Public School Funding
THE ISSUE
Public Schools - The Foundation of Any Community
New Hampshire's public education system is the backbone of our communities. I know this because I spent eleven years as a public school educator and am currently a substitute teacher at Tuftonboro Central School. I have witnessed how access to a quality education changes lives. New Hampshire legislators need to prove that they also value education by providing stable and equitable funding that doesn't place an undue burden on local property owners or renters. We must find sustainable, commonsense funding solutions that prioritize the needs of our state's children.
Action Items
Restructuring and better oversight of Education Freedom Accounts (Vouchers)
This program diverts public tax dollars to subsidize private and homeschool tuition. Originally proposed as a way to offer educational opportunities for lower income families, there is now now income cap on who can take advantage of this program. These funds come from the state's Education Trust Fund - leaving local schools and tax payers on the hook. In addition, oversight of the program has been sparse to nonexistant.
Read More from New Hampshire Bulletin: As state’s school voucher program expands, legislative oversight committee has not met in a year
Defeat HB1300 / Local School District Tax Caps
This law mandates that every town and city ward in New Hampshire include a local school tax cap question on the November general election ballots for both 2026 and 2028. By linking school budgets to inflation, you fails to account for actual, fast-rising operational costs. If a cap is enacted, schools facing mandatory increases in special education, student transportation, utilities, health care premiums, and teacher retention may be forced to cut non-mandated programs like sports, elective courses, and the arts. In the end, the 'tax cap' will not actually address the root problem of property tax burdens on municipalities.
Read More from NEA NH and NH School Funding Fairness Project
In June 2010, our eldest celebrated the end of Kindergarten with his classmates at Tuftonboro Central School. In June 2022, he graduated from Kingswood Regional High School - with a boost toward his career goals because of the Lakes Region Technology Center!
Additional Information from Phoebe on This Issue
InDepth NH OpEd: Distant Dome: Where is New Hampshire Headed
Blog and video: Education Funding: Early Childhood
Blog and video: Run with me though Carroll County District 6: Kingswood Arts Center
Blog and video: Running to Run
Candidate survey: Citizens Count Survey
Candidate survey: Ballotpedia