HB115

Public education is a cornerstone of American democracy. It is critical that we maintain adequate funding for quality public school education, This bill will divert essential money away from our public school systems. While I support the right of any parent to choose to home school or private school their child, doing so should not be at the expense of an already under-funded public school system. While I support a concept of equity in providing financial assistance to low and modest-income families with their choice to home school or private school their child -- so that home schooling and private schooling is not just for the privileged high-income families -- I strongly oppose providing school vouchers to families with sufficient income to pay for private school; I also believe that any financial assistance for equity should not erode what any existing school can provide in public education. I also oppose this disbursement of funds, without any demonstration of need, and without any financial accountability or oversight to ensure that my taxpayer dollars are being used fairly and appropriately. In short, providing taxpayer money to families without any limit of qualification on family income, and with no accountability is not acceptable, just, wise, or good practice; removing essential funds from public schools undermines and erodes decent education accessible to all and undermines principles of a civilized society and democracy. We need to support our kids in having quality experiences in their public schools by being innovative and responsive with pedagogical methods and investing in our public schools; taking money away will be a downward spiral. We need to make our schools desirable for people to want to live throughout NH and have their kids receive a good education, no matter what town they live in. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration on this important issue.

Public schools are developed to serve the vast majority of children, and the current voucher program serves more than an adequate number of families who feel their needs aren't being met. Instead of siphoning away funds, I want our government to invest those funds in our public schools. New Hampshire should have faith and believe in its public education system. Wallet hub ranks New Hampshire 6th in the country for public education! Why are we messing it with it? New Hampshire is at a critical point and we need to attract more families to our state and this voucher system will absolutely diminish the outcomes for kids attending public schools and make our state less attractive. Most people just want good public schools, and most people believe that private education should be paid for by those attending or scholarships raised by the schools. This program is already too big and is impacting our students and our state's reputation.

It is unethical to take money away from public schools by giving out private vouchers. They are the bedrock of democracy.

It's simple - public money belongs in public schools. The claim that this bill is about fairness , choice, and above all, improving public education is specious . Using vouchers to improve public education is like bleeding an accident victim - not a good prescription. Years ago I proposed a much more rational approach to improving public education to one of this bills most adamant supporters. He was not interested. It's clear what the real goals here are; and further, it's clear who the real beneficiaries will be if this bill passes. It won't be the people for whom the legislature is responsible - the students of the state. Live up to your responsibility. Reject this bill.

HB 115 would expand our unaccountable voucher program by eliminating the income qualifying cap entirely. That means taxpayers would be subsidizing extremely wealthy families who send their kids to elite private schools. A recent report from Reaching Higher NH indicates that expanding our voucher program with no income limit could cost the state over $100 million dollars per year. That is $100 million in public money that would be diverted away from supporting public education – even though Granite Staters overwhelmingly support their community public schools, which are attended by nearly 90% of New Hampshire students. Instead of sinking more money into a program that its advocates refuse to place any accountability on, tell the legislature they should support local communities by fully funding special education costs, maintaining or increasing aid to be able to hire or retain qualified educators, and funding building aid so that students have safe and health environments to learn. In addition, there should amendments to promote equity: 1) any recipient of funds for education from state or municipal should meet the same minimum requirements as our public schools in regards to providing testing information and staff certification standards. 2) funding to nonpublic schools/entities should be prorated to account for the lack of federally required programming, support and building needs; this would include proration for busing , including special education busing. Funding would also be prorated to account for sports programming and SAU district expenses, including staffing. Thank you.

I am a full supporter of public school and public education. We should not be taking critical funding from public schools to fund a voucher system for private schools. If anything, let's add more funding to public schools and their teachers and elevate the educational standards for the majority of our children; our next generation of leaders, teachers, scientists...

Public education is the backbone of a civil society.

Funding public schools as best as possible should be the top priority in NH. My children received an excellent education in Concord. Our taxes should go to Public Education!

As a retired NH native living on a fixed income, I oppose universal eligibility for educational "freedom" accounts. This program will cost NH $102 MILLION this year. With a looming deficit, that money will be drawn from property taxes that are already too high. The EFA program has ballooned exorbitantly with ZERO accountability, both fiscally and with regards to academic outcomes. Most of the students enrolled in this program NEVER attended public school: they already attended pricey private schools, which their parents clearly could afford prior to the inception of the program; many others were already homeschooled, with no accountability to the DOE regarding curriculum and student outcomes. NO OTHER DEPARTMENT OR PROGRAM has defied audits like the EFA program. Why has Frank Edelblut denied NH taxpayers transparency re: this program? NH taxpayers have every right to know. When our property taxes skyrocket to pay for this boondoggle, YOU will need to answer to us.

Public schools are the foundation of democracy and a flourishing, educated populace. Do not divert public money into special interest schools. Do not take away from our teachers, children, families, and communities. Public schools serve every student and family. They provide food, assistance, support, and education. Do not pretend that you care about all children and all communities and the future of this country while also defunding public schools. You cannot do both. You serve the entire state, not special interests.

Although I understand the desire, and right, one has to make choices about our children's education, expanding a system that already does not have a lot of oversight, and taking even more funds away from others who rely on the public education system to educate their children is doing a great diservice to those students. Should this pass, it will greatly impact public schools already struggling with the current lack of funding from the state of New Hampshire.

School voucher schemes pose a significant threat to New Hampshire’s fiscal responsibility by diverting taxpayer dollars away from public schools to private and often unregulated institutions. These programs siphon critical resources from public schools, which serve the vast majority of students, to fund private education for a select few. This creates funding gaps that disproportionately affect rural and underfunded schools, forcing them to cut essential programs, increase class sizes, or rely on local property tax increases to make up the shortfall. Furthermore, voucher programs lack transparency and accountability, making it difficult to track how public funds are spent or to ensure they are used effectively. Without stringent oversight, taxpayers risk subsidizing schools that may not meet basic educational or ethical standards. The financial inefficiency of voucher systems compounds the problem. Administrative costs for managing these programs can outweigh their supposed benefits, leading to wasted resources. Over time, this erosion of public school funding threatens the stability of New Hampshire’s education system and shifts the financial burden onto local communities, undermining the state’s commitment to equitable and fiscally responsible governance.

I can see how this bill could be helpful for parents and guardians in certain situations. However, I am not in favor of the bill as it will redirect funds away from public schools. I would first like to see the state provide adequate funds to public schools to lessen the burden on towns and taxpayers before considering providing funds for other forms of education. I also anticipate private schools raising their cost of tuition as a result of this bill. It does not seem ethical to utilize public tax dollars to fund private education. My faith in Jesus provides me with a vision for the common good. Providing an adequate education is a primary way a state can advance the common good for all students.

This bill is fiscally irresponsible.

No to vouchers.

I oppose this bill. Public money should go to public schools where all kids are welcomed. Please help us stop this.

I am opposed to HB 115 because available funding should be provided to adequately support public schools, instead of the state continually underfunding public schools and now even further depriving public schools of funds meant for their support by shifting money to the education voucher program. I am appalled that oversight of the voucher program is lacking, in both the use of the funds and assessment of the achievement of children in the program, yet this bill would eliminate any income cap for participation in the voucher/EFA program. NH has serious funding shortfalls anticipated, so to expand the EFA program is fiscally irresponsible and morally reprehensible as the state continues to shortchange the families of public school children and their communities.

Please do not spread tax payers' education funding thinner than it already is. If a family has a lot of money and wants to send their child to a private school, lower income people should not need to finance rich people going to elite schools. The fact is this- many families don't know how to access these vouchers, it is the rich families with more time and political savvy who do. Their kids will go to private schools with or without vouchers if they want them to. But the other students will have even fewer resources if money is going to folks who don't need it. Let's not increase the wealth divide in this state. Thank you.

I firmly oppose the use of public funding being used specifically for vouchers to private schools. The tax dollars should be used for publicly funded education only.

Public monies should not be used to finance private education.

This bill does a disservice to public education and I do not want my tax dollars being used for private institutions. This bill worsens socioeconomic disparities. I and my taxpayer dollars do not support this bill.

As a senior citizen in the State of NH I oppose this bill. I already pay taxes to educate the children of NH. We already have charter schools to benefit children who need something different. Helping wealthy people send their children to private schools (with no input from the taxpayers) is not what NH should be doing with its money. Every dollar given to a private school student is a dollar that another home owner has to make up for in our ever increasing property taxes.