Local School Voucher Bill to Be Heard
Action Needed
Week in Review This week the House Education Committee heard four separate school voucher bills. Three of those bills equated to universal voucher programs meaning that anyone of any income level could access the voucher program. What does this mean in practice? According to analysis by Reaching Higher New Hampshire at Reaching Higher NH Universal Voucher Analysis 1-12-24 it would cost the state an additional 82 million dollars a year, with a total cost of the voucher program being north of $100 million dollars.
What does this mean for New Hampshire? Since there would not be an income limit the ultra-wealthy would be getting a tax subsidy to pay for private school, they were already managing just fine without a school voucher while hard working Granite Staters would continue to see their local property taxes rise and educational outcomes fall as money meant for our local neighborhood public schools becomes even more scarce.
The State of New Hampshire does a poor job making sure that all children have access to a robust public education in their district because it has done an inadequate job of funding public schools. Much has been left up to local property taxpayers, which is why some public schools are able to provide students with so much more than others. Our NH Constitution says, and courts have found, that this is not fair to our students or our local property taxpayers. Yet the Legislature is considering vouchers, which is something it chooses to spend money on, before it meets its constitutional funding obligation to all Granite State children and property taxpayers.
The Week Ahead Next week all eyes will be on the First-In-The-Nation primary but there will still be a lot of action at the State House. This includes two bills that would dramatically impact our local public schools. Do you remember a couple of years ago when the legislature and Anti-Public Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut tried to change core curriculum so that schools would only have to teach four subjects. That bill is back. Also, coming back from the proverbial legislative grave yard is local school vouchers.
HB 1652-FN is a local school voucher bill. This the perfect example of taking a bad idea and making it worse. Instead of just covering the state cost of education under a voucher program, this bill requires the amount each municipality pays to educate their students would also go to voucher students. To put it simply, the local school district would be required to transfer funds directly to the student’s scholarship fund administered outside the district. The amount would be equal to twice the per pupil adequate education grant amount under RSA 198:40-a, plus any differentiated aid that would have been provided to a public school for that eligible student. Remember, the local vouchers would also apply to students who are not currently in public schools. This bill would cripple municipal budgets and dramatically raise local property taxes.
HB 1691 is a bill that requires that schools emphasize teaching reading, math, science and social studies, and all other subjects would become, in effect, optional. Our local public schools provide a well-rounded education to our students. While those core subjects are important, other subjects may be what makes a student excited to be in school and may be what gets them through the day. We also know that under our current funding formula schools from property poor towns would be more likely to have to get rid of these important subjects further widening the education gap in New Hampshire created by your zip code. Our students deserve a high quality, rounded education no matter which district they live in, and this bill hurts that goal.
ACTION NEEDED FOR THIS WEEK
Please click the link to email the House Education Committee and ask them to vote Inexpedient to Legislate on HB 1652 and HB 1691.
Thank you for keeping informed and taking action. Reaching out to legislators does make a difference.
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You can also read written testimony submitted to the legislature at STATE HOUSE NEWS.
We will post next week’s schedule of bill we are monitoring at the end of the weekly bulletin. If you want to find out more information about any bill, you can simply enter the bill at the following link: FIND A BILL.
Upcoming Legislative Hearings
|
Bill |
Position |
Description |
Sponsor |
Location |
|
|
Mon 1/22 9:00 AM |
HB 1088 |
Monitor |
Enabling Schools to Maintain A Supply Of Epinephrine Auto-injectors. |
Rep. Jodi Nelson |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Mon 1/22 9:00 AM |
HB 1069 |
Monitor |
Relative to Material Subject to Disclosure Following A Public Meeting Under The Right-to-know Law. |
Rep. Jess Edwards |
LOB 206-208 (Judiciary/H) |
|
Mon 1/22 9:00 AM |
HB 1002 |
Monitor |
Relative to Fees For Records Under The Right-to-know Law. |
Rep. Katelyn Kuttab |
LOB 206-208 (Judiciary/H) |
|
Mon 1/22 9:30 AM |
HB 1553 |
Oppose |
Relative to Establishing A Pilot Program Under The Department Of Education to Offer "spelling to Communicate" Services to Students with Autism or Apraxia. |
Rep. Jim Kofalt |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Mon 1/22 10:15 AM |
HB 1652 |
Oppose |
Relative to Establishing A Local Education Freedom Account Program. |
Rep. Kevin Verville |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Mon 1/22 11:15 AM |
HB 1691 |
Oppose |
Relative to The Definition Of An Adequate Public Education. |
Rep. Glenn Cordelli |
|
|
Mon 1/22 12:45 PM |
HB 1493 |
Monitor |
Relative to The Powers and Duties Of Cooperative School District Budget Committees. |
Rep. Walter Spilsbury |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Mon 1/22 1:15 PM |
HB 1642 |
Monitor |
Relative to The Role Of Cooperative School District Board Member Representatives On School District Budget Committees. |
Rep. Walter Spilsbury |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Mon 1/22 2:15 PM |
HB 1383 |
Monitor |
Relative to Cooperative School Board District Elections. |
Rep. Riché Colcombe |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Mon 1/22 2:45 PM |
HB 1579 |
Monitor |
Relative to The Merging Of School Administrative Units. |
Rep. James Tierney |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Mon 1/22 3:15 PM |
HB 1195 |
Monitor |
Relative to Allowing School Districts to Approve Different Apportionment Methods For School Administrative Unit Costs. |
Rep. David Meuse |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Tue 1/23 9:30 AM |
SB 447 |
Support |
Relative to Funding For School Transportation Services Under Default Budgets. |
Sen. Shannon Chandley |
LOB Room 103 |
|
Wed 1/24 9:15 AM |
HB 1675 |
Opposed |
Relative to Adjusting Education Adequacy Grants Based On Pupil Proficiency. |
Rep. Alicia Lekas |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Wed 1/24 9:15 AM |
HB 1690 |
Opposed |
Relative to Hiring, Promotion, Graduation, or Admission In Higher Education. |
Rep. Travis Corcoran |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Wed 1/24 9:15 AM |
HB 1534 |
Monitor |
Relative to Establishing A Program to Earn Tuition Credits For State Of New Hampshire Higher Education Institutions Through Community Service. |
Rep. Kristina Schultz |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Wed 1/24 9:15 AM |
HB 1212 |
Support |
Relative to Eligibility For Free School Meals. |
Rep. Muriel Hall |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Wed 1/24 9:15 AM |
HB 1216 |
Monitor |
Relative to Cross-district Bullying and Cyberbullying. |
Rep. Kristine Perez |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Wed 1/24 9:15 AM |
HB 1516 |
Monitor |
Relative to Enrollment In Public Schools By Children Of School District Employees. |
Rep. Alvin See |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Wed 1/24 9:15 AM |
HB 1164 |
support |
Relative to Criminal Records Checks Of Teacher Credentialing Applicants. |
Rep. Rick Ladd |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Wed 1/24 9:15 AM |
HB 1048 |
Monitor |
Relative to The Commission On Holocaust and Genocide Education. |
Rep. Dan Wolf |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Wed 1/24 9:15 AM |
HB 1058 |
Monitor |
Relative to School Employee and Designated School Volunteer Criminal History Records Checks. |
Rep. Kristine Perez |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Wed 1/24 9:15 AM |
HB 1153 |
Opposed |
Relative to Mandatory and Elective Public School Curricula. |
Rep. Mike Belcher |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Wed 1/24 9:15 AM |
HB 1402 |
Opposed |
Establishing A Procedure For A High School Proficiency Exam Waiver Of Mandatory School Attendance. |
Rep. Alicia Lekas |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Wed 1/24 9:15 AM |
HB 1165 |
Monitor |
Relative to Procedures For School Facilities Under The Department Of Education. |
Rep. Rick Ladd |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Wed 1/24 9:15 AM |
HB 1128 |
support |
Relative to The Definition Of A Scholarship Organization For Purposes Of The Education Tax Credit. |
Rep. David Luneau |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Wed 1/24 9:15 AM |
HB 1167 |
Monitor |
Relative to The Math Learning Communities Program. |
Rep. Rick Ladd |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Wed 1/24 9:45 AM |
SB 336 |
Oppose |
Relative to Misrepresentation By Public Employees. |
Sen. Keith Murphy |
SH 103 (Executive Departments and Administration/S) |
|
Wed 1/24 10:00 AM |
HB 1105 |
Oppose |
Relative to Application Of A Local Tax Cap. |
Rep. Diane Pauer |
LOB 301-303 (Municipal and County Government/H) |
|
Wed 1/24 10:00 AM |
HB 1342 |
Monitor |
Relative to The Licensing Of Electronic Literary Materials By Libraries. |
Rep. Shaun Filiault |
LOB 301-303 (Municipal and County Government/H) |
|
Wed 1/24 10:00 AM |
HB 1207 |
Monitor |
Relative to Single-use Disposable Plastic Foodware Accessories. |
Rep. Tony Caplan |
LOB 302-304 (Commerce and Consumer Affairs/H) |
|
Wed 1/24 11:30 AM |
HB 1344 |
Monitor |
Relative to Criminalizing The Enticement and Manipulation Of Minors to Engage In Sexual Activity. |
Rep. Kristine Perez |
LOB 202-204 (Criminal Justice and Public Safety/H) |
|
Wed 1/24 1:45 PM |
HB 1161 |
Oppose |
Relative to Use Of The Public School Infrastructure Fund For Energy Efficient School Buses. |
Rep. Rick Ladd |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Wed 1/24 1:45 PM |
HB 1256 |
Monitor |
Establishing Liability For Publishers and Distributors Of Internet Material Harmful to Minors. |
Rep. Michael Moffett |
LOB 206-208 (Judiciary/H) |
|
Wed 1/24 2:00 PM |
HB 1452 |
Monitor |
Relative to Credentials For The Position Of Superintendent Of Schools and School Business Officer. |
Rep. David Luneau |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Wed 1/24 2:10 PM |
HB 1297 |
Monitor |
Relative to The Authority Of Municipalities to Enforce Ordinances Related to Health and Safety. |
Rep. Ellen Read |
LOB 301-303 (Municipal and County Government/H) |
|
Wed 1/24 2:30 PM |
HB 1552 |
Monitor |
Relative to The Duties and Responsibilities Of Superintendents Of School Administrative Units. |
Rep. Glenn Cordelli |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Wed 1/24 3:00 PM |
HB 1265 |
Monitor |
Relative to The Penalty For Failure to File School Expenditure Reports, and Relative to Certain Adequacy Grants. |
Rep. Sallie Fellows |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Thu 1/25 9:00 AM |
HB 1176 |
Support |
Establishing A Commission to Study Current Funding For Special Education and Potential Other Funding Sources. |
Rep. Mary Heath |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Thu 1/25 10:00 AM |
HB 1639 |
Monitor |
Relative to Children with Disabilities Placed At State Facilities For Adjudicated Youth. |
Rep. Corinne Cascadden |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Thu 1/25 10:45 AM |
HB 1480 |
Monitor |
Relative to Alternative Dispute Resolution Within Individualized Education Programs. |
Rep. Corinne Cascadden |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Thu 1/25 11:30 AM |
HB 1524 |
Monitor |
Relative to Authorizing Parents Of Special Education Children to Observe In The Classroom Setting. |
Rep. Ron Dunn |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Thu 1/25 1:00 PM |
HB 1509 |
Monitor |
Prohibiting Spending Of Special Education Moneys For Any Other Purpose and Requiring Reporting Of Fund Balances to The School Board. |
Rep. Kevin Verville |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Thu 1/25 1:00 PM |
HB 1375 |
Monitor |
Relative to Severance Agreements Requiring Employees to Broadly Waive Labor Law Rights. |
Rep. Eric Gallager |
LOB Room 307 |
|
Thu 1/25 1:30 PM |
HB 1443 |
Monitor |
Relative to Special Education Dispute Resolution. |
Rep. Deb Hobson |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Thu 1/25 1:45 PM |
SB 573 |
Monitor |
Relative to Parental Consent For Medical Care. |
Sen. Ruth Ward |
SH 100 (Judiciary/S) |
|
Thu 1/25 2:00 PM |
HB 1382 |
Monitor |
Relative to Special Education Support For Military-connected Students. |
Rep. Terry Roy |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Thu 1/25 2:00 PM |
HB 1213 |
Monitor |
Relative to Immunization Requirements For Private Schools and Child Care Agencies. |
Rep. Emily Phillips |
LOB 210-211 (Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs/H) |
|
Thu 1/25 2:30 PM |
HB 1469 |
Monitor |
Relative to The Retention Of Individualized Education Program Records. |
Rep. Corinne Cascadden |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
Thu 1/25 3:00 PM |
HB 1695 |
Monitor |
Relative to The Release Of Student Personally Identifiable Information. |
Rep. Glenn Cordelli |
LOB 205-207 (Education/H) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fri 1/26 9:30 AM |
HB 1038 |
Monitor |
Relative to Prohibiting Registered Sex Offenders From Employment At Businesses Providing Direct Services to Minors or Direct Supervision or Oversight Of Minors. |
Rep. Kevin Verville |
LOB 202-204 (Criminal Justice and Public Safety/H) |
|
Fri 1/26 10:00 AM |
HB 1686 |
Support |
Relative to Requiring Excess Revenues Raised Through The Statewide Education Property Tax to Be Remitted to The Education Trust Fund and Prohibiting The Department Of Revenue Administration From Setting Negative Local and County Tax Rates On Real Property. |
Rep. Marjorie Smith |
LOB 209 (Education/H) |
|
Fri 1/26 10:00 AM |
HB 1586 |
Monitor |
Establishing A Foundation Opportunity Budget Program For Funding Public Education. |
Rep. David Luneau |
LOB 209 (Education/H) |
|
Fri 1/26 10:00 AM |
HB 1656 |
Support |
Relative to Increasing The Adequacy Grant For Pupils Receiving Special Education Services. |
Rep. Cam Kenney |
LOB 209 (Education/H) |
|
Fri 1/26 10:00 AM |
HB 1583 |
Support |
Relative to The Per Pupil Cost Of An Opportunity For An Adequate Education. |
Rep. Jonah Wheeler |
LOB 209 (Education/H) |