A hearing on the GOP plan to make Education Freedom Accounts available to every New Hampshire child regardless of family income drew a large crowd of supporters, NH Journal reported. Democrats opposed the expansion, calling the accounts vouchers.
A hearing on GOP plans to make Education Freedom Accounts (EFA) available to every child, regardless of their family’s income, brought a big crowd to the state house Thursday — and vocal opposition from Democrats.
NH Journal
Lead sponsor Rep. Valerie McDonnell (R-Salem) touted the program’s record, NH Journal reported.
The wildly successful Education Freedom Account program has greatly increased the quality of education in the Granite State,
NH Journal
In an era where education spending is growing at an unsustainable level, the EFA program has saved taxpayers over $266 million in its opening years.
NH Journal
NH Journal put the program’s scale in context relative to total education spending.
the EFA program involves just over 5,000 kids and costs just $24 million. That’s about 0.6 percent of total education spending.
NH Journal
The turnout itself made the news.
So many EFA supporters showed up Thursday, they filled the hearing room and two additional overflow rooms as well.
NH Journal
NH Journal also reported how the program fits into the broader budget picture.
And while New Hampshire spent around $4 billion in total K-12 education last year for 163,000 students, the EFA program involves just over 5,000 kids and costs just $24 million.
NH Journal
Read the full story at NH Journal.
