State lawmakers reached an agreement Thursday, May 28, on a bill that would authorize parents to enroll their children in any public school in New Hampshire, but Gov. Kelly Ayotte said she would not sign the legislation if it reaches her desk.
The Republican governor indicated more work on the matter is needed. “That bill is not ready for primetime,” Ayotte said in a very brief statement.
The deal reached in a committee of conference is still also subject to approval by the full House and Senate.
It would allow up to 500 students across the state to attend a school outside of the district where they live starting next school year. That could be increased by 25% in every subsequent year where participation in the open enrollment program exceeds 90%.
Currently, school districts are allowed under state law to adopt open-enrollment policies. The deal reached in the conference committee on Thursday would require that they do so, including determining how much capacity they have for new students.
Districts would not be responsible for transporting students out of their areas; it would be up to the parents.
Rep. Katy Peternel, R-Wolfeboro, a member of the committee, said the estimated state costs of the program, if 500 students participated, would be $2.6 million, distributed as grants the state would provide to the districts receiving new students.
Sen. Timothy Lang, R-Sanbornton, spoke in support of the legislation before the committee on Thursday.
“Parental choice in education is hugely important,” he said. “While everybody is talking about costs and everything else, I’m talking about making sure a child gets the best education possible.”
Sen. Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, a Democrat from Portsmouth, spoke against the bill.
She said students leaving a district under the program would take a certain amount of per-pupil state money with them.
“So, it creates essentially a drain hole on the revenues available to our cities and towns, which ultimately is going to drive property taxes up if not managed correctly,” she said.
State lawmakers reached an agreement Thursday, May 28, on a bill that would authorize parents to enroll their children in any public school in New Hampshire, but Gov. Kelly Ayotte said she would not sign the legislation if it reaches her desk.
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