NH Public Education

NEA-NH Legislative Update 01.20.23

Week in Review – Vouchers and Retirement School Voucher Expansion This week, the House Education committee heard 2 of the 3 bills being proposed to greatly expand the school voucher program. NEA-NH was there to testify against both bills. You can see our written testimony against both bills here. HB 464 would expand the school voucher eligibility by adding various new categories of students regardless of their family income. HB 367 would simply expand the income eligibility of the program to 500% of the Federal Poverty Level, which for a family of 4 in 2023 is $150,000. Both pieces of […]

NEA-NH Testifies in Opposition to Voucher Expansion

“I am writing to you today to express our strong opposition to HB 464 and HB 367, legislation that would greatly increase the amount of funds directed toward our school voucher program by expanding the eligibility of the program. The bills appear to do so by eliminating the income eligibility among a variety of categories of students.” This is how the testimony submitted by NEA-NH for today’s hearings on HV 464 and 367 began. The evidence is just too stark to justify the use of public money to fund private expenses and tuition. Vouchers fail to deliver for the kids […]

Federal Court Rules “Banned Concepts” Lawsuit Can Continue

Federal judge allows case to proceed, saying “Given the severe consequences that teachers face if they are found to have taught or advocated a banned concept, plaintiffs have pleaded a plausible claim that the amendments are unconstitutionally vague” United States District Judge Paul J. Barbadoro ruled on the State of New Hampshire’s request to dismiss the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of several recent amendments to New Hampshire’s education and antidiscrimination laws that restrict what public school teachers can say to their students about how to understand, prevent, and redress discrimination in our society. While he did rule that claims that […]

The Christa McAuliffe Sabbatical Awards a Year-long Leave of Absence to an Exceptional NH Public School Teacher

Do you know a teacher with a great idea about education? Each year the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation’s Christa McAuliffe Sabbatical program awards a year-long leave of absence to an exceptional New Hampshire public school teacher. The sabbatical provides the teacher with the time, space and funding to explore, through a self-designed project, new ideas and ways to enhance classroom teaching. This is a unique opportunity for a full-time classroom teacher and their school to gain statewide recognition for innovative approaches to classroom instruction.  Visit the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation website to learn more about the program requirements. The online […]

FACT SHEET: Navigating Your Student Debt

Every American, no matter what we look like or where we come from, deserves the opportunity to create a better life for ourselves and our families. And for millions of us, going to college was supposed to allow us the ability to decide our futures, not decades of debt. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness, PSLF, program was created in 2007 to forgive the remaining balance of federal student debt for public service workers, including teachers, higher education faculty, and education support professionals, who provide 10 years of public service while making 120 monthly payments on their federal student loans. NEA has prepared a useful fact […]

Are Your Ready to Lead? NEA-NH Filing Period Now Open

Filing Deadline is January 17, 2023 It’s no secret that public education in New Hampshire is under relentless attack. Are you ready to help lead the organization that is the biggest and loudest advocate for our schools, our students, and our members? NEA-NH is led and run by its members. Our Executive Board is made up of members who are elected by members in their region. NEA-NH policies and budgets are proposed, amended, and adopted by our members. Founded in 1854, the New Hampshire State Teachers Association became one of the “founding ten” state education associations that formed the National Education […]