Explanatory information:

1. New Hampshire's statewide average total per pupil school expenditure was approximately $10,000 in 2003-2004 (Department of Education data). Students in state-authorized charter schools receive $3500 for their public education in 2005-2006.

2. New Hampshire’s lowest-funded school districts provided almost double in 2003-2004 the funding allowed students in state-authorized chartered public schools for 2005-2006.

3. Students in state-authorized charter schools can receive as little as 15-20% of public funding afforded students in wealthier school districts, even when using 2-year-old district expenditure data (ref. Newington comparison). The $3500 per year is 58-60% of public funding for students in our poorest districts.**

4. State data indicate average non-operational costs statewide per student at $1645 (facility, transportation, e.g.). There is no facility stipend in New Hampshire's charter school funding scheme. With high facility costs through rentals, most charter schools apply $1000-$1600 per student toward facility. Thus, students in state-authorized charter schools where space is rented actually have only $2000 or less per student for their public education. This is 1/3 the per student funding of students in New Hampshire’s poorest school districts.

5. Public school district expense data indicate that in 2003-2004 almost no NH school board financed public elementary education at less than $6,000 per student.

6. New Hampshire charter schools were intended to be efficient--to produce more for less. The 1995 statute gives 80% as the amount locally-authorized chartered school students will receive from their home districts--a 20% reduction of district per pupil expenditure.

7. Most states have a policy of equity in public school funding, assuring that public students receive relatively equitable funding regardless of what public school they attend.

8. The 1995 schema of 80% of funding is not unreasonable.

9. Nationwide, based on available reports, 65% of average is the lowest percentage of comparative funding for charter schools.

10. If New Hampshire set the % of weighted funding at 65% of the total state average cost, New Hampshire would still only tie for last place for equity of state-authorized charter student funding.

11. $3500 per student per year is less funding than the amount available for NH state-authorized charter schools in 2003, when the pilot project passed. At that time, Franklin Career Academy charter school was eligible for approximately $4400 per student under the weighted funding model allowing 20% additional weight for high school students. 

12. Today’s 2005-2006 per pupil allocation is 20% LESS than the amount available in 2003.

*New Hampshire has 2 methods of charter school authorization and each method has a different funding scheme. Two methods with two funding schemes is not unreasonable, provided each can provide an adequate education.

**Using DOE's 2003-2004 statistical data, the lowest elementary school district expenditures 2 years ago were Weare at $5634, Franklin at $6009, and Croyden at $6550.  Examples of much higher elementary average expenditures were Newington at $17,417, LaFayette Regional at $13,600, and Waterville Valley at $21,328.  To make this 2003-2004 data relevant for comparison with the 2005-2006 $3500 allocation, district figures provided should be adjusted by a 3% estimated cost increase per year.