Program will let New Hampshire students use tax dollars to fund private schooling, other costs
Education freedom accounts will be form of school choice
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Updated: 8:29 PM EDT Jun 28, 2021
Education freedom accounts will be form of school choice
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Updated: 8:29 PM EDT Jun 28, 2021
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STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS. ADAM: SCHOOL CHOICE WILL SOON BE A REALITY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. STUDENTS FROM HOUSEHOLDS MAKING $79,500 OR LESS WILL BE LEOAB ACCESS TAX DOLLARS, AROUND 4060 DOLLARS ON AVERAGE, THAT FUND THEIR SCHOOLING TO USE IN THE WAY THEY SEE FIT TO GO TO ANOTHER SCHOOL, PRIVATE OR PUBLIC, OR TO PAY FOR EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES LIKE BOOKS OR TUTORING. >> MY PHONE’S RINGING OFTHF HOOK ALREADY WITH PEOPLE ASKING HOW IT WILL WORK, WHICH IS ACTUALLY QUITE SIMPLE, AND WTHA WILL HAPPEN, AND THERE’S QUITE A FEW STEPS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND WHENT I LAUNCHES. AD:AM KATE BAKER DEMERS OF THE CHILDREN'SCH SOLARSHIP FUND WNE HAMPSHIRE SAYS HER ORGANIZATION WILL APPLY TO ADMINISTRATE THE EDUCATION FREEDOM ACCOUN.TS WHILE THE SET UP AND RULAKINEMG PROCESS COULD TAKE MONTHS, SHE SAYS HER SYSTEM CAN BE READY TO GO BY THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. >> IT’S MAKING SURE FAMILIES MEET THE INCOME REQUIREMENTS, WHICH WE ALREADY DO FOR OUR EXISTINGAX T CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP, AND THEN WE’RE GOING TO USE A TOOL, A PAYMENT PROGRAM CALLED CLASSWALLET TO ADMINISTER ALL THE PAYMENTS. ADAM: ONE OF THE BIGGEST QUESTION MARKS IS WHAT THE TAKE-UP RATE WILL BE FOR EDUCATIOFRN EEDOM ACCOUNTS AMONG CURRENT PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS, WHO ARE NOT ACCOUNTED FOR IN PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING. >> THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET ASSISTANT OFFICE ACTUAYLL ESTIMATES THE STATE EXPOSUREO T BE NORTH OF $70 MILLION, EVEN IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROGRAM. ADAM: SUPPORTERS OF SCHOOL CHOICE SAY THAT COST WOULD MEAN A TAKE-UP RATE OF 50% OR MORE, WHICH WOULD BE UNPRECEDENTED AMONG SIMILAR PROGRAMS NATIONWI.DE THEY CONTEND THE FREEDOM ACCOUNTS WILL ULTIMATELY SAVE TAX DOLLARS. >> THE'R’S NO WAY IT’S GOING TO COST $70 MILLION IN THE FIRST YE.AR WE ESTIMATE NO MORE THAN $6 MILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR, $11 MILLION IN THEEC SOND YEAR. ADAM: THE OVERALL IMPACT ON PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING REMAINS TO BE SEEN. ADAM SEXTON, WMUR NE