Laura Vincent: Vote for candidates who will protect public education

To The Daily Sun,

In New Hampshire people state that quality public education is important but are concerned about high property taxes. Federal money provides a small percentage of our school funding and state money from the NH Education Trust Fund provides a modest share of public-school funding.

Beginning in 2021 monies from the NH Education Trust Fund have been diverted to fund Educational Freedom Accounts. The purpose of the EFAs has been stated as giving students for whom public schools are not seen “as a good fit” a better choice to succeed in obtaining an education. These funds can be used for educational programs including private schools, parochial schools, home schooling, and other activities deemed of educational benefit by the administering organization, Children’s Scholarship Fund New Hampshire. Most of the children receiving these funds never attended public schools.

$8.1 million was distributed for 1,635 students in 2021-22, and $14.1 million was given out for 3,025 students in 2022-23. The NH Department of Education requested a compliance report regarding verification of student eligibility for these years. The report just released in July is based on 25 applications from each year. Out of the 50 applications reviewed, 24% were determined to be potentially ineligible for EFAs because of inadequate eligibility verification by the Children's Scholarship Fund. This means that up to $103,507 of our tax dollars may have been misspent, on just those 50 applicants alone.

Vote for candidates who will protect public education.

Laura Vincent

Loudon