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Additions to Competency Based Learning Series

'No Grades’ Failure

New Hampshire schools experimented with a radical approach to competency-based education. The failure of the pilot mirrors current concerns over revisions in state minimum standards.: The ‘No Grades No Grades’ pilot ended grade levels and letter grade scores in select schools, but none of the schools have continued that approach due to a lack of leadership, professional development, and funding. 

Mixed-Age Learning Barriers

Mixed-age learning is a tenent of competency-based education: Parent perceptions, hesitant teachers, and scheduling challenges are all barriers to mixed-age learning, according to educators who have tried it. 

Recent GSNC Stories

NH Alerts Unveiled

State launches NH Alerts, a new, ‘more efficient’ emergency notification system: The state of New Hampshire recently unveiled NH Alerts, a new emergency notification designed to warn people about emergencies — among them, tornadoes, floods, power outages and gas leaks. Learn more about this new service by clicking the button below!

Cultural Barriers and Mental Health

Language barrier, lack of providers limit access to mental health services in the Hispanic community: According to a 2021 report from the Centers for Disease Control, over 40% of Latino adults reported psychological stress, with almost 23% reporting suicidal thoughts. Learn about how language or cultural barriers can amplify everyday stress by clicking the button below.

Asphalt Plant Dispute

Company whose proposed asphalt plant was rejected by Nashua fights on in court: A Nashua company whose proposal to build an asphalt plant in one of the city’s oldest industrial districts was rejected last year by the Planning Board is persisting in its battle in Hillsborough County Superior Court.

Partner Podcasts

Penalties for Overserving

Should restaurants, bars face stiffer penalties for overserving alcohol?: If a customer drives drunk and hurts someone, the business that served them may face a fine and a suspended alcohol license. To some victim advocates, however, these penalties do not go far enough. This year a New Hampshire family is working with legislators to raise the stakes for bars and restaurants overserving alcohol.

Creating coverage

How Melanie Plenda and Carol Robidoux came together to bring news to Nashua: On this episode of Granite Beat, hosts Julie Hart and Adam Drapcho talk with Melanie Plenda, executive director of the Granite State News Collaborative, and Carol Robidoux, founder and editor of Manchester Ink Link and Nashua Ink Link, New Hampshire's newest outlet, created with the help of the collaborative.

Poverty & Food Insecurity

Empowering the next generation: Inside the journey of New Hampshire's youngest lawmakers: What's it like to be two of the youngest politicians at the State House? Twenty-year-old Democrat Jonah Wheeler of Peterborough and 19-year-old Republican Valerie McDonnell of Salem are the youngest state representatives in the N.H. House. Learn about their journey and experiences by clicking the button below!

My name is Caitlin Agnew, and as a freelance Assistant Editor at GSNC my mission is clear: to foster enhanced communication between us. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns my email is always open caitlin.agnew@collaborativenh.org

Thank you for being part of the Granite State News Collaborative family.