AFT-NH Testimony in Support of SB 582
To the Senate Education Finance Committee
Thank you, Chairman Murphy and members of the Senate Education Finance Committee.
My name is Debrah Howes, President of the American Federation of Teachers–New Hampshire. I am here today on behalf of our 3,500 members who work in preK–12 public education, in public services, and in private and public universities across the Granite State. We are New Hampshire taxpayers and citizens, and many of us are parents or grandparents of public school students.
I am here to express AFT-NH’s strong support for SB 582 modifying the base cost of an adequate education.
For more than 30 years, Granite State citizens have sought to have the State meet its constitutional obligation to fund a robust public education in every school district. While the Legislature has made several attempts, none have proven sufficient, nor enduring.
SB 582 represents the state finally taking meaningful steps to do its job. SB 582 updates New Hampshire’s “adequate education” commitment by raising the base per-pupil adequacy cost to $7,356.01—the minimum level tied to what the courts have said is required to meet the state’s constitutional obligation.
SB 582 means real adequacy resources schools and communities can rely on. SB 582 expands the definition of an adequate education to explicitly include the real building blocks schools need to help students learn and thrive: teachers’ salaries and benefits, counselors, library-media specialists, technology support, custodians, nurse services, instructional materials, professional development, facilities operation and maintenance, and transportation. That’s what it takes to create and sustain an engaging learning environment for students.
SB 582 is good policy because it improves students’ learning conditions and it helps local property taxpayers. When the state underfunds our public schools, kids pay the price—and communities pay twice. When the state’s share isn’t enough to meet real costs, districts have to make choices like:
- larger class sizes
- fewer electives, AP classes, and CTE options
- reduced time for reading and math intervention
- fewer counselors, nurses, librarians, and paraeducators
- aging buildings, delayed maintenance, outdated materials and technology
Public schools are New Hampshire’s engine of opportunity. This bill is how we make good on the promise: every public school must be able to live up to its mission and create schools where teachers want to teach and kids want to learn.
SB 582 also brings stability. By clarifying the definition of what “adequate” includes so needed costs are no longer left out, and updating the base cost accordingly, it helps districts plan staffing and services responsibly instead of lurching from one budget crisis to the next.
The message is simple: comply with the courts, invest in kids, and relieve pressure on local property taxpayers. Courts have said the Legislature must increase the state’s per student spending on public schools to meet its obligation. SB 582 is a concrete step to respond.
It is time for the State of New Hampshire to fully meet its constitutional duty to all Granite State public school students while providing real property tax relief to many local property taxpayers. Every year’s delay is learning time our students do not get back.
For these reasons, AFT-NH urges you to find SB 582 Ought to Pass.
Sincerely,
Debrah Howes
President, AFT-New Hampshire