Karen Burnett-Kurie: Parents of children already in private schools will be largest sector applying for EFAs

To The Daily Sun,

No law shall be passed by the Legislature which conflicts with our New Hampshire state Constitution. The Constitution actually says “not repugnant or contrary to this Constitution.” Seems simple to everyone except our legislators who continue to ignore this simple principle. Now we know it is ignored by our new governor. If readers have the opportunity, remind her of this basic responsibility — to uphold the NH Constitution. Article VI of our Constitution’s Bill of Rights states, “No person shall ever be compelled to pay towards the support of the schools of any sect or denomination." We understand this as part of America’s commonly understood principle of separation of church and state. But our legislators and governor obviously do not agree with this principle. As a result their votes are increasingly sending NH’s public education dollars to religious schools. As the Concord Monitor reported: “In the four years since New Hampshire launched a school voucher program, 11 of the 28 Christian schools in the state have either newly opened or grown by at least 50%, a Concord Monitor analysis of state enrollment data found. Overall, statewide enrollment in independent Christian schools — which now educate almost one-fifth of private school students — has increased 30% during that period.” And these numbers do not include Catholic schools because they are classified separately as parochial schools. This while overall enrollment in private schools has gone up 5%. Once accepted into the Education Freedom Account program parents are automatically eligible for the money until the child graduates. Keep in mind, it is very easy to access this free EFA money. Most assuredly parents of children already in private schools will be the largest sector of parents applying for EFAs under the expanded program. Watch for how they handle this cost increase in the state budget.

Karen Burnett-Kurie

Wolfeboro