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School choice the right choice for NH?

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SB 193 would allow some students, such as those with special needs or lower-income families, to receive their per-pupil share of state education funding as a scholarship for private school or homeschool expenses.

Read more about education funding in New Hampshire

“Should NH pass a school choice bill that lets some students take state education funding as a scholarship for private or home schooling?”

Discussion held on Citizens Count NH website and Facebook page May 3, 2018

170 citizens responded 91 citizens were in favor of using education funding as scholarship67 citizens were opposed to using education funding as scholarship 12 citizens commented on related questions or issues
What Participants Said

Yes: 91 citizens were in favor of letting some students take state education funding as a scholarship for private or home schooling.

  • “This would allow me to purchase the program we use to homeschool our twins as well as extras such as science supplies. I support this!”
  • “I'm a Croydon NH school board member, and I support SB 193. No school provides a one-size-fits-all solution, and parents are best suited to choose a school for their children.”
  • “More educational choice and more financial freedom for parents is a good thing.”

No: 67 citizens were opposed to letting some students take state education funding as a scholarship for private or home schooling.

  • “No. I pay taxes to support public schools, not private ones.”
  • “No, they don’t have a ‘share’! If that were the case I should be allowed a refund since I have no children in the education system!”
  • “This is private schools skimming off of public school funding.  Public schools are in trouble as it is … You want to go to private school? You can pay for it.”

Other: 12 citizens addressed their comments to related questions and issues.
These included:

  • Alternative policies: “Private school yes, homeschooling no. Homeschooling doesn’t cost as much as public school, how many parents will pull their kids from school to get a check every month? Let’s try to minimize waste here.”
  • Financial considerations: “You also realize the state allotment is far less [than] the total cost town and cities spend per pupil on education?  That means if the state money follows the child, the local district has no expense educating that child so the remaining portion goes toward paying for the children that remain.”
  • Education spending: “The United States spends more money on education at every level and gets lower results. It's not a funding issue.”

*Editor selection of actual participant quotes.

Read the full Facebook discussion of this question

Click here for details on our methodology

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