Under SB 295, Property Taxpayers Will Subsidize Private Education for Wealthy Families
CONCORD, NH – Today, the New Hampshire Senate voted on party lines in support of SB 295, which would eliminate eligibility requirements for the state’s unaccountable private school voucher program and institute a universal voucher scheme that would divert millions of public dollars from public schools to subsidize private education for wealthy families. SB 295 will next go to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
Today’s vote is the Chamber’s second to divert taxpayer dollars away from public schools to subsidize private education for wealthy families. It comes on the heels of seventeen New Hampshire communities adopting local petition warrant articles urging lawmakers to keep public dollars in public schools.
Megan Tuttle, President of NEA-New Hampshire, provided the following statement after the vote:
“Granite Staters believe every student deserves access to quality public education, regardless of their zip code. Unfortunately, out of touch politicians in Concord aren’t listening to their constituents. Instead of working across the aisle to address our state’s inequitable public education funding scheme, Senate Republicans voted once again to take public dollars away from public schools to subsidize private education for wealthy families.
This vote to expand vouchers comes as New Hampshire builds our next state budget. Every single Granite Stater should be outraged that our elected officials are choosing to expand our state’s unaccountable school voucher program instead of fully funding special education or easing the burden of property taxes. Make no mistake, hardworking New Hampshire taxpayers will be forced to fill the manufactured budget gaps should universal vouchers move forward. Our students and our communities deserve better.”
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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.