Press

“By passing HB 1792, the House has turned its back on students, educators, and New Hampshire’s constitutional duty to ‘cherish’ public education. This bill censors honest teaching, undermines state academic standards, and revives the same vague, viewpoint‑based restrictions a federal court struck down in AFT Local 8027 v. Edelblut. 

This bill creates endless chaos and added costs for taxpayers while weakening our members’ voices in the workplace. It sets up a second, parallel bargaining system that allows individuals to cut side deals with their employer and even tacks on criminal penalties for basic First Amendment advocacy. 

In the Granite State, we take pride in our public schools. Families choose them because they trust the dedicated teachers, paraeducators, and school staff who work tirelessly to meet the needs of every student and create inclusive classrooms where all can learn and thrive.

CONCORD, N.H.— Today, the New Hampshire Supreme Court released its opinion in Contoocook Valley Sch. Dist. v. State. The Court upheld the original Claremont Decision and upheld the recent ConVal ruling and its funding number given by Judge Ruoff last year, while not enforcing the funding immediately. AFT-NH President Deb Howes released the following statement:

CONCORD, N.H.— Today, Governor Ayotte signed SB295, which expands vouchers to the wealthiest Granite Staters, and HB10, so-called parental rights legislation. AFT-NH President Deb Howes released the following statement:

Concord, NH - Today, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order shutting down the US Dept. of Education, endangering access to a robust public education for more than 55 million American students. Deb Howes, President of  AFT-NH, released the following statement:

“Shutting down the US Department of Education so it cannot fulfill its mission of supporting all students’ access to public education, frankly, attacks the pathway to opportunity for so many American students.

CONCORD, NH—The following is a statement by AFT-New Hampshire President Deb Howes on two universal voucher bills that passed today in the House and Senate and a House bill that imposes a cap on local budgets for school districts:

“In their twisted priorities, an out-of-touch majority of anti-public education extremists in New Hampshire have decided that the rich need help to send their kids to private school and once again showed their utter contempt for adequate funding for public schools, the support our students need or the burden this places on local property taxpayers. The universal voucher bills are ludicrous because they allow the well-to-do—even if they already send their kids to private school—to use a state-funded voucher to pay for private education. This is a gift to the wealthy and puts public education on a death watch.

Concord, NH—Yesterday, President Donald Trump began his long expected shut down of the US Dept. of Education by laying off nearly half of the staff. Deb Howes, President AFT-NH released the following statement:

“ Hollowing out the US Department of Education so it cannot fulfill its mission of supporting all students’ access to public education, frankly, is reminiscent of the utter disregard that our own Commissioner of Education has for all public-school students, especially those from families or communities struggling with poverty or students who need special education services.