities, including ELOs, shall be planned for the achievement of competencies leading to high school graduation;

   4. (4) ELOs shall:

      1. a. Consist of activities designed to:

         1. 1. Allow a student to demonstrate achievement of competencies or supplement learning opportunities; and
         2. 2. Promote the schools’ and individual students’ educational goals and objectives;
      2. b. Be governed by a policy adopted by the local school board as outlined in Ed 306.04(b)(21)e.
      3. c. Incorporate student participation in selecting, organizing, and carrying out ELOs; and
      4. d. Be available to all students; and
   5. (5) Cocurricular programs shall offer students the opportunity to demonstrate achievement of competencies that earn credit leading to graduation.
4. (d) Each local high school shall provide reasonable accommodations for cocurricular activities as appropriate in order to allow for full access and participation by students with a disability, as defined in RSA 186-C:2, I.

5. (e) The local school board shall require a program of studies with learning opportunities offered to high school students in the following areas:

   1. (1) Arts education, including music and visual arts;
   2. (2) Business education;
   3. (3) CTE;
   4. (4) English language arts and reading;
   5. (5) Health and wellness education;
   6. (6) Physical education;
   7. (7) Digital literacy;
   8. (8) Mathematics;
   9. (9) Computer science;
   10. (10) Logic and rhetoric;
   11. (11) Science;
   12. (12) Social studies, including civics, government, economics, geography, history, and Holocaust and genocide education;
   13. (13) Engineering and technologies, including technology applications;
   14. (14) World languages;
   15. (15) ELOs; and
   16. (16) Personal finance literacy.
6. (f) Each high school shall offer maximum student learning opportunities, in and out of the classroom, while at the same time specifying a basic number of courses that each high school shall offer.

7. (g) Students shall be awarded credit leading to graduation by demonstrating achievement of competencies through completion of:

   1. (1) A collection of evidence demonstrating a student’s achievement of competencies;
   2. (2) An assessment demonstrating achievement of competencies approved by the local school district for a particular course; or
   3. (3) An assessment approved by the department demonstrating achievement of competencies if the local school district has not developed an assessment.
8. (h) The local school board shall require that graduation be based on demonstrated achievement of competencies through the accumulation of credits outlined in Table 306-1 or Table 306-2 when applicable and certified by the school principal or designee.
9. (i) Each high school shall ensure that learning opportunities support students’ achievement of competencies and lead to meeting local graduation requirements.
10. (j) Credits shall be awarded for achievement of competencies. Credits shall not be awarded based on time spent achieving these competencies.
11. (k) Students may demonstrate achievement of competencies and be awarded credit through student demonstration of a collection of evidence or other assessment evidence at a proficient level gained through prior learning opportunities.
12. (l) The areas in (e) above shall not limit opportunities to develop learning opportunities that meet the needs of each student.
13. (m) The programs of studies in (e) above may be offered and coordinated individually or through interdisciplinary studies.
14. (n) Competency in a subject area may be earned through interdisciplinary learning.
15. (o) Students shall engage with and apply English language arts and mathematics competencies during every year they are enrolled in high school, even if all required competencies for English language arts and mathematics have been demonstrated. Such engagement may occur through integration of these competencies in learning opportunities focused on content areas other than English language arts or mathematics. Nothing contained in this section shall preclude a school or district from offering learning opportunities in addition to the minimum outlined in this chapter.
16. (p) There shall be a minimum of 20 credits for a regular high school diploma, unless the local school board has set a requirement of more than 20 credits for a regular high school diploma, in which case the local credit requirement shall apply. The local school board shall require that each high school offers courses or learning opportunities as specified in (e) above.

17. (q) The following shall apply relative to the required program of studies:

    1. (1) The local school board shall verify in writing to the commissioner that each high school offers a total of at least 43 courses across the required program areas as outlined in (5) below when the school seeks approval or renewal of approval under Ed 306.24;
    2. (2) Each high school may use any relevant title to identify a particular course of study;
    3. (3) Local school boards may propose innovative ways to meet or exceed the requirements in (5) below, pursuant to Ed 306.25;
    4. (4) Local school boards shall ensure that courses necessary to meet the requirements for achievement of competencies as defined in (5) below are offered to district students enrolled in high school at no additional cost to the students and does not preclude offering learning opportunities outside of the district resources;

    5. (5) The following required courses in program areas shall be offered by each high school:

       1. a. Arts education, including music and visual art;
       2. b. Business education;
       3. c. Physical education;
       4. d. Digital literacy;
       5. e. Personal finance literacy;
       6. f. World languages;
       7. g. Health and wellness education;
       8. h. Engineering and technologies, including technology applications;
       9. i. English;
       10. j. Mathematics;
       11. k. Science;
       12. l. Logic and rhetoric;
       13. m. Social studies, including civics, government, economics, geography, history, and Holocaust and genocide education; and
       14. n. Computer science;

    6. (6) Course requirements in (5) above may be met through school identified and sanctioned remote learning pursuant to Ed 306.18 subject to the following:

       1. a. Students shall be provided learning opportunities that enable them to demonstrate achievement of competencies in courses required for graduation;
       2. b. Students shall not be required to take the remote courses to demonstrate achievement of competencies leading to graduation. Duplicate, equivalent, or additional courses in those areas may be offered through remote learning, ELOs, or other alternative programs;
       3. c. Remote learning opportunities or other alternative courses or programs to be counted toward the 43 courses required in (5) above shall be identified in the school's program of studies;
       4. d. The school shall provide, where necessary, all equipment, software, and internet connectivity necessary to participate in district-based remote learning or alternative programs or learning opportunities that are to be counted toward the 43 courses required in (5) above;
       5. e. In the cases where the school has determined that there is no other way to provide a required course, the costs of registration shall be borne by the school district for courses or alternative programs to be counted toward the 43 courses required in (5) above; and
       6. f. At least one staff member shall be identified and available to assist students having difficulty with remote learning and other alternative programs;
    7. (7) Courses offered at regional CTE centers and available to all high school students may be counted toward the 43 courses required in (5) above to be offered at each host or sending high school in the region and be identified in the school's program of studies;
    8. (8) Students demonstrating achievement of competencies acquired through CTE courses shall be awarded credit leading to graduation;
    9. (9) Nothing in this section shall prevent a high school from offering classroom learning opportunities, remote learning, independent study programs, CTE courses, or ELOs in addition to the courses required in (5) above, and schools shall not be required to pay for student registration or similar fees for additional courses or programs; and
    10. (10) Nothing in this section shall prevent a student from demonstrating achievement of competencies through classroom learning opportunities, CTE courses, remote learning, independent study, or ELOs to meet the graduation requirements of Ed 306.23(f) consistent with local district policies.

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