Karen Testerman: Is more money the answer for Franklin's school system?

To The Daily Sun,

Signs reading “Protect Franklin’s Tax Cap” and “Support Franklin Schools” are peppering lawns.

But will more money going to the schools equip graduates with the tools necessary to succeed in society as adults? We want our graduates to be able to read and understand contracts, employee manuals, etc. and to be able to manage their household incomes and expenditures.

Consider the following:

“85 percent of all juveniles who come into contact with the juvenile court system are functionally illiterate. So are 60 percent of all prison inmates” (twincities.com/ci_16599369?). 

According to the NH Department of Education iReport (tinyurl.com/2j729nwx), the Franklin School District statistics reveal:

• In 2018, English language arts proficiency was 44%, meaning 56% of Franklin students were not performing at grade level in reading and writing. But in 2023, 2024 and 2025 the ELA proficiency declined to 25% proficient in ELA, meaning 75% were not proficient in reading and writing
• In 2018, regarding math proficiency, Franklin students were 31% proficient, but in 2025 their proficiency dropped to 15%

Does more money help?

• In 2018, the Franklin taxpayers spent $14,198 per pupil
• In 2025, that amount increased to $23,098 per pupil

Conclusion:

• Spending more results in lower performance and more underprepared graduates entering the community
• There needs to be more investigation into, “Why can’t Johnny read or do math?”

Karen Testerman

Franklin