NH Education Freedom Accounts

1. Children in NH need a flexible approach to access the education options and services that work best for their individualized needs. 2. Family receives a multi-use education grant. 3. Parents choose the learning experiences that meet their child’s unique personal needs.

Why needs Education Freedom Accounts

It is imperative that we empower individual families by giving them the support they need to create stable and continuous learning for their children. Education Freedom Accounts ensure and support a high quality, flexible, and specialized publicly funded education for New Hampshire Students.

What are Education Freedom Accounts used for?

NH Education Freedom Accounts are grants that re-think education and empower New Hampshire families to direct their child’s state education funding to create learning experiences that are as unique as their child.

Education Freedom Accounts Grants can be used to pay for expenses like:

• K-12 Online Learning • Courses, curriculum and manipulatives • Tutoring • K-12 tuition • Computer Hardware • Internet hotspots and connectivity • Education Software • Textbooks • Standardized Test fees

Who is eligible?

An “Eligible Student” for an Education Freedom Account means a resident of this state that is eligible to enroll in a public elementary or secondary school.

Here are some examples:

• Currently attending a New Hampshire school that is remote or hybrid • Currently assigned to a New Hampshire public school with assessment proficiency below 40% • Currently attending a New Hampshire public school, including a chartered public school; nonpublic school; • A kindergarten or first grade student • A student in a micro-school or pod • A sibling of a student with an education freedom account

Education Freedom Account Administration

A Scholarship Organization approved under RSA 77:G will administer Education Freedom Accounts. Logistically, the State Treasurer will transfer to a scholarship organization the per-pupil adequate education grant amount plus any differentiated aid and the transfers shall be made on the same timetable as the traditional distribution of adequate education grants. Parents then use an online platform provided by the scholarship organization to make approved payments to education service providers or for materials and other educational expenses.

• To enroll an eligible child, the parent signs an agreement with a scholarship organization. • The signed agreement between the parent and the scholarship organization satisfies the compulsory school attendance requirements of RSA 193:1. • To withdraw, one enrolls full time in their resident district public school or graduates from high school.

The scholarship organization shall accept and approve applications for the fall and spring semesters each year. The grants are the per pupil adequate education grant pursuant to RSA 198:40-a Cost of an Opportunity for an Adequate Education and the scholarship organization must collect parent and student information to substantiate residency and any differentiated aid.

Funding

The Adequate Education Grant, for FY2022and FY2023, base per pupil rate is $3,786.66

The Adequate Education Grant includes an additional rate, called differentiated aid, for certain students as follows:

• $1,893.22 for a free or reduced-price meal eligible student. This eligibility determination is based on household income not participation in a lunch program. Students from households receiving TANF or SNAP are automatically eligible. Others are certified if parents/guardians provide income information. • $2,037.11 for a special education student who has an individualized educational plan (IEP). • $740.87 for an English Language Learner receiving English Language instruction. • $740.87 for each 3rd grade pupil whose achievement score on the state assessment for reading was below the proficient level, provided the student is not already counted in any of the above three categories.

Support for Freedom Accounts

Both parents in New Hampshire and around the United States support Education Freedom Accounts. Current polling shows that 73 percent of Granite Staters polled support Education Freedom Accounts (EdChoice polling: https://edchoice.morningconsultintelligence.com/new-hampshire/.

All NH children should have the education that is the right fit for them to realize their unique potential - both inside and outside the classroom. It’s time for all New Hampshire students in every community to have this opportunity.

Currently, the following state and national groups are working together with the shared goal of offering New Hampshire more educational options, choice, and freedom:

• Children’s Scholarship Fund New Hampshire • Cornerstone Action NH • Granite Staters for Education Reform • Josiah Bartlett Center • Respect New Hampshire • EdChoice • Excelined • Americans for Prosperity New Hampshire • Yes. Every Kid.

Legislative sponsors for HB 20

Prime sponsor: Rep. Sherman Packard

Co-sponsors: House: • Carol McQuire • Rick Ladd • Glenn Cordelli • Jason Osborne • Greg Hill • Jess Edwards • Karen Umberger • Maureen Mooney

Co-sponsors: Senate • • • John Reagan • Bob Giuda •