CONCORD, NH – This week, the New Hampshire House Education Committee split 10-10 on five bills that would dramatically expand our state’s voucher program: HB 1634; HB 1677; HB 1561; HB 1665; and HB 1652. Two of the bills would institute a universal voucher program in New Hampshire, expanding eligibility to every school-aged child in the state, including 21,238 students who are currently enrolled in a private school or are homeschooled. The bills will next go to the floor for a full vote in the House of Representatives with no Committee recommendation.
Granite Staters overwhelmingly signed in to oppose efforts to divert more public funds to private schools:
- HB 1634: Oppose – 1,107; Support – 53; Neutral – 1
- HB 1677: Oppose – 951; Support – 139; Neutral – 3
- HB 1561: Oppose – 970; Support – 48; Neutral – 1
- HB 1665: Oppose – 954; Support – 46; Neutral – 1
- HB 1652: Oppose – 450; Support – 26; Neutral – 0
Megan Tuttle, President of NEA-New Hampshire, provided the following statement in response:
“Let’s be clear. This package of bills would usher in a universal voucher system – with no income restrictions – that would actually diminish educational opportunities for the majority of Granite State students. Two recent court decisions have reaffirmed that the state of New Hampshire is not meeting its constitutional obligations to provide an adequate universal public education. We should be working cooperatively to address this gap – not diverting even more public funds from public schools.
Educators work hard every day to ensure children have access to high-quality educational opportunities in their community that meet students’ needs and help them build bright futures.
We know what it takes to improve student outcomes: smaller class sizes; more individualized educational opportunities and one-on-one attention; and competitive compensation packages that help recruit and retain high-quality professionals.
Public schools cannot do more with less. Instead of sending more taxpayer money to private and religious schools, we should focus on our neighborhood public schools – which are attended by nearly 90% of New Hampshire students. NEA-New Hampshire urges the House of Representatives to reject efforts to dramatically expand vouchers or institute universal vouchers.”
Background:
New Hampshire’s current voucher program:
- New Hampshire’s voucher program (referred to as “Education Freedom Accounts”) 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.
- 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. After qualifying for the program in the first year, students do not need to meet income eligibility guidelines in subsequent years.
- 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.
- A Reaching Higher NH analysis found that a universal school voucher program in New Hampshire could cost the state $105 million in state funds in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, which is the 2024-2025 school year – or $82 million in new state funding in FY2025.
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.
- HB 1652 – would create the ability for a school district to adopt a local school district voucher program. School district taxpayers would be required to fund a voucher account worth twice the state aid they would have received from the state for that student attending the local district school.
Arizona Universal Voucher System Issues Overview:
- 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.
- 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.