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 Legal information may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrectly processed.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This RSA section is an unofficial mirror, is not legal advice, and may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrectly processed.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 21-N:8-a · Division of Educator Support and Higher Education

Title
I: THE STATE AND ITS GOVERNMENT
Chapter
21-N · DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Status
current
Official source linked
Yes
Official source Copy section link

21-N:8-a Division of Educator Support and Higher Education. –

Copy link
I.

There is hereby established within the department the division of educator support and higher education, under the supervision of an unclassified director of higher education whose responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, providing the following functions in accordance with applicable law:

Copy link
(a)

Support to the higher education commission established in paragraph II.

Copy link
(b)

Development and administration of standards governing the professional development of educators from pre-service preparation through ongoing professional development.

Copy link
(c)

Administration of standards for certifying and recertifying educational personnel, including monitoring local staff development efforts.

Copy link
(d)

Provide materials and information concerning certificate holders to boards providing licenses relative to Medicaid to schools. I-a. There is hereby established within the division of educator support and higher education the position of background check coordinator who shall be a classified employee. The background check coordinator shall be qualified to hold such position by reason of education and experience. The position shall be subject to any other employment requirements as determined by the department.

Copy link
II.

(a) There is hereby established a higher education commission which shall consist of the following members:

Copy link
(1)

The president of the university of New Hampshire, the president of Keene state college and the president of Plymouth state university.

Copy link
(2)

Two presidents from institutions within the community college system of New Hampshire, to be chosen by the board of trustees of the community college system.

Copy link
(3)

The chancellor of the university system of New Hampshire, or designee.

Copy link
(4)

The chancellor of the community college system of New Hampshire, or designee.

Copy link
(5)

The commissioner of the department of education, or designee.

Copy link
(6)

Six representatives of the private 4-year colleges in New Hampshire appointed by the governor and council on recommendation by the New Hampshire College and University Council, with no more than one representative from any one college.

Copy link
(7)

Four members to be appointed by the governor and council who shall be residents of the state and of the lay public, having no official connection with any college, university, or private postsecondary career school as an employee, trustee, or member on a board of directors.

Copy link
(8)

Two members to be appointed by the governor and council, who shall be residents of the state and shall represent private postsecondary career schools.

Copy link
(b)

The terms of appointed members, except as otherwise indicated above, shall be for 5 years and until a successor is appointed and qualified. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term.

Copy link
(c)

Commission appointments shall be made in such a way as to preserve broad and equitable representation on the basis of gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic groups in the state.

Copy link
(d)

The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for actual travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of their duties on the commission from funds appropriated to the department of education specifically for this purpose.

Copy link
(e)

The commission shall:

Copy link
(1)

Regulate institutions of higher education pursuant to RSA 292:8-b through RSA 292:8-kk. The commission may accept accreditation by a recognized accrediting association in place of its own independent evaluation.

Copy link
(2)

Regulate private postsecondary career schools pursuant to RSA 188-G.

Copy link
(3)

Administer financial aid programs as provided in state and federal law for students attending higher education institutions, except as otherwise provided by law.

Copy link
(4)

[Repealed.]

Copy link
(5)

Establish and collect reasonable annual fees related to the performance of statutory duties.

Copy link
(6)

Enter into cooperative interstate or international agreements to further operating efficiencies, student access, and educational opportunities.

Copy link
(7)

Be the designee for the integrated postsecondary education data system as developed by the United States Department of Education.

Copy link
(8)

Adopt rules, pursuant to RSA 541-A relative to:

Copy link
(A)

Organization and operation of the higher education commission established in this section.

Copy link
(B)

Approval and regulation of institutions of higher education pursuant to RSA 292:8-b through RSA 292:8-kk.

Copy link
(C)

Approval and regulation of private postsecondary career schools pursuant to RSA 188-G.

Copy link
(D)

Administration of financial aid programs for institutions of higher education, except as otherwise provided by law.

Copy link
(E)

Establishment and collection of reasonable fees for functions performed by the division of higher education and the higher education commission as required in this section.

Copy link
(9)

Assume other responsibilities as may be provided in state or federal law.

Copy link
III.

There is hereby established in the office of the treasury the higher education fund to be administered by the higher education commission. The fund shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated to the higher education commission for the purposes established in this chapter. All fees collected by the commission relative to the performance of its duties shall be deposited into the fund. Source. 2011, 224:126, eff. July 1, 2011. 2013, 164:1, eff. June 28, 2013. 2014, 132:1, eff. June 16, 2014. 2016, 43:1, eff. July 2, 2016. 2018, 315:1, eff. Aug. 24, 2018. 2019, 132:4, eff. Aug. 24, 2019. 2020, 6:27, eff. Mar. 9, 2020; 38:36, eff. Jan. 1, 2021. 2022, 35:1, eff. May 3, 2022. 2024, 44:1, eff. Aug. 13, 2024. 2025, 42:2, I, eff. July 28, 2025.

Copy link

Source note

Source. 2011, 224:126, eff. July 1, 2011. 2013, 164:1, eff. June 28, 2013. 2014, 132:1, eff. June 16, 2014. 2016, 43:1, eff. July 2, 2016. 2018, 315:1, eff. Aug. 24, 2018. 2019, 132:4, eff. Aug. 24, 2019. 2020, 6:27, eff. Mar. 9, 2020; 38:36, eff. Jan. 1, 2021. 2022, 35:1, eff. May 3, 2022. 2024, 44:1, eff. Aug. 13, 2024. 2025, 42:2, I, eff. July 28, 2025.

Source history

  • 2011, 224:126, eff. July 1, 2011
  • 2013, 164:1, eff. June 28, 2013
  • 2014, 132:1, eff. June 16, 2014
  • 2016, 43:1, eff. July 2, 2016
  • 2018, 315:1, eff. Aug. 24, 2018
  • 2019, 132:4, eff. Aug. 24, 2019
  • 2020, 6:27, eff. Mar. 9, 2020; 38:36, eff. Jan. 1, 2021
  • 2022, 35:1, eff. May 3, 2022
  • 2024, 44:1, eff. Aug. 13, 2024
  • 2025, 42:2, I, eff. July 28, 2025

Related materials

Bill relationships

  • 2026 HB1051 add · effective 2026-07-01

    ndividual's criminal history record information, including confidential criminal history record information, to the background check coordinator of the department, as described in RSA 21-N:8-a, I-a. (b) The department shall establish and implement a secure system for conducting a check of all personnel listed in this section in the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certifica

  • 2026 HB1051-FN add · effective 2026-07-01

    ndividual's criminal history record information, including confidential criminal history record information, to the background check coordinator of the department, as described in RSA 21-N:8-a, I-a. (b) The department shall establish and implement a secure system for conducting a check of all personnel listed in this section in the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certifica

  • 2026 HB1307 amend

    nsive civics curriculum framework and to provide professional development to teachers. 2 New Section; Department of Education; Civics Education Professional Commission. Amend RSA 21-N by inserting after section 8-e the following new section: 21-N:8-f Civics Professional Education Commission. I. There is established a civics education professional commission. II. The commission shall be comp

  • 2026 HB1514 amend

    ed by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; The State and Its Government; Department of Education; Required Annual Reports. Amend RSA 21-N by inserting after section 13 the following new section: 21-N:14 Required Annual Reports. I. The department of education shall annually send all school monitoring and financial reports to every relevant elected scho

  • 2026 HB1701 reference · effective 2026-07-01

    er education" means any public or private institution of higher education authorized to grant 2-year or 4-year degrees in this state by the higher education commission pursuant to RSA 21-N:8-a. IV. "Graduate" means a student who graduates from an eligible institution of higher education in May 2019 or thereafter. V. "Incentive" means a monetary award given each year for not more than 4 years by a partici

  • 2026 HB1701-FN reference · effective 2026-07-01

    er education" means any public or private institution of higher education authorized to grant 2-year or 4-year degrees in this state by the higher education commission pursuant to RSA 21-N:8-a. IV. "Graduate" means a student who graduates from an eligible institution of higher education in May 2019 or thereafter. V. "Incentive" means a monetary award given each year for not more than 4 years by a partici

  • 2026 HB1729 amend

    technical assistance and transition planning to districts that elect to participate. 3 New Subdivision; Request for Proposals for Enterprise Resource Planning Platforms. Amend RSA 21-N by inserting after section 13 the following new subdivision: Request for Proposals for Enterprise Resource Planning Platforms 21-N:14 Definitions. As used in this subdivision: I. "ERP service" means a cloud-hosted

  • 2026 HB1729-FN-A amend

    technical assistance and transition planning to districts that elect to participate. 3 New Subdivision; Request for Proposals for Enterprise Resource Planning Platforms. Amend RSA 21-N by inserting after section 13 the following new subdivision: Request for Proposals for Enterprise Resource Planning Platforms 21-N:14 Definitions. As used in this subdivision: I. "ERP service" means a cloud-hosted

  • 2026 HB1731 amend

    d House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; The State and Its Government; Department of Education; Education Opportunities Information System. Amend RSA 21-N by inserting after section 13 the following new section: 21-N:14 Education Opportunities Information System. I. The department shall develop and maintain, or purchase and implement, a school educational opportuniti

  • 2026 HB1731-FN amend

    d House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; The State and Its Government; Department of Education; Education Opportunities Information System. Amend RSA 21-N by inserting after section 13 the following new section: 21-N:14 Education Opportunities Information System. I. The department shall develop and maintain, or purchase and implement, a school educational opportuniti

  • 2026 HB1806 amend

    es maintained by the department of education. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Disciplinary List. Amend RSA 21-N by inserting after section 9 the following new section: 21-N:9-a Review and Removal from Educator Misconduct Registry. I. Any individual whose educator credential was revoked or surrendered and whose revocation w

  • 2026 HB1806-FN amend

    es maintained by the department of education. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Disciplinary List. Amend RSA 21-N by inserting after section 9 the following new section: 21-N:9-a Review and Removal from Educator Misconduct Registry. I. Any individual whose educator credential was revoked or surrendered and whose revocation w