Releases

New Hampshire Senate Votes Again to Establish a Rural and Underserved Area Educator Incentive Program for Higher Education; Amendment Funds at $1 

CONCORD, NH – Today, the New Hampshire Senate voted “Ought to Pass as Amended” on SB 217-FN on a voice vote. While the bill as filed set aside $3 million over two years to create and fund a student loan forgiveness program for educators who work in rural and underserved areas, as amended, this bill sets aside $1. The bill next goes to the House of Representatives for further consideration.  Student debt assistance is one recommendation contained in a recent legislative report that identified contributing factors to New Hampshire’s teacher shortage and outlined findings to address the crisis.   Megan Tuttle, […]

A photo of the New Hampshire State House dome.
A white sign held in front of the Legislative Office Building reads: Support Our Public Schools"

PRESS RELEASE: NH House Education Committee Splits on Voucher Expansion Package; Five Bills Headed to the House Floor Without Recommendation 

CONCORD, NH – This week, the New Hampshire House Education Committee split 10-10 on five bills that would dramatically expand our state’s voucher program: HB 1634; HB 1677; HB 1561; HB 1665; and HB 1652. Two of the bills would institute a universal voucher program in New Hampshire, expanding eligibility to every school-aged child in the state, including 21,238 students who are currently enrolled in a private school or are homeschooled. The bills will next go to the floor for a full vote in the House of Representatives with no Committee recommendation.  Granite Staters overwhelmingly signed in to oppose efforts […]

NH Senate Endorses Voucher Expansion Bill 

CONCORD, NH – Today, the New Hampshire Senate voted 13-11 in support of SB 442, which would expand our state’s private school voucher program and undermine the state manifest hardship exemption. SB 442 next goes to the Senate Finance Committee for further consideration.  Megan Tuttle, President of NEA-New Hampshire, provided the following statement after the vote:  “New Hampshire is dead last in our country when it comes to state investments in public education. Our courts have recently ruled once again that the state is not meeting its constitutional obligation to fund an adequate public education for our students. It is […]

NH Senate Republicans Vote to Eliminate Credentialing for Part-Time Teachers, Jeopardize Granite State Students’ Access to High-Quality Public Education 

CONCORD, NH – Today, the New Hampshire Senate passed SB 374 on party lines, 14-10. The bill would create the status of a “part-time” teacher in state law and would eliminate state board of education credentialing requirements for any teacher who works less than 30 hours a week.   Megan Tuttle, President of NEA-New Hampshire, provided the following statement after the vote:  “While New Hampshire is currently facing a teacher and staff shortage in schools across the state, this is a misguided attempt to address that crisis. Regardless of whether someone teaches full or part-time, we should all agree it is […]

NH Educators Oppose Efforts to Expand Unaccountable Voucher Scheme, Highlight Negative Impact to Public Schools, Students, and Taxpayers

CONCORD, NH – Today, the New Hampshire House Education Committee heard testimony on four bills that would so dramatically expand our state’s private school voucher program that the package would effectively institute universal vouchers. The bills heard were: HB 1634; HB 1677; HB 1561; and HB 1665.   Before the hearings, Granite Staters overwhelmingly signed in to oppose voucher expansion efforts:  Megan Tuttle, President of NEA-New Hampshire, provided the following statement after the hearings:  “Every family wants their children to have access to high-quality educational opportunities in their community that meet student needs and prepare them for success. But the package […]

A white sign held in front of the Legislative Office Building reads: Support Our Public Schools"
Signs held at the NH Legislative Office Building read "Right to Work" is WRONG for NH

PRESS RELEASE: At Legislative Hearing, Broad Coalition of Labor Groups Tell Lawmakers: “Right-to-Work” is Still Wrong for New Hampshire

CONCORD, NH – Today, the New Hampshire House Labor Committee held a public hearing on HB 1377, the latest attempt to push so-called “right-to-work” legislation in a state that has rejected similar attempts multiple times.  At the time of the public hearing, 887 individuals had signed in to oppose “Right-to-Work”; 29 individuals had signed in to support HB 1377. In response to HB 1377, labor groups issued the following statements: “While out-of-state billionaires and DC lobbyists continue to enlist legislators to introduce identical bills, year in and year out, our elected representatives of both political parties have voted to defeat […]