Live Free or Die Legal
This website is not an official source of law. This website does not provide legal advice. For official legal materials, verify against the relevant court, legislature, agency, or other official source. Legal information may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrectly processed. Consult a qualified attorney for advice about a specific legal matter.

This RSA section is an unofficial mirror, is not legal advice, and may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrectly processed.

RSA 198:48-a · Alternative Kindergarten Programs

Title
XV: EDUCATION
Chapter
198 · SCHOOL MONEY
Status
current
Official source linked
Yes
Official source Copy section link

198:48-a Alternative Kindergarten Programs. –

Copy link
I.

A school district that currently does not operate a kindergarten program within an approved public school maintained by the local district or currently does not contract with another established public kindergarten program for the education of its resident kindergarten pupils, may submit to the commissioner of the department of education a local plan for an alternative kindergarten program based upon contractual arrangements with one or more nonpublic, non-sectarian schools or facilities. An alternative kindergarten program shall be:

Copy link
(a)

Offered immediately preceding the other elementary grades.

Copy link
(b)

Designed primarily for 5-year-olds.

Copy link
(c)

Available at district expense to all kindergarten-aged children who reside in the district.

Copy link
II.

An alternative kindergarten program shall satisfy the same criteria established for public kindergarten programs in the New Hampshire standards for school approval.

Copy link
III.

A local plan for an alternative kindergarten program shall be approved by the school board. A local plan for an alternative kindergarten program shall be submitted to the commissioner of the department of education at times established by the commissioner.

Copy link
IV.

A local plan shall contain the following information:

Copy link
(a)

A description of the alternative kindergarten program.

Copy link
(b)

A list of the nonpublic, non-sectarian schools or facilities to be utilized.

Copy link
(c)

Evidence that the alternative kindergarten program satisfies the same criteria established for public kindergarten programs in the New Hampshire minimum standards for the approval of schools.

Copy link
(d)

Procedures for coordinating and articulating curriculum, instruction, and support services provided under the alternative kindergarten program with curriculum, instruction, and support services provided in the other elementary grades.

Copy link
(e)

An explanation of how students will be transported to and from the schools or facilities to be utilized.

Copy link
V.

The plan shall be reviewed by the department of education for compliance with statutory requirements.

Copy link
VI.

If an approved alternative kindergarten program utilizes more than one school or facility, the school board or the superintendent or other administrative officer designated by the school board may take into consideration parental preference when assigning students to schools or facilities.

Copy link
VII.

(a) Upon the effective date of this paragraph, and for each fiscal year through June 30, 2003, an adequate education grant of $1,200 per pupil shall be distributed to school districts, from the education trust fund created in RSA 198:39, for the education of its resident kindergarten pupils enrolled in an approved alternative kindergarten program established under this section.

Copy link
(b)

Once pupils enrolled in an approved alternative kindergarten program have been counted in the average daily membership in residence, school districts shall receive, for each such pupil, an adequate education grant calculated in accordance with RSA 198:41 through RSA 198:42.

Copy link
VIII.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, alternative kindergarten programs which were approved and in effect prior to April 29, 1999 may continue to operate and shall continue to receive per pupil adequate education grant amounts in accordance with RSA 198:41 through RSA 198:42. Source. 2000, 289:1. 2001, 158:36. 2005, 257:20. 2007, 270:3, eff. June 29, 2007. 2008, 384:4, eff. July 11, 2008. 2017, 63:8, eff. Aug. 1, 2017.

Copy link

Source note

Source. 2000, 289:1. 2001, 158:36. 2005, 257:20. 2007, 270:3, eff. June 29, 2007. 2008, 384:4, eff. July 11, 2008. 2017, 63:8, eff. Aug. 1, 2017.

Source history

  • 2000, 289:1
  • 2001, 158:36
  • 2005, 257:20
  • 2007, 270:3, eff. June 29, 2007
  • 2008, 384:4, eff. July 11, 2008
  • 2017, 63:8, eff. Aug. 1, 2017

Related materials

Bill relationships

  • 2026 HB1799 amend · effective 2026-11-01

    t paid for items of current education expense as determined by the department of education. 7 New Section; Education; School Money; Adequate Education Funding Commission. Amend RSA 198 by inserting after section 39 the following new section: 198:39-a Adequate Education Funding Commission. I. There is established a commission to study and identify, consistent with RSA 193-E:1, transition and re

  • 2026 HB1799-FN amend · effective 2026-11-01

    t paid for items of current education expense as determined by the department of education. 7 New Section; Education; School Money; Adequate Education Funding Commission. Amend RSA 198 by inserting after section 39 the following new section: 198:39-a Adequate Education Funding Commission. I. There is established a commission to study and identify, consistent with RSA 193-E:1, transition and re

  • 2026 HB1824 amend

    acted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Sections; School District Financial Distress; State Assistance; Municipal Assistance. Amend RSA 198 by inserting after section 20-d the following new sections: 198:20-e School District Financial Distress; State Assistance. This section provides for the financial recovery of school districts that are in financial

  • 2026 HB1824-FN amend

    acted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Sections; School District Financial Distress; State Assistance; Municipal Assistance. Amend RSA 198 by inserting after section 20-d the following new sections: 198:20-e School District Financial Distress; State Assistance. This section provides for the financial recovery of school districts that are in financial

  • 2026 HB563 amend · effective 2026-07-01

    djusted by taking the newly adjusted maximum grant and dividing by the difference between the grant floor and grant ceiling. 4 New Section; Fiscal Capacity Disparity Aid. Amend RSA 198 by inserting after section 40-f the following new section: 198:40-g Fiscal Capacity Disparity Aid. I. In addition to aid for the cost of the opportunity for an adequate education provided under RSA 198:40-a, each yea

  • 2026 HB563-FN amend · effective 2026-07-01

    djusted by taking the newly adjusted maximum grant and dividing by the difference between the grant floor and grant ceiling. 4 New Section; Fiscal Capacity Disparity Aid. Amend RSA 198 by inserting after section 40-f the following new section: 198:40-g Fiscal Capacity Disparity Aid. I. In addition to aid for the cost of the opportunity for an adequate education provided under RSA 198:40-a, each yea

  • 2026 HB772 amend · effective 2025-07-01

    partment of revenue administration the information needed to set tax rates. 6 New Sections; Determination of Foundation Opportunity Budget Local Share; Transition Grants. Amend RSA 198 by inserting after section 41 the following new sections: 198:41-a Determination of Foundation Opportunity Budget Local Share. I. Each municipality shall annually appropriate for the support of public schools in t

  • 2026 HB772-FN amend

    partment of revenue administration the information needed to set tax rates. 6 New Sections; Determination of Foundation Opportunity Budget Local Share; Transition Grants. Amend RSA 198 by inserting after section 41 the following new sections: 198:41-a Determination of Foundation Opportunity Budget Local Share. I. Each municipality shall annually appropriate for the support of public schools in t

  • 2025 HB2 add

    y adjusted maximum grant and dividing by the difference between the grant floor and grant ceiling. 141:225 New Section; Education; Adequate Education; Education Trust Fund; Fiscal Capacity Disparity Aid. Amend RSA 198 by inserting after section 40-f the following new section: 198:40-g Fiscal Capacity Disparity Aid. I. In addition to aid for the cost of the opportunity for an adequate education provided under RSA 198:40-a, e