Principal Evaluation and Observation: New
Hampshire

The data and analysis on this page is from 2019. View and download the most recent policy data and analysis on Principal Evaluation and Observation in New Hampshire from the State of the States 2022: Teacher and Principal Evaluation Policies report.

The state should require annual evaluations with frequent observations of all principals. This goal remained consistent between 2017 and 2019.

Does not meet goal

Suggested Citation:
National Council on Teacher Quality. (2019). Principal Evaluation and Observation: New Hampshire results. State Teacher Policy Database. [Data set].
Retrieved from: https://www.nctq.org/yearbook/state/NH-Principal-Evaluation-and-Observation-95

Analysis of New Hampshire's policies

Evaluation Frequency: New Hampshire does not require annual evaluations for principals. The state's Principal Evaluation Task Force has recommended quarterly meetings for novice principals (those with three or fewer years of experience); experienced principals should be evaluated at least once every three years.

Observation/Site Visit Requirements: New Hampshire does not articulate any requirements regarding the number of times a principal is observed.

Evaluator Training: New Hampshire does not include any training requirements in state policy.

Principal Evaluation Task Force Report: http://education.nh.gov/teaching/documents/principal-report.pdf New Hampshire Code 189:14-a

Recommendations for New Hampshire

Require annual formal evaluations for all principals.
All principals in New Hampshire should be evaluated annually. Rather than treated as mere formalities, these principal evaluations should serve as important tools for rewarding good principals, helping average principals improve, and holding weak principals accountable for poor performance.

Require multiple observations/site visits for all principals.
To ensure that annual evaluations are based on adequate information, New Hampshire should require multiple observations/site visits for all principals.

Require all principal evaluators to be both trained and certified.
All principal evaluators in New Hampshire should be trained and certified to conduct principal evaluations on systems that include objective measures. Ensuring that all evaluators are appropriately trained and certified in conducting principal evaluations will help ensure that all evaluators are able to provide principals with fair and valid evaluations.

State response to our analysis

New Hampshire recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.

Updated: June 2019