Governor Ayotte Signs Vouchers for the Wealthy, So-Called Parental Bill of Rights Bill
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:
“Expanding the voucher program to the ultra-wealthy is a disservice to every Granite State property taxpayer. Educational outcomes from the voucher program are at best unproven, and all the data we have from other states show that students who take vouchers have worst educational outcomes. Combine that with New Hampshire’s already last-in-the-nation educational funding, and this extreme legislature and Governor are showing their true disdain for our local neighborhood public schools.
At the same time, Governor Ayotte signed so-called parental rights legislation, which changes the reporting standards and makes it harder for DCYF to do its job and protect vulnerable kids in New Hampshire. As the former Attorney General and a prosecutor of some of the worst crimes in New Hampshire, Governor Ayotte knows full well how dangerous this change is, but favored political expediency and a talking point over actually protecting kids.
Today is a dark day for New Hampshire and our local public schools. “