BREAKING NEWS

SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE

RECONSIDERS HOUSE BILL 1642

Summary: At 3:00 p.m. today, the Senate Finance Committee reconvened to reconsider House Bill 1642—a bill to address funding for the state-authorized, independent charter schools. The new amendment grants $1.00 in 2008-2009 to each student in the 7 charter schools at risk. The committee approved the amendment on a 4:2 vote. Then, the committee voted 4:2 Ought to Pass on HB 1642 as amended today, reversing it’s vote of non-support from yesterday. Supporting the amendment: Senators Larsen, Hassan, Janeway, and Gallus. Opposed for $1.00 per student and to keep the opportunity alive to address charter school funding: Senators D’Allesandro (D-Manchester/Goffstown) and O’Dell (R-Sunapee/Newport/Claremont area).

More Information:

Senators Sylvia Larsen (D- Concord/Pembroke area) and Senator Margaret Hassan (D-Exeter area) advanced the amendment after meeting with the Commissioner of Education today The new amendment (#1825) is still a bridge amendment addressing one year of funding in 2008-2009 for the 7 charter schools most at risk.

Senator Hassan explained to the audience: “If you are unfamiliar with how the legislative process works, this vote of $1.00 per pupil gets this bill (after Senate passage) to the Committee of Conference where we can continue to find ways to keep these charter school open next year.”

The Commissioner of Education attended the 3:00 p.m. Senate Finance Committee meeting. After the meeting, he explained that the ADM-R for 2004-2005 was used for both years of the current biennium and that in 2004-2005 school districts counted students in charter schools in their district counts. He reminded listeners that in 2004-2005, the first year of charter school operation, the funding was provided by school districts, not the state, as per the original RSA 194-B: 3-a legislation passed in 2003.

Click on links below for additional information:

What is a charter school?

Complete Listing of New Hampshire Charter Schools

State & National News Articles About Charter Schools

Correction:
In an earlier legislation update describing 5 amendments to House Bill 1642, Amendment #2 (1804H): From Ken Weyler should have read:
“proposed that complete funding at the 80% level be provided by the school districts and the current funding system be replaced.” (The first message read that complete funding be provided by the state).