Mandatory Open Enrollment Legislation Gets its House Hearing!
You may recall that nearly two months ago the New Hampshire Senate attempted to fast track a mandatory open enrollment requirement for all school districts by attaching their adopted language to a retained House bill from last year, in addition to passing their own bill through the typical legislative process.
After parents, educators, and property taxpayers spoke loudly about all the issues the Senate plan contained, that process was slowed and now a public hearing has been scheduled for SB 101 in the House Education Policy and Administration Committee. As a reminder, this legislation mandates statewide open enrollment, allowing families to enroll their child in any public school in the state, regardless of where they live and requiring property taxpayers from one school district to potentially send 100% of the amount spent on average per pupil to the district the student attends. We know that property taxpayers are already stretched to keep up with costs of running their own local public schools; this legislation will only make that harder by requiring them to use local property tax dollars to pay tuition to other schools. As evidence of the statewide opposition to this plan, more than [70] school districts at their annual meeting this March overwhelmingly voted to cap how much of their budget could be sent to other school districts.
Though mandatory open enrollment advocates say it increases educational choice, we know it is only choice for those who have another school nearby, who can secure their own transportation, and who can finance the difference between districts’ costs, if there is one.
As educators, we believe every student should have access to a high-quality education, regardless of where they live, but at the end of the day, we fear this sudden restructuring of public schools will exacerbate the inequities our students and our schools experience throughout the state—not fix them. Here are two actions you can take today:
- Please SIGN IN to OPPOSE SB 101 before the public hearing being held on Wednesday, March 25 at 1:00pm in the House Education Policy and Administration Committee. Please see full sign in instructions below.
- There’s also no need to wait for this bill to go to the floor of the House to reach out to your lawmakers directly. Click the link to find contact info for and call your state representative(s) and the Governor about this bill!
Senate Floor Vote Coming Up on Education Funding Bills That Say the State Does Enough
On the Senate floor this week, senators will be voting on a pair of identical bills, HB 1815 and SB 659. These bills appear to be the Legislature’s response to the ConVal court decision that requires the state to act on the lack of funding it provides school districts for each student as part of its share of the cost of an adequate education. We know that when the state is not stepping up, that means local property taxpayers get faced with the choice of raising property taxes or cutting critical services to students. You can read a more detailed description of the bills and the hearings held on these bills in a piece published by Reaching Higher NH.
HB 1815 and SB 659 are also seen as part of the effort to ask the State Supreme Court to overturn that landmark decision so that the state can determine whatever it wants for its share of the cost of aid to local school districts. If HB 1815 passes on Thursday, it will head to the Governor for her signature. If SB 659 passes, it will go to the House for further deliberation.
Contact your state senator today to let them know the state can do better than HB 1815 and SB 659!
Thank State Representatives for Defeating HB 1704!
It was just over a week ago that the House defeated HB 1704, a bill that would have weakened collective bargaining in New Hampshire and reduced wages and working conditions for educators. In a bipartisan vote of 177 – 159 the House “Indefinitely Postponed” HB 1704, which means this bill has been killed and no similar bill can be voted on in the current session. 20 Republican state representatives joined all the Democrats present to reject this union busting bill.
If you haven’t already done so, it is still timely to express your thanks, especially to those lawmakers who withstood pressure from their party’s leadership to support educators. Now, let’s take time to thank those Republican legislators who stood with us and against this attack on your collective bargaining rights. Click here to take action!
NEA-NH Action Center
Most of the tools and information you need to be a legislative advocate for public education are right at your fingertips through NEA-New Hampshire. Check out our NEA-NH Action Center to get all the information you need about issues we’re tracking at the State House, how to communicate with your lawmakers, and how to take action on specific bills.
Questions?
If you have questions on any of these bills or ones not mentioned here, please feel free to contact Brian Hawkins, NEA-NH Director of Government Relations at [email protected].
Need help signing in on legislation? Follow these comprehensive instructions (details for public hearings are contained in each action request).
For House bills:
1. Visit this link: https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/committees/remotetestimony/default.aspx
2. Enter your personal information
3. Select the hearing date
4. Select the committee
5. Choose the bill
6. I am - A member of the public
7. Choose who you are representing - Myself
8. Indicate your position on this bill
9. Upload remote testimony (Optional)
10. Review information and click submit
For Senate bills:
1. Go to https://bit.ly/3S4Cof1 and click the date that the bill you are interested in is being heard
2. Select the committee that is hearing the bill
3. Select the bill you are interested in
4. Select a category – Member of the Public
5. Indicate your position on this bill
6. Click continue
7. Enter your name and contact information
8. Click continue
9. Carefully review the information to ensure it is entered correctly. If it is correct, check the box and click continue.
