Six New Hampshire charter schools struggling to stay open soon could get extra help from the state.

Legislative negotiators tentatively agreed yesterday to give an extra $1,168 per pupil next year to state-approved schools that operate without local financial support. The money is on top of the $3,832 in adequacy aid the schools will get per pupil, bringing their total state assistance to $5,000 per pupil.

The House had wanted $2,700 more per pupil, but the Senate balked at spending money on schools lacking either enough local or outside financial help to remain open.

The House argued the schools are public schools, approved by the state, but have no way to tap into property taxes for funding like district-backed schools.

The charter schools are the Academy for Science and Design, Cocheco Arts and Technology, New Hampshire Equestrian Academy, Seacoast, Strong Foundations, and Surry Village.

The help does not come in time for Franklin Career Academy, which is closing at the end of this school year.

The Associated Press