HB1571

Periodic review of standards can improve educational quality and equity, but the review process must prioritize evidence-based practices, inclusivity, and public input, and the appropriation should not divert funds from classroom instruction or critical services.

The education system today is not focused on enough rigor. We need to equip our future generations with the skills so that America remains the leader in innovation and technology.

Honorable Committee Members, I am writing to express my strong support for HB 1571 to revise academic standards. My children have attended private school for the past 4 years and switched to public school this year. I was not prepared for the academic differences we are seeing. To begin with, many schools utilize Aimsweb testing which as of August 2025 has new LOWERED reading standards. Why are we lowering the bar for our children? Additionally, my children have gone from meeting or excelling standards in private school, to struggling across the board suddenly. My child who has always been a strong math student is coming home frustrated and not understanding the way math concepts are being taught in public school. My first grade student has gone from age expected phonemic awareness skills to being recommended for RTI. When my child comes home with a failed spelling test, I have to spend my afternoon giving him direct instruction, which he responds to and retains. Teachers spend all day blindly following their Common Core instruction books to teach to the test and hope their students pass, instead of feeling the freedom to slow down and teach their students what they actually need. Common Core is helping NO ONE. Regards, Edward Saltalamacchia

Honorable Committee Members, I am writing to express my strong support for HB 1571 to revise academic standards. My children have attended private school for the past 4 years and switched to public school this year. I was not prepared for the academic differences we are seeing. To begin with, many schools utilize Aimsweb testing which as of August 2025 has new LOWERED reading standards. Why are we lowering the bar for our children? Additionally, my children have gone from meeting or excelling standards in private school, to struggling across the board suddenly. My child who has always been a strong math student is coming home frustrated and not understanding the way math concepts are being taught in public school. My first grade student has gone from age expected phonemic awareness skills to being recommended for RTI. When my child comes home with a failed spelling test, I have to spend my afternoon giving him direct instruction, which he responds to and retains. Teachers spend all day blindly following their Common Core instruction books to teach to the test and hope their students pass, instead of feeling the freedom to slow down and teach their students what they actually need. Common Core is helping NO ONE. Regards, Lauren Saltalamacchia

Top 10 Problems with Common Core 1. Lowered Academic Rigor in Key Grades Despite claims of “college and career readiness,” many standards—especially in middle school math—delay or dilute core content (e.g., Algebra I), leaving students underprepared for advanced coursework. 2. Overemphasis on Process at the Expense of Content Students are often required to explain multiple strategies before mastering basic facts and procedures, undermining fluency in arithmetic and algebra. 3. Incoherent Math Progression The sequencing of topics is frequently fragmented. Foundational skills are spread thinly across grades rather than being taught to mastery, violating well-established principles of cognitive learning. 4. Weakness in Early Mathematics Common Core deemphasizes memorization and standard algorithms in early grades, leading to poor number sense and widespread deficiencies that persist into later grades. 5. One-Size-Fits-All National Framework Common Core constrains local control and professional judgment, limiting the ability of districts and teachers to choose curricula aligned with their students’ needs. 6. Mismatch Between Standards and Curriculum The standards themselves are vague, but the curricula developed to “align” with them (e.g., inquiry-heavy or discovery-based programs) often exacerbate instructional weaknesses. 7. Increased Cognitive Load on Students Complex word problems, multiple representations, and excessive written explanations overwhelm students—particularly struggling learners—before they have mastered the underlying math. 8. Misalignment with High-Performing Countries Contrary to marketing claims, Common Core does not resemble the focused, content-driven curricula used in high-performing countries like Singapore, Japan, or South Korea. 9. Poor Results After Long-Term Implementation After more than a decade, national assessments (NAEP) show flat or declining math achievement, suggesting the standards have failed to improve outcomes at scale. 10. Erosion of Teacher-Led Instruction Common Core implementation has often discouraged direct instruction in favor of student-led discovery, despite strong evidence that explicit teaching is more effective—especially in mathematics. Thank you for your SUPPORT. -Mrs. Martha Jaquith Kingston NH

My children are being failed by the curriculum currently in place. I urge you to support the education of our future and make the recommended changes

American students are becoming dumber and less competitive globally. Ever since common core started, NH students have become less proficient in all academic subjects. Our students are not developing foundational skills. Math has become drawn out and over complicated. Students lack content knowledge with poor spelling, vocabulary and basic math memorization. Teachers no longer teach, they facilitate in the student led model in the classrooms. The algorithms in iReady are constantly assessing and reassessing students, not the teachers. Why bother having teachers when they are facilitators? Now with access to AI, I fear it’s only going to get worse. IMO, students in “good” schools usually do better because their families can afford to supplement their education with outside help. I continue to attend my local school board meetings and can’t believe how over complicated education has become, and students are not more proficient. Just more IEPs, 504s and students with behavioral considerations. I can empathize with families that want to distance themselves from public schools. So glad my 2020 and 2022 grads were ahead of the common core wave in K-12. Both students went on to attend Purdue, one in aerospace engineering and the other an ESL bilingual elementary education teacher. Neither will find many employment opportunities in NH.

I stand by this bill as a mother of 3 children in the public school district. I find that common core has not proven to help in any way. Our math scores and reading scores in the united states are extremely low compared to other countries. Why is it in towns that are known for the best education? And the families that pay extremely high taxes to have the best education are pulling their children out and seeking education. In private schools. Parents are tired of seeing their children fail. This system doesn't work. And as a parent trying to help my child at home when they're struggling, it's making things more confusing for them as what I was taught, standard algorithm and phonics based reading it's no longer the direction.Let's go back to the way things were. When children could easily do math and read. Below are top ten reasons why common core doesn't work 1. Lowered Academic Rigor in Key Grades Despite claims of “college and career readiness,” many standards—especially in middle school math—delay or dilute core content (e.g., Algebra I), leaving students underprepared for advanced coursework. 2. Overemphasis on Process at the Expense of Content Students are often required to explain multiple strategies before mastering basic facts and procedures, undermining fluency in arithmetic and algebra. 3. Incoherent Math Progression The sequencing of topics is frequently fragmented. Foundational skills are spread thinly across grades rather than being taught to mastery, violating well-established principles of cognitive learning. 4. Weakness in Early Mathematics Common Core deemphasizes memorization and standard algorithms in early grades, leading to poor number sense and widespread deficiencies that persist into later grades. 5. One-Size-Fits-All National Framework Common Core constrains local control and professional judgment, limiting the ability of districts and teachers to choose curricula aligned with their students’ needs. 6. Mismatch Between Standards and Curriculum The standards themselves are vague, but the curricula developed to “align” with them (e.g., inquiry-heavy or discovery-based programs) often exacerbate instructional weaknesses. 7. Increased Cognitive Load on Students Complex word problems, multiple representations, and excessive written explanations overwhelm students—particularly struggling learners—before they have mastered the underlying math. 8. Misalignment with High-Performing Countries Contrary to marketing claims, Common Core does not resemble the focused, content-driven curricula used in high-performing countries like Singapore, Japan, or South Korea. 9. Poor Results After Long-Term Implementation After more than a decade, national assessments (NAEP) show flat or declining math achievement, suggesting the standards have failed to improve outcomes at scale. 10. Erosion of Teacher-Led Instruction Common Core implementation has often discouraged direct instruction in favor of student-led discovery, despite strong evidence that explicit teaching is more effective—especially in mathematics.

I am concerned that the approach for teaching Math is not aimed at the bulk of students. Creative discovery in Math education favors those students who have natural Math inclination, and makes it harder for students who require more assistance. It also makes it hard for parents to assist their children with their homework.

We need to go back to basics. My daughter is almost 21 ..can’t write cursive, no concept of money and no ability to do simple mathematics..get these kids ready for the real world without teachers infiltrating their political beliefs

Common core does not equal common sense. Having an 8 year old, she struggles with the learning styles taught. We now home school because what is put out for education is lacking in every way possible. Get rid of common core. Also teachers need to realize every child is different and teachers need to learn to adapt to different styles of teaching

Stop with DEI and start educating our children.

I , like most people, want our children to strive to be their best. I firmly believe that supporting this bill gives kids the best type of common sense education that encourages excellence. Please support this bill. Don’t let our kids down!

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