Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed a bill into law Tuesday that makes so-called “school choice” universal in New Hampshire.
SB 295 makes the school voucher program known as Education Freedom Accounts universal in New Hampshire by eliminating the household income limit of 350% of the federal poverty guidelines for all students. This means that all families regardless of income level will have the potential to access the program that allows families to use annual state education funds for private and homeschooling expenses.
This bill establishes universal eligibility as soon as July 2025. It includes a 10,000-student cap on the program for the 2025-2026 school year, which would double the program that currently contains 5,321 students. For each subsequent year, the cap would be increased by 25% if total enrollment of the prior year is greater than 90% of the that year’s enrollment cap.
Ayotte had called for an expansion of the EFA program, but this bill goes further than what she had outlined. Ayotte’s plan called for removing income limits for students who had attended public schools for at least a year, but to keep the 350% income cap (about 112,000 for a family of four) on students who have already been homeschooled or were already enrolled in a private school.
Ayotte signed the expanded bill into law Tuesday.
“Giving parents the freedom to choose the education setting that best fits their child’s needs will help every student in our state reach their full potential,” she said in a statement.
NH Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed HB 10, the Parental Bill of Rights, and SB 295, which expands the Education Freedom Account program, into law on Tuesday, June 10.
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Education Freedom Accounts have been controversial for past few years
Republicans have been attempting to expand the EFA program for the past few years, arguing that families should be able to choose the best school for their children.
“With the passage of this bill, we are now able to deliver universal school choice for all New Hampshire families,” said Sen. Victoria Sullivan, R-Manchester, who sponsored the bill, in a statement. “These changes will give families more options that will help New Hampshire’s future leaders flourish in school environments that best suit them.”
NH Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed HB 10, the Parental Bill of Rights, and SB 295, which expands the Education Freedom Account program, into law on Tuesday, June 10.
But Democrats have long fought against the program, saying that it will cost the state too much money, hurt public schools that are already underfunded and benefit already wealthy families.
“Get out your wallets folks. Wealthy people want subsidies from taxpayers like you to send their kids to private schools,” said Rep. David Meuse, D-Portsmouth, adding that the law is expected to “increase the state’s obligation to pony up your tax dollars for the GOP school voucher scam by tens of millions of dollars over the next biennium while many state services will be cut due to declining state revenues.”
NH teachers unions oppose EFAs, Education Commissioner supports
Teachers’ unions in the state are also against the program.
In a statement released after the signing, the largest teachers’ union in the state, NEA-NH, said that the law will hurt public schools.
“All students deserve a high-quality education and the support they need to thrive. Unfortunately, expanding the unaccountable voucher scheme will exacerbate the already inequitable public education funding system in New Hampshire,” said NEA-NH President Megan Tuttle. “Limitless vouchers will take millions of dollars out of public schools to subsidize private school education for a few at the expense of nearly 90% of students who attend community public schools.”
NH Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut has long supported the program. His seven children were homeschooled.
“New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Account program has already transformed lives by giving families access to the educational pathways that best fit their children’s needs,” he said in a statement. “Expanding this opportunity through universal eligibility is a bold and forward-thinking move that reimagines what education can be, providing every student with the opportunity to reach their full potential and experience a bright future.”
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: ‘School choice’ now universal in NH after governor signs bill into law