Education
Two Education Freedom Account Changes Fail to Find a Majority
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Changes to the Education Freedom Account program split the House Education Committee Wednesday and will be debated on the floor of the House later this month.
InDepthNH.org (https://indepthnh.org/author/garry-rayno-indepthnh-org/)
Changes to the Education Freedom Account program split the House Education Committee Wednesday and will be debated on the floor of the House later this month.
A bill that would, once again, create “donor towns” under the Statewide Education Property Tax had a public hearing Tuesday before the House Ways and Means Committee.
Governors traditionally gather the requests from department heads for what they say they will need for resources i.e. money over the next two years and blend it into a strange brew.
A bill to expand the uses for the state’s Education Trust Fund ran into opposition Friday as opponents said it would give the new Education Freedom Account program a blank check without accountability.
Rep. David Luneau, D-Hopkinton, speaks to the House Education Committee Wednesday about his bill to have the Department of Education take over administration of the Education Freedom Account program.
But the recent increase in real estate values has put home ownership out of reach of anyone not earning more than $100,000 annually or more.
The controversial program, which is one of the most expansive voucher programs in the country, has served about 3,000 students in its first two years, and has cost the state $24 million — well over budget — with a projected cost of $30 million a year for the next biennial budget.
Some lawmakers want to give local officials tools to address skyrocketing rental rates, but landlords say the solution is to build more apartments not create more regulations.
A cold shoulder was given to two proposals to change the date of the state primary election to earlier in the year Tuesday at public hearings.