January 31, 2008

NEW HAMPSHIRE

CHARTER SCHOOL LEGISLATION 2008

Eight (8) bills address state funding policy for NH chartered public schools this session. Find and follow these bills through The New Hampshire Center for School Reform website: :http://www.nhschoolreform.org [Legislation].

These 8 bills are critically important. Charter public schools in New Hampshire have been left out from customary public school funding. The issue is not necessarily raising additional funds, but fairly distributing the funding currently available for all the state’s public schools and students--and to include students in public charter schools.

Basic state education aid for a charter school students this year is fixed at $3,709. Unlike other public schools, charter schools do not also receive state aid for facilities, transportation, special education, or anything. The total average cost statewide per student is between $12,000 and $13,000 this year (state aid AND local funding). But charter public schools are only funded with one category of state aid at this time.

Question: Does current state policy for education aid allow any schools to receive more than $3,709 per student? Answer: Yes

Hundreds of students in New Hampshire public schools considered needy receive more than $6,500 in state education aid through a weighted aid formula. Using Department of Education reports, Berlin receives state aid that approximates $6,718 per student, Stratford = $6,706 per student , Greenville = $6,673 per student; Charlestown = $6,272 per student; Newport = $6,168, Hinsdale = $6,076, Pittsfield = $6,050, and Lisbon = $6,045.*

So why, one might ask, does the state keep the charter public school students at such a low level of state education aid when state funding policy currently allows the neediest public schools higher levels of financial support?

This session, legislators have multiple bills to consider fairer, sustainable funding for operations as well as access to public education funds for facilities, special services, career and technical education, and transportation.

*Data was computed from DOE state aid reports, dividing the total adjusted education aid by posted students in residence.

CHARTER SCHOOL FUNDING HISTORY

In 1995, New Hampshire's charter school law passed but the guidelines were so complicated no schools opened, even when a local district voted to open. From 1995 to 2003, the only charter school authorizer was the school district. The district and its charter school are required to have a contract and the funding is negotiated between the parties, with 80% as a guideline. While 6 charter applications were approved, only one was district ratified, and none opened...because the district approval law just doesn't work well...yet.

In 2003, the state added state authorization with state funding. Districts can contribute local funds according to district policy (on access to district funding, one would assume).** When this 2nd authorization system (the district system is still in place) passed, legislation provided weighted state aid. Almost immediately, but after several schools had written and submitted applications, the legislature changed from a weighted state aid system to a fixed-amount-per-student funding system. And the fixed amount assigned per student was just set too low--lower than what would have been available under the weighted system in 2003 or 2004. The statewide public charter schools have been left to struggle ever since.

State education aid is generated by all citizens for all public students. Public charter school students should have equal access. Higher priorities have delayed getting the charter public school funding access resolved.

**Quite a few NH school districts tuition out all their high school students anyway, and all districts allow funds for district students seeking high school career and technical programs.

HEARINGS HELD BY SENATE AND HOUSE COMMITTEES

Most 2008 bills have had their first hearing, including bills that would provide fair access to funding for transportation, facility, career & technical education, and operations. House Bill 1639 had its first hearing Tuesday, January 29, 2008. HB 1639 raises the basic operations allocation to $7,000 per student, and revises the current provision for facility aid. Bills are being referred to study committees with promises that they will reappear after competing provisions are considered. There will be many more hearings between now and June 2008.

NEW HAMPSHIRE CENTER FOR SCHOOL REFORM WEBSITE

On our website, you can link right to the state's bill tracking system, which gives scheduled committee meeting times. Once on NHCSR’s website (www.nhschoolreform.org), click on “Legislation” to reach the listing of new bills. You'll see the grid below. Click on 'Text' to read a bill and see the sponsors. Click on "Check Status" to find the times and location of hearings and committee decisions.

Change does not happen without citizen effort.

Stay abreast of bill status and hearings. Written testimony can be submitted via fax. Newspapers welcome letters to the editor. Our experience is that all the New Hampshire legislators are cordial and welcoming to constituent comments.

Find names and phone numbers of the House & Senate Education and Finance Committee members on our website.

And read up about the state's interesting and successful chartered public school program. If you need assistance, contact us.