School voucher fight returns to New Hampshire House
Supporters say plan would provide solutions; opponents say vouchers take money from schools
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Updated: 6:39 PM EST Feb 2, 2021
Supporters say plan would provide solutions; opponents say vouchers take money from schools
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Updated: 6:39 PM EST Feb 2, 2021
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>> CLASSROOMS HAVE TRANSFORMED AMID THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. CHILDREN ARE RECEIVING THEIR PUBLIC EDUCATION IN VASTLY DIFFERENT WAYS, AND ADVOCATES FOR SCHOOL CHOICE SAY THEY’VE HEARD FROM A GROWING NUMBER OF PARENTS INTERESTED IN ALTERNATIVES. >> THEY ARE IN THEIR HOMES IN MANY CASES, STRUGGLING TO TRY AND GET TUTORS AND SUPPLIES AND INTERNET ACCESS. FOR STATE HOUSE REPUBLICANS, THE SOLUTION IS HOUSE BILL 20: LEGISLATION CREATING EDUCATION FREEDOM ACCOUNTS TO GIVE PARENTS ACCESS TO PUBLIC DOLLARS THAT COULD BE PUT TOWARD PRIVATE SCHOOLS. OPPONENTS CONTEND IT’S A RE-RUN OF THE SCHOOL VOUCHER PLAN SHOT DOWN BY THE NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE IN 2018. >> WITH EVERYTHING THAT’S HAPPENED WITH THE PANDEMIC WE NEED TO BE FINDING CREATIVE WAYS TO SUPPORT THE EDUCATORS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND NOT TRYING TO TAKE PUBLIC MONEY AWAY FROM THEM. >> THE LAST PUSH FOR SCHOOL CHOICE FAILED WHEN REPUBLICANS SPLIT AFTER HOUSE FINANCE CHAIRMAN NEAL KURK BALKED AT THE MUCH-DEBATED PRICE TAG. >> THIS BILL DOWNSHIFTS $99 MILLION. REPRESENTATIVE KURK IS NOW RETIRED, AND NEARLY 3 YEARS LATER REPUBLICANS HAVE REGAINED THE MAJORITY AND APPEAR MORE UNITED THAN EVER BEHIND THIS ISSUE. >> THIS IS ABOUT EVERY KID IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERY KID IN NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS A STABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN ADEQUATE EDUCATION, AND THAT DISCUSSION IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN THE DISCUSSION WE WERE HAVING LAST TIME. >> WHILE SOME CONTEND THE PANDEMIC IS A GAME CHANGER FOR SCHOOOL CHOICE, OTHERS LIKE PARENTS OF CHILDREN LIVING WITH DISABILITIES SAY THEIR CONCERNS HAVEN’T CHANGED AT ALL. >> PERHAPS THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF HB20 IS ITS FAILURE TO PROHIBIT EDUCATION SERVICE PROVIDERS FROM DISCRIMINATION AGAINST STUDENTS BASED ON THEIR GENDER, THEIR RACE, THEIR DISABILITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, OR ANY OTHER FEDERALLY PROTECTED CATEGO