Releases

PRESS RELEASE: Public Education Advocates Condemn Gov. Ayotte Signing Laws to Expand School Vouchers to Wealthy Families, Pass So-Called “Parental Bill of Rights” Targeting Educators, LGBTQ+ Students

New Hampshire cannot afford to expand unaccountable school vouchers to wealthy families at the expense of real needs in our state CONCORD, NH – Today, Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed into law SB 295, which expands unaccountable school vouchers to the wealthiest families in the state. Ayotte also signed into law HB 10, a so-called parental bill of rights that in reality targets educators and LGBTQ+ students and puts children at risk of abuse or harm. Public education and LGBTQ+ rights advocates, school leaders, and public school parents condemned the bill signings with the following statements: Megan Tuttle, President of NEA-NH, […]

PRESS RELEASE: Ayotte Signs SB 295: Bill Removes Income Cap for Private School Voucher Scheme, Takes More Public Money Away from Public Schools 

SB 295 Subsidizes Private Education for Wealthy Families While NH Property Taxpayers Struggle to Fill in Gaps for Inadequate State Public Education Funding  CONCORD, NH – Today, Governor Kelly Ayotte signed SB 295 into law. The bill eliminates income eligibility requirements for the state’s unaccountable private school voucher program and institutes a universal voucher scheme that will divert millions of public dollars from public schools to subsidize private education for wealthy families.   Megan Tuttle, President of NEA-New Hampshire, provided the following statement after the votes:  “All students deserve a high-quality education and the support they need to thrive. Unfortunately, expanding […]

PRESS RELEASE: NH Senate Budget Prioritizes Handouts for Wealthy at the Expense of Kids 

CONCORD, NH – Today, the New Hampshire Senate voted 14-10 in support of a state budget proposal that would erode the foundation of public education in New Hampshire.   Megan Tuttle, President of NEA-New Hampshire, provided the following statement after the vote:  “Budgets are moral documents; they reveal the true priorities of those in power. Unfortunately, the New Hampshire Senate chose to turn its back on our students, families, and communities by advancing a budget that fails to fully fund public education while opening the floodgates for taxpayer-funded subsidies to private schools, regardless of family income.  Nearly 90% of New Hampshire’s […]

PRESS RELEASE: NH House Adopts Bell-to-Bell Cell Prohibition in Public Schools

SB 206 Will Help Students Maximize Learning and Socialization Opportunities CONCORD, NH – Today, in a strong bipartisan vote, the New Hampshire House passed SB 206, a bell-to-bell prohibition on the use of personal devices (including cellphones) in public schools that will help address the negative impact these devices can have on student learning and mental health.   Megan Tuttle, President of NEA-New Hampshire, provided the following statement after the votes: “Students are at school for a limited amount of time during the day; as educators, we want to ensure they receive the maximum benefit during that time, both academically and […]

NH Senate Advances Book Ban Bill that Criminalizes Teachers and Librarians 

CONCORD, NH – Today, the New Hampshire Senate voted on party lines in support of HB 324, which would ban books in New Hampshire public schools and criminalize teachers, librarians, and even school board members. The state already has an objectionable materials law for public schools that allows any parent to opt their child out of any required coursework, curriculum, or material. But, if signed into law by Governor Ayotte, this bill would go far beyond parental opt-out by potentially imposing one parent’s objections on others.   Recent polling conducted by the University of New Hampshire shows a majority of Granite […]

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 […]