Great news out of Concord today! Earlier this afternoon the NH House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 8, the town tuitioning (aka Croydon) bill, in a 210 to 147 roll call vote. It should head to the Senate Education Committee shortly where they will determine a recommendation to the full Senate to concur, not concur, or have a Committee of Conference to negotiate the differences between the versions passed by each body.
The bill as amended by the House reached a compromise and received strong bipartisan support. Roughly 50 small towns across the state do not provide Kindergarten through 12th grade in-district and must tuition out a portion of their student population. The bill clarifies that local school boards may contract with public and nonsectarian private schools in tuition agreements. This is consistent with existing practices. School districts often provide private school placement for students with special needs, and some extend that opportunity for other students as well. They may also do so per the Manifest Educational Hardship statute as well as RSA 194:22 and RSA 193:1.
Like other tuition agreements, these “school tuition programs” keep local school boards accountable for ensuring sending students receive an “opportunity for an adequate education” and have access to special needs services.
This version of the bill also addresses accountability without requiring private schools to participate in the statewide assessments. The amendment allows private schools to use any nationally recognized standardized academic assessment, and many already administer one or another, so it should not pose any additional financial or administrative burden. Other requirements mirror those for public schools already in statute so they are equitable and balanced.
The bill could be in the hands of the Senate Education Committee as early as next week and the full senate possibly by Thursday, June 15th. We will post specific dates once the calendars are published. We expect the senate will support the bill, but encouraging calls and emails are always helpful, especially personal comments from constituents. The senate roster and contact information are below. To find your senator, go to Who’s My Senator or use the district map.
For additional details about the House version of SB 8, read Town Tuitioning Bill Advances.
Once SB 8 is signed by Governor Sununu, it will strengthen Croydon’s legal appeal to the NH Supreme Court. More details about Croydon’s school choice program and legal battle are available in this article.
2022 Legislation of Interest, Updated
| Bill # | link | Prime Sponsor | Additional Sponsors | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HB 1051 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1197&type=4 | Linda Tanner | Sherry Frost, Stephen Woodcock, Jaci Grote, Sue Mullen | relative to the state board of education rules for credit for alternative, extended learning, and work-based programs |
| HB 1074 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1265&type=4 | Maureen Mooney | Sharon Carson, Kenneth Weyler, Jeanine Notter, Ruth Ward, Robert Healey | relative to notice to a chartered public school of a special education services meeting |
| HB 1113 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1927&type=4 | Marjorie Porter | Mel Myler, Stephen Woodcock, Arthur Ellison, Sue Mullen | prohibiting the department of education and the state board of education from directing or limiting school instructional options, such as remote learning |
| HB 1114 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1905&type=4 | Patricia Cornell | Marjorie Porter, Suzanne Vail, Mary Heath, Constance Van Houten, Sue Mullen | relative to education service providers under the education freedom account program |
| HB 1115 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1904&type=4 | Patricia Cornell | Robert Renny Cushing, Mel Myler, Mary Heath, Arthur Ellison, Sue Mullen | relative to record of educational attainment under the educational freedom account program |
| HB 1120 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1832&type=4 | Sue Mullen | Marjorie Porter, Mel Myler, Mary Heath, Patricia Cornell, Stephen Woodcock, Arthur Ellison, Catherin Rombeau | relative to education service providers under the education freedom accounts program |
| HB 1135 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1238&type=4 | Sallie Fellows | Richard Ames, Thomas Schamberg, Linda Tanner, Suzanne Vail, Mary Heath, Suzanne Prentiss, Mark Paige | requiring a performance audit of the department of education, education freedom account program |
| HB 1141 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1469&type=4 | Glenn Cordelli | Andrew Renzullo, Kevin Avard, Ruth Ward, Denise Ricciardi | relative to special education services for children in chartered public schools |
| HB 1152 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1504&type=4 | Bonnie Ham | Dan Wolf, Brodie Deshaies | relative to verification of eligible students under the education freedom account program |
| HB 1208 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1240&type=4 | Timothy Lang | Jason Osborne, Kevin Avard, Michael Moffett, Howard Pearl, Bob Greene, Michael Yakubovich, Judy Aron, Gregg Hough, Aidan Ankarberg | relative to driver education |
| HB 1283 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1869&type=4 | David Luneau | Marjorie Smith, Richard Ames | relative to liability as taxable income of education freedom account payments |
| HB 1298 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1435&type=4 | Glenn Cordelli | Carol McGuire, Jason Osborne, Gregory Hill, Michael Moffett, Alicia Lekas, Tony Piemonte, Deborah Hobson | relative to eligibility for the education tax credit |
| HB 1355 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1875&type=4 | David Luneau | requiring the scholarship organization to refer suspected cases of misuse of funds or fraud in the education freedom account program to the attorney general | |
| HB 1376 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1612&type=4 | Patricia Cornell | Robert Renny Cushing, Marjorie Porter, Mary Heath, Arthur Ellison, Sue Mullen | relative to participation in the education freedom accounts program by students with disabilities |
| HB 1428 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1271&type=4 | Maureen Mooney | Sharon Carson, Kenneth Weyler, Jeanine Notter, Ruth Ward, Robert Healey | relative to the provision of special education services by chartered public schools |
| HB 1513 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1259&type=4 | Bill Boyd | David Watters, John Reagan, Rick Ladd, Glenn Cordelli, Mark McLean, James Spillane, Michael Moffett, Kevin Verville | relative to the definition of a child with a disability for purposes of special education |
| HB 1516 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1464&type=4 | Marjorie Porter | Marjorie Smith, Paul Berch, Mel Myler, Linda Tanner, Mary Heath, Patricia Cornell, Jay Kahn, Stephen Woodcock, Arthur Ellison, Sue Mullen, Suzanne Prentiss | relative to the source of funds for education freedom accounts |
| HB 1615 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1744&type=4 | Susan Almy | David Watters, George Sykes | relative to driver education and the driver training fund |
| HB 1627 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1911&type=4 | Gregory Hill | Kenneth Weyler, Rick Ladd, Glenn Cordelli | establishing an education freedom account program administrator in the department of education and making an appropriation therefor |
| HB 1637 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1140&type=4 | Brodie Deshaies | Patrick Long, Linda Massimilla, Dan Wolf, Bonnie Ham, James Allard | requiring parents of public school students to submit a survey when electing an education freedom account |
| HB 1649 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1850&type=4 | Linda Tanner | Marjorie Porter, Mel Myler, Mary Heath, Stephen Woodcock, Sallie Fellows, Sue Mullen | relative to unique pupil identification for pupils in the education freedom accounts program |
| HB 1663 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1636&type=4 | Erica Layon | Jeanine Notter, Glenn Cordelli, Kimberly Rice, Michael Moffett, Alilcia Lekas, Hershel Nunez | relative to requirements for home education students |
| HB 1669 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1500&type=4 | Bonnie Ham | Mel Myler, Dan Wolf, Brodie Deshaies | requiring the department of education to administer the education freedom account program |
| HB 1670 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1509&type=4 | Bonnie Ham | Dan Wolf, Brodie Deshaies | relative to funds of the education freedom account program after termination of a student's participation and responsibilities of the scholarship organization |
| HB 1672 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1868&type=4 | David Luneau | Mel Myler | relative to misuse of education freedom account funds |
| HB 1678 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1608&type=4 | Erica Layon | Michael Moffett, Alicia Lekas, Hershel Nunez | relative to student participation in the education freedom accounts program and relative to administration of the program |
| HB 1683 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1871&type=4 | David Luneau | Timothy Horrigan, Mel Myler, Connie Lane | repealing the education freedom account program |
| HB 1684 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1873&type=4 | David Luneau | Mel Myler | limiting education freedom account funding to budgeted amounts |
| SB 235 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=2014&type=3 | Jay Kahn | David Watters, Donna Soucy, Richard Ames, Mel Myler, Mary Heath, David Luneau, Dan Wolf, Tom Sherman, Cindy Rosenwald, Suzanne Prentiss, Rebecca Perkins Kwoka | relative to the authority to offer multiple education instruction options |
| SB 237 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=2092&type=3 | Tom Sherman | Lou D'Allesandro, David Watters, Donna Soucy, Marjorie Smith, Mel Myler, David Luneau, Jay Kahn, Kevin Cavanaugh, Cindy Rosenwald, Suzanne Prentiss, Rebecca Whitley, Rebecca Perkins Kwoka | relative to participation in the education freedom account program |
| SB 421 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=1946&type=3 | David Watters | Lou D'Allesandro, Sharon Carson, John Reagan, Donna Soucy, Rick Ladd, Carol McGuire, Glenn Cordelli, James Gray, Ruth Ward, Bill Ganon, Kevin Cavanaugh, Tom Sherman, Cindy Rosenwald, Erin Hennessey, Suzanne Prentiss, Rebecca Whitley, Rebecca Perkins Kwoka | relative to dual and concurrent enrollment for career technical education center students |
| SB 432 | http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/lsr_search/billText.aspx?id=2071&type=3 | Jay Kahn | Lou D'Allesandro, David Watters, Donna Soucy, Kevin Cavanaugh, Tom Sherman, Cindy Rosenwald, Suzanne Prentiss, Rebecca Whitley, Rebecca Perkins Kwoka | repealing the education freedom account program |
Jeff.Woodburn@leg.state.nh.us,
Bob.Giuda@leg.state.nh.us,
jeb.bradley@leg.state.nh.us,
david.watters@leg.state.nh.us,
Martha.Hennessey@leg.state.nh.us,
James.Gray@leg.state.nh.us,
Harold.French@leg.state.nh.us,
Ruth.Ward@leg.state.nh.us,
andy.sanborn@leg.state.nh.us,
Jay.Kahn@leg.state.nh.us,
Gary.Daniels@leg.state.nh.us,
Kevin.Avard@leg.state.nh.us,
bette.lasky@leg.state.nh.us,
sharon.carson@leg.state.nh.us,
Dan.Feltes@leg.state.nh.us,
john.reagan111@gmail.com,
donna.soucy@leg.state.nh.us,
Regina.Birdsell@leg.state.nh.us,
dalas@leg.state.nh.us,
martha.fullerclark@leg.state.nh.us,
chuck.morse@leg.state.nh.us,
gannon4rep@gmail.com
Dan.Innis@leg.state.nh.us,
