Yearly Archives: 2025

5/9/25: NEA-NH Legislative Update

Re-Cap This Week  This was a tough week of policy votes at the State House – on the floor and in committees. Here is the rundown of the major takeaways:  SB 295 – Senate Universal Voucher Bill Passes First House Vote  On the floor, the House narrowly voted to pass the Senate’s universal voucher bill, SB 295, 188 – 176. All House Democrats and 13 Republicans voted against the bill. SB 295 was referred to the House Finance Committee for further review. If House Finance decides to make a recommendation on the bill this session, it will head to the House […]

Letter from President Tuttle: This Teacher Appreciation Week, Let’s Turn Appreciation into Action

Every day, teachers are nurturing and supporting our precious students in classrooms across New Hampshire. Teachers dedicate their careers and their lives to providing young Granite Staters with the tools they need to build bright futures and live out their dreams.   May 5 – 9 marks Teacher Appreciation Week nationwide; an important moment to ensure teachers in our lives know how much they mean to us and our communities. It’s important to show – and tell – our gratitude.   I am so grateful for every New Hampshire teacher. To those who taught me how to teach, to my colleagues in […]

5/2/25: NEA-NH Legislative Update

Re-Cap of the Week  While schools were out on April break, the pace at the State House was slower, too, but there were still some significant actions taken in each chamber:  HB 741 – Senate puts off mandatory open enrollment bill: The Senate met in full session and approved the Senate Education Committee recommendation to re-refer HB 741. This bill would mandate that every public school be an open enrollment school, meaning all school districts would be required to accept a student regardless of whether the school is part of their resident district or not. The re-refer action means the […]

PRESS RELEASE: New data shows New Hampshire 50th in the nation for state public education funding; some gains in educator pay, but profession is still undervalued and underpaid 

National Education Association releases four reports detailing the state of education funding and pay for educators in New Hampshire and around the country  CONCORD, NH – Four new reports examining educator pay and school funding from pre-K through college reveal that despite growth in educator pay last year, chronic problems plague educators, including low wages and a lack of professional respect. Further, the report shows that New Hampshire remains 50th in the nation for state public education funding as a percentage of revenue receipts.    The data released today include “Rankings and Estimates,” a report NEA has produced since the 1960s and widely […]

04/25/25: NEA-NH Legislative Update

This Week: Hearings and Committee Votes  SB 297 – House Commerce Hears Risk Pool Regulation Legislation  This week, the House Commerce Committee heard SB 297, the bill proposed by the Secretary of State to establish new regulations for the organizations that operate as risk pools to offer health insurance and workers compensation for most of the public employers and employees at the local level in New Hampshire.  As NEA-New Hampshire President Megan Tuttle testified, our priority is the preservation of affordable and reliable health insurance options for NEA-NH members across the state. She also indicated that as the Committee deliberates, […]

PRESS RELEASE: Federal Court Grants Preliminary Injunction Against Department of Education’s Unlawful Directive

CONCORD, N.H. – In a victory for students, parents, and educators, a federal judge has granted a request for a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) February 14, 2025, “Dear Colleague” letter against the plaintiffs, their members, and any entity that employs, contracts with, or works with one or more of Plaintiffs or Plaintiffs’ member. The court’s ruling blocks ED’s unprecedented and unlawful attempt to restrict discussions and programs on diversity, equity, and inclusion in educational institutions, and its threat to withhold federal funding for engaging in such efforts.  The Dear Colleague Letter’s directive contradicts […]