New Hampshire School Social Media Laws & FOIA Compliance
New Hampshire School Social Media Laws & FOIA Compliance
Social media gives New Hampshire districts a powerful way to tell their story—but it comes with a compliance reality many teams underestimate: under state law, official school social media accounts are public records, open to the same kind of request as a paper file.
Understanding FOIA in New Hampshire
Since 1967, the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has guaranteed the public’s right to access records held by government agencies. FOIA itself applies to federal agencies, but it set the legal and cultural expectation of transparency that every state has since built on—extending the same basic right to state and local government bodies, including public school districts. Because districts are funded by taxpayers and governed by elected boards, that standard applies to them too, and it covers more than paper records: it covers what they post on social media.
How New Hampshire Extends FOIA
New Hampshire establishes this right at the state level through Part I, Article 8 of the New Hampshire Constitution and the Right-to-Know Law, RSA Chapter 91-A, which together guarantee public access to governmental proceedings and records. School districts and school administrative units are named public bodies under RSA 91-A:1-a, so school boards must comply. Governmental records include any information created, accepted, or obtained by or on behalf of a public body in any form, electronic included, and electronic records must be kept as long as their paper counterparts. In Ortolano v. City of Nashua (2023), the New Hampshire Supreme Court held that a city violated the law by refusing to search backup tapes for a former employee’s deleted emails. For districts, that means posts, comments, and messages on official social media accounts should be managed as public records, ready to search and produce on request.
What This Means for New Hampshire School Social Media
- Every post, comment, edit, and deletion across your district’s official accounts may be subject to disclosure—not just what’s currently visible on the page.
- New Hampshire districts have 5 business days to produce records, deny in writing, or give a written timeline—so your team needs records ready to search.
- New Hampshire requires every school board to keep a retention schedule and holds electronic records to the same periods as paper, so social media content needs the same retention discipline as paper files.
- Some content may be exempt from disclosure (e.g., FERPA-protected student information), but knowing what qualifies requires careful, consistent review.
- Without an automated system, gathering this information manually can take days; Class Intercom captures it in real time so your team is always ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is school social media considered a public record in New Hampshire?
How long must New Hampshire school districts retain social media records?
What is the response timeframe for a Right-to-Know request in New Hampshire?
Does New Hampshire restrict student cell phone use in schools?
How does Class Intercom help New Hampshire districts stay compliant?
Social Media Archiving, Made Easy for New Hampshire Schools
Class Intercom automatically archives every social media activity across your accounts—posts, comments, edits, and deletions—the moment it happens. Built-in search means responding to a records request takes minutes, not a frantic scramble through screenshots, and one-click export makes sharing archived records with requesters simple.
- Automatic, real-time archival across every account and platform—no manual exports or gaps
- Search and export records instantly for open records requests, with formatted, share-ready reports
- Purpose-built for the recordkeeping and transparency standards New Hampshire schools are held to
- A complete records management system for social media record retention—not just occasional screenshots
- Keyword flagging, comment monitoring, and complete audit trails protect your district’s reputation
Class Intercom brings social media management, community engagement, and archival compliance together in one platform built specifically for schools—so New Hampshire districts don’t need separate systems for publishing, engagement, and records management.
See How Archival Works →
New Hampshire’s Approach to Student Phone Policies
New Hampshire’s budget trailer bill, HB 2, signed by Gov. Kelly Ayotte on June 27, 2025, added RSA 189:1-a, V. Starting in the 2025–26 school year, every school board and chartered public school board must adopt a policy banning student personal device use from the first bell to the dismissal bell. Boards write their policies with parents and teachers and review them every year.
The law allows exceptions only for medical, disability, and language-access needs, with no teacher-directed exception for personal phones. It covers student-owned devices, so a journalism or media teacher can still run supervised, in-class work in a tool like Class Intercom on school-issued devices for school-sanctioned content creation.
Read RSA 189:1-a →- Bell-to-bell ban on student personal devices
- Covers districts and chartered public schools
- Exceptions for medical, IEP/504, and language access
- Policies reviewed annually with parents and teachers
Digital Citizenship & Digital Literacy in New Hampshire Schools
Digital citizenship and media literacy matter for New Hampshire students now more than ever—recognizing misinformation, protecting their own privacy, and using social platforms responsibly are skills they will rely on in school, work, and civic life. Authentic, hands-on practice—like helping manage real school social media under supervision—builds those instincts far better than a worksheet does.
Technology Literacy Requirement—Ed 306.42
New Hampshire’s school approval standards require every school board to run an information and communication technologies literacy program in grades 1–12 that teaches ethical, responsible use of technology. Students show competency by the end of grade 8, and high schools must offer a half-credit technology course.
Pupil Safety and Violence Prevention Act—RSA 193-F
New Hampshire defines cyberbullying as bullying through electronic devices, email, messaging, or websites, including off-campus conduct that disrupts school. Districts must adopt a written policy, notify parents within 48 hours, begin investigating within five school days, and train staff every year.
What the Meta Settlement Means for New Hampshire Schools
In August 2026, Attorney General John Formella announced that New Hampshire will receive up to $224 million from Meta, resolving the state’s own lawsuit. Meta also agreed to teen protections, including no notifications from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on school days.
What Class Intercom Delivers for New Hampshire Districts
New Hampshire schools are already using Class Intercom to create, schedule, moderate, publish, monitor, and archive great social media—all in one place. The results:
Stronger Community Connections
Build stronger community-to-school connections through consistent, authentic storytelling across every platform.
Creative Student & School Stories
Give students and staff a creative outlet to voice real school and classroom experiences.
Responsible Digital Citizens
Help students learn to be responsible digital citizens while gaining real-world digital marketing skills.
Peace of Mind on Public Records
Rest easy knowing every post is archived and searchable the moment a records request comes in.
Class Intercom provides peace of mind knowing our accounts are still under our control, but it empowers students to create. It changed how I do my job in such a dramatically positive way, and I want others to benefit as well!
Empowering Student Voice in New Hampshire Schools
Student voice is integral to telling your school district’s story through social media. With built-in moderation features that encourage collaboration and feedback among students, educators, and administration, Class Intercom empowers students to safely take ownership of their school’s narrative—while gaining real-world digital marketing skills and practicing responsible digital citizenship.
Learn MoreResources for New Hampshire Schools
Primary sources for everything referenced on this page—bill text, statutes, court filings, and agency guidance—so your team, your board, or the press can verify the details firsthand.
See Public Records Laws in All 50 States →Meta State AGs’ Consent Judgment & Settlement Agreement
The proposed consent judgment behind the multistate Meta settlement referenced in the Digital Citizenship section above.
Best PracticesEmpowering Student Content Creators Amid Phone Bans
How to keep student journalism and content programs running under phone-restricted school days, including teacher-permitted educational use.
Statute TextRSA Chapter 91-A: Right-to-Know Law
The full text of New Hampshire’s public records and meetings law, including the five-day response rule.
Statute TextRSA 189:29-a: School Records Retention
Requires every school board to adopt a records retention and disposition schedule.
Statute TextRSA 189:1-a: Student Cell Phone Policy
The bell-to-bell ban on student personal devices and its exceptions.
Press ReleaseNew Hampshire Attorney General—Meta Settlement
The Attorney General’s announcement of New Hampshire’s share of the Meta settlement.
Board PolicySAU 7 Policy KD: District Social Media Websites
A New Hampshire board policy on official district social media sites, approval, and monitoring.
Ready to Simplify Compliance & Community Engagement for Your New Hampshire District?
See how Class Intercom brings social media management, community engagement surveys, and archival compliance together in one platform built for schools.