CONCORD, NH – Today, the New Hampshire House Education Committee heard testimony on four bills that would so dramatically expand our state’s private school voucher program that the package would effectively institute universal vouchers. The bills heard were: HB 1634; HB 1677; HB 1561; and HB 1665.
Before the hearings, Granite Staters overwhelmingly signed in to oppose voucher expansion efforts:
- HB 1634: Oppose – 1,077; Support – 36; Neutral – 1
- HB 1677: Oppose – 920; Support – 123; Neutral – 2
- HB 1561: Oppose – 937; Support – 31; Neutral – 1
- HB 1665: Oppose – 923; Support – 29; Neutral – 1
Megan Tuttle, President of NEA-New Hampshire, provided the following statement after the hearings:
“Every family wants their children to have access to high-quality educational opportunities in their community that meet student needs and prepare them for success. But the package of House bills considered today to establish a universal voucher system would actually diminish educational opportunities by diverting even more state funds from our public schools, which 90% of Granite State students attend. In rural communities that lack access to private schools, the impact of this legislation would be even harder felt.
Studies have shown that voucher program costs can quickly balloon while investment in public education remains stagnant or decreases. When vouchers cause budget shortfalls, like in Arizona, it can necessitate cuts in public education funding or necessitate local property tax increases.
New Hampshire students and taxpayers cannot afford universal vouchers. NEA-New Hampshire urges lawmakers to reject unsustainable efforts to expand an unaccountable system that benefits a few at the expense of the majority.”
Background:
New Hampshire’s current voucher program:
- New Hampshire’s voucher program was launched in 2021 and permits families to use taxpayer funds to pay for tuition for costs associated with private schools, homeschool, and other non-public school options.
- According to data from the NH Department of Education, enrollment in the voucher program grew 40% between 2022 and 2023, to a total of 4,211 participants in the 2023-2024 school year.
- Funds to cover vouchers – which will cost an estimated $24 million this year alone – come directly from the Education Trust Fund.
- Current eligibility requirements for New Hampshire’s school voucher program include that the child must be at least 5 years old and no older than 20 years old and entering Kindergarten – 12th grade.
- As part of the 2023 state budget, lawmakers increased the income threshold for voucher eligibility to 350% of federal poverty level.
- According to Reaching Higher NH, based on data provided by NH DOE, fewer than half (44%) of students enrolled in the voucher program this year are classified as low-income, down from 54% when the program launched in 2021.
New Hampshire House Bill Overview:
- HB 1634 – would simply remove any income qualification making vouchers available to any child who is eligible to go to public school, even if their parents are millionaires and the student already attends private school.
- HB 1677 – extends eligibility for the voucher program to students who participated in the program in the preceding year, students whose enrollment transfer requests were denied, and to students in school districts which performed at 49 percent or below in statewide assessments. The vague language of the various categories of this bill could effectively open the program to anyone. These categories also hold no income limit.
- HB 1561 – expands the definition of who can qualify for vouchers to such broad categories of students that it is also effectively a universal voucher program. One allowed category states anyone “who is concerned that attending school could lead to the spread of contagious diseases such as COVID-19, the common cold, the seasonal Flu, pneumonia, or other similar diseases” qualifies with no income limit.
- HB 1665 – raises the income eligibility from 350% of the federal poverty level to 500%, which for a family of four is $150,000 per year. This would also be a significant expansion of the program.
Arizona Universal Voucher System Issues Overview:
- The fiscal consequences alone for the bills being considered in New Hampshire would be dire for our public schools and our students, as evidenced by the current situation in the state of Arizona.
- Arizona quickly expanded their voucher program to be universal. Presently, the voucher system is on track to cost over $900 million in its second year. That is 1,400% higher than projected.
- Like our own program here in New Hampshire, in Arizona vouchers are primarily being used by families who had previously chosen private school and is all new spending.
- The Arizona universal voucher program is also primarily benefiting more affluent families in wealthier zip codes. In voucher systems, students in rural areas are disadvantaged because there are fewer options in their area – which is one reason why high-quality neighborhood public schools are so important.
- Arizona’s universal voucher system has put the state in a massive deficit that leaves the state and local school districts with few options but to cut public education funding or raise local property taxes.
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About NEA-New Hampshire
NEA-New Hampshire is the largest union of public employees in the state. Founded in 1854, the New Hampshire State Teachers Association became one of the “founding ten” state education associations that formed the National Education Association in 1857. Known today as NEA-NH, and comprised of more than 17,000 members, our mission to advocate for the children of New Hampshire and public-school employees, and to promote lifelong learning, remains true after more than 165 years. Our members are public school employees in all stages of their careers, including classroom teachers and other certified professionals, staff and instructors at public higher education institutions, students preparing for a teaching career, education support personnel and those retired from the profession.