Thank you, Governor
Thank you Gov. Kelly Ayotte, for signing House Bill 1817 into law. For many New Hampshire families, this bill comes down to a simple idea: students should not be shut out of opportunities in their communities because of where they receive most of their education.
Education looks different than it did a decade ago. Some students attend public school full time, others private school, homeschool, use an Education Freedom Account or combine elements of several approaches. Families are finding what works for their children.
However, students following alternative paths have faced obstacles when trying to take a public school course, join a club, play sports or participate in other activities. HB 1817 corrects this so that opportunities do not hinge on a certain enrollment choice. The families affected by these policies are not outsiders, they are your neighbors.
Moreover, they are taxpayers who continue to fully support their local schools through property taxes while also shouldering additional costs for their children’s education. A homeschool student may want to take an advanced science class. A private school student may want to join the robotics team. An EFA student may combine tutoring, online learning and public school coursework throughout the year.
None of that is radical — it is just how education actually works for a growing number of families. Everyone in New Hampshire pays to support public education. HB 1817 allows more students to benefit from what exists in their community.