Education (School Choice)

in committee · New Hampshire · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 1669: establishing a teacher bill of rights.

HB 1669 establishes a "Teacher Bill of Rights" for educators in New Hampshire public schools and public charter schools. It guarantees teachers specific rights, including a safe and healthy school environment free from violence, respectful treatment, the ability to share student information with parents (per FERPA), and protection from retaliation when exercising professional judgment. The bill requires all public school districts and charter school boards to post this bill of rights on their websites. It directly affects teachers by defining their workplace protections and communication rights within school policies. The law takes effect upon passage.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationGuarantees teacher rights including safety, respectful treatment, and protection from retaliation, directly strengthening educator support and school environment per bill summary.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentGuarantees teacher workplace safety, respectful treatment, and retaliation protection - directly advancing worker rights in education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Teachers

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died · New Hampshire · House Mar 4, 2026

HB 1513: relative to reporting and transparency reports for the education freedom account program.

HB 1513 requires the scholarship organization managing New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account program to provide detailed, public transparency reports. It mandates that the organization publish annual data on account expenses by category and education provider within 45 business days of fund release, in a standard sortable electronic format on its website - without personally identifiable information. The bill also requires the organization to provide requested data to oversight bodies (like the legislative committee and Department of Education) within 45 business days and ensures all qualifying educational expenses are accessible. This directly affects the scholarship organization administering the program, adding specific reporting obligations to enhance public accountability.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires transparency in education program spending, promoting fiscal accountability without altering tax or budget allocations.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires transparency reports for education scholarship program, ensuring accountability in fund usage without restricting access or funding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Student Financial Aid

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died · New Hampshire · House Aug 20, 2026

HB 1820: requiring the department of education to administer the education freedom account program.

HB 1820 shifts administration of New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account (EFA) program from scholarship organizations to the Department of Education. It requires the Department to directly transfer funds to parents for qualifying education expenses (like tuition, materials, or tutoring) for eligible students, replacing the previous system where scholarship organizations managed distributions. Parents must apply through the Department, agree to educational requirements (including assessments or portfolio reviews), and use funds only for approved expenses. Unused EFA funds roll over annually but revert to the education trust fund if not used by graduation or after misuse. This bill directly affects parents of K-12 students participating in the EFA program.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationDirectly transfers funds to parents for education expenses (tuition, materials), expanding access to educational funding programs by replacing indirect scholarship management with state-administered accounts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Choice Student Financial Aid

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in committee · New Hampshire · Senate Feb 24, 2026

SB 581: modifying education freedom account (EFA) eligibility and removing priority guidelines and the enrollment cap relative to EFA eligibility.

SB 581 modifies New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account (EFA) program by removing two key restrictions: (1) priority guidelines that previously favored certain student groups, and (2) an enrollment cap limiting EFA participation to 10,000 students. This change means all eligible parents can apply for EFAs without being subject to priority rankings or enrollment limits. The bill repeals related legal definitions and provisions that enforced these restrictions, effective July 2026. It directly affects families seeking EFA funding for K-12 education options by expanding access to the program.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves enrollment cap and priority guidelines, expanding EFA access to all eligible parents without restrictions, directly increasing educational access options.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Choice

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failed · New Hampshire · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 1712: relative to charter conversion schools.

HB 1712 establishes a clear statutory process for New Hampshire public schools to convert into charter schools. It requires a school board vote and a 2/3 majority vote by the school district at a meeting with a specific warrant article to initiate conversion, ensuring all students from the converting school can attend the new charter school. The bill sets governance rules, including capping overlapping board members at 25% (or one member), requiring at least 25% parent representation on charter school boards, and maintaining school districts' special education obligations. It also mandates voter ratification of charter contracts with a defined ballot question, specifies funding follows existing state law (80% of per-pupil funding), and requires an initial audit by the Department of Education followed by audits every three years after the third year of operation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables public school conversion to charters with student access guarantees and governance rules, expanding educational options and maintaining school continuity.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice School Funding Special Education

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failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 1731: relative to the creation of an educational opportunities information system.

HB 1731 requires New Hampshire's Department of Education to create an online system cataloging all public schools, charter schools, non-public schools, and "learn everywhere" programs across the state. The system must include detailed profiles, searchable maps, and allow schools to update their own data, enabling families to easily find educational options. It appropriates $1 for fiscal year 2027 but the fiscal note estimates actual costs at $250,000-$300,000 for development and $98,000-$105,000 annually for ongoing maintenance. This bill directly affects all New Hampshire schools and families seeking educational resources by centralizing location and program information in one accessible platform.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates online system for families to easily find school options, enhancing educational access and transparency per bill summary.92% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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died · New Hampshire · House Mar 4, 2026

HB 1280: establishing a commission to study public school open enrollment.

HB 1280 establishes a 19-member commission to study public school open enrollment in New Hampshire. The commission, including school superintendents, local school board members, legislators, parents, and business administrators, will develop a system for open enrollment that addresses state funding, equitable access, transportation, special education responsibilities, and budget documentation. It must propose revisions to existing law (RSA 194-D) covering enrollment processes, timelines, and funding mechanisms to prevent direct invoicing between schools. The bill suspends current RSA 194-D rules until the commission submits its final report to the legislature. This directly affects New Hampshire public schools, students, and families by shaping future enrollment policies.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes commission to study open enrollment system addressing equitable access, funding, and transportation, indicating intent to improve educational access and equity in K-12 schools.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Special Education

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failed · New Hampshire · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 1716: relative to the academic accountability of education freedom accounts.

HB 1716 requires students in New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account (EFA) program to demonstrate academic progress through one of three methods: taking standardized tests (national or state), or maintaining a portfolio evaluated by a certified teacher using a Department of Education-developed rubric. The bill directs the Department of Education's Division of Learner Support to create and publish this rubric annually, then compile data from all student reports to analyze academic proficiency rates. This data must include metrics like graduation rates, grade level, gender, race, and aid categories. The bill does not provide new funding but estimates annual costs of $300,000-$350,000 for staff and system upgrades to implement the reporting and analysis requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires academic accountability for EFA students via tests/portfolio, ensuring educational quality within the program.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Choice Testing & Assessment

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in committee · New Hampshire · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SB 579: modifying the language for intra-district public school transfers to include schools within school administrative units.

SB 579 modifies New Hampshire's school transfer rules to allow parents to request transfers to any school within their school administrative unit (SAU), not just within their immediate district. It directly affects parents or guardians seeking to move their children to another public school within the same SAU or to schools outside the SAU. Key provisions include giving superintendents or service providers authority to approve transfers based on student needs (e.g., academic or social factors) and requiring them to consider school capacity for within-SAU requests. The bill also clarifies tuition arrangements for out-of-SAU transfers and specifies that parents are responsible for transportation. This change streamlines intra-SAU transfers while maintaining existing processes for district-wide moves.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands parental school choice within SAUs by removing transfer restrictions, directly increasing educational access for students seeking alternative placements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Choice School Transportation

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passed · New Hampshire · House May 5, 2026

HB 1832: adding students with a parent or guardian on active military duty to the education freedom accounts priority guidelines.

HB 1832 adds students with at least one parent on active military duty (with a permanent change of station in New Hampshire) to the priority eligibility list for New Hampshire's Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs). This means military-connected students who relocate to New Hampshire due to their parent's active duty orders will now qualify for priority enrollment in the EFA program, alongside existing priority groups like low-income students. The bill amends eligibility criteria in RSA 194-F:1, adding a new category (d) specifically for these military families. It takes effect 60 days after passage and has an estimated fiscal impact of $150,300 in FY 2027 for approximately 30 additional eligible students.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands EFA eligibility, requiring state funding increase for military-connected students' education access. Supports public service funding under Budget & Taxes.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands EFA access to military-connected students, increasing educational opportunity for a new priority group per bill's explicit eligibility amendment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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