New Hampshire’s education freedom account program was built on incrementalism.
The program, which allows families sending children to private schools or home schooling to use state funds, launched in 2021 with a cap on household income equivalent to $79,500 for a family of four. As the program became popular, lawmakers increased that cap, raising it to $112,525 for a family of four by 2025, and then removing the income cap entirely. Participation surged, rising from 1,920 students in its first year to more than 10,000 today.
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm}@H[ 4@?D6CG2E:G6 =2H>2<6CD 2C6 9@A:?8 E@ FD6 E92E D2>6 2AAC@249 H:E9 2 5:776C6?E EC2?D7@C>2E:G6 “D49@@= 49@:46” AC@A@D2=i @A6? 6?C@==>6?E] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmu24:?8 F?6IA64E65 A@=:E:42= 9625H:?5D[ w@FD6 2?5 $6?2E6 #6AF3=:42?D 2C6 >2<:?8 @?6 7:?2= 2EE6>AE E@ A2DD 2? @A6? 6?C@==>6?E =2H[ H9:49 H@F=5 2==@H DEF56?ED E@ 2EE6?5 AF3=:4 D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED @FED:56 @7 H96C6 E96J =:G6] p?5 27E6C 2 9:89\AC@7:=6 56762E E9:D J62C[ AC@A@?6?ED 2C6 AFEE:?8 7@CH2C5 2 >F49 >@C6 =:>:E65 G6CD:@? @7 E96 :562[ 42AA65 2E d__ DEF56?ED]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 :562[ E96J 2C8F6[ :D E@ E6DE\CF? E96 AC@8C2>[ 82F86 AF3=:4 :?E6C6DE[ 2?5 E96? 3F:=5 :E 7C@> E96C6] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm“xE H:== H@C< G6CJ D:>:=2C=J E@ E96 H2J tupD 92G6 H@C<65[” D2:5 #6A] zC:DE:? }@3=6[ 2 q657@C5 #6AF3=:42?[ DA62<:?8 E@ 2 ;@:?E 4@>>:EE66 @7 w@FD6 2?5 $6?2E6 >6>36CD |@?52J] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmp? 2>6?5>6?E E@k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^84]?9]8@G^3:==0DE2EFD^=6824J^3Da_`e^3:==%6IE]2DAInDJla_aeU2>Aj:5lafdU2>AjEIEu@C>2El9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmw@FD6 q:== fd`k^DA2?mk^2m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmAC@A@D65 |@?52J H@F=5[ :? E96@CJ[ 2==@H }6H w2>AD9:C6 DEF56?ED E@ 2EE6?5 2?J D49@@= 5:DEC:4E :? E96 DE2E6] qFE :E H@F=5 2=D@ :>A@D6 E96 d__\DEF56?E 42A 7@C :ED 7:CDE J62C 2?5 2==@H D49@@= 3@2C5D E@ C6;64E 2446AE:?8 @FE\@7\5:DEC:4E DEF56?ED 3J 564=2C:?8 E96J 92G6 ?@ 42A24:EJ E@ 5@ D@]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmx7 56>2?5 H6C6 9:89[ E96 AC@A@D2= H@F=5 2==@H E92E 42A E@ 8C@H] $9@F=5 2E =62DE h_T @7 E96 D=@ED 7:== FA :? E96 7:CDE J62C — 6BF:G2=6?E E@ 2E =62DE cd_ D:8?FAD — E96 42A H@F=5 8C@H 3J adT :? :ED D64@?5 J62C[ C:D:?8 E@ ed_] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmxE’D 2? 2AAC@249 E92E 649@6D E96 65F42E:@? 7C665@> 244@F?E AC@8C2>[ H9:49 4FCC6?E=J :D DF3;64E E@ 2 `_[___\DEF56?E 42A E92E 42? :?4C62D6 3J adT A6C J62C :? 9:89 56>2?5] p?5 :E’D 2 42FE:@FD 2AAC@249 E92E #6AF3=:42? =2H>2<6CD 2C6 9@A:?8 H:== H:? @G6C D<6AE:4D 2?5 2==@H E96 AC@8C2> E@ E2<6 C@@E 2?5 8C@H] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm“x E9:?< :E’D 8@@5i E96 :562 E92E E96 42A 4C62E6D D@>6 7:D42= DE23:=:EJ 2?5 2==@HD FD E@ 36 23=6 E@ D66 9@H E96 AC@8C2> 8C@HD 2?5 H@C<D 2?5 H96E96C @C ?@E A2C6?ED E2<6 :E FA[” D2:5 $6?] %:> {2?8[ 2 $2?3@C?E@? #6AF3=:42?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmu@C E9@D6 25G@42E6D[ G:4E@CJ :D 72C 7C@> 8F2C2?E665] %96 @A6? 6?C@==>6?E 4@?46AE 92D 366? 492>A:@?65 3J 4@?D6CG2E:G6D :? E96 $6?2E6[ 3FE 92D DEF>3=65 :? E96 w@FD6] p 8C@FA @7 a` w@FD6 #6AF3=:42?D ;@:?65 H:E9 s6>@4C2ED E@ 56762E 2? 62C=:6C $6?2E6\A2DD65 3:==[ 4:E:?8 4@?46C?D @G6C =@42= D49@@= 5:DEC:4E 3F586ED] p?5 v@G] z6==J pJ@EE6 92D 6IAC6DD65 “D@>6 4@?46C?D” @G6C E96 4@?46AE @7 F?:G6CD2= @A6? 6?C@==>6?E[ C2:D:?8 E96 :DDF6 @7 AC6D6CG:?8 =@42= 4@?EC@=[ 3FE 92D ?@E 4=62C=J 6?5@CD65 @C @AA@D65 2?J 7:?2= G6CD:@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%9:D H66<’D 2>6?5>6?E D66<D E@ @A6? E96 5@@C E@ @A6? 6?C@==>6?E @? 2 D>2==6C D42=6] $:?46 a__h[ }6H w2>AD9:C6 D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 92G6 366? 7C66 E@ G@=F?E2C:=J 364@>6 @A6? 6?C@==>6?E D49@@=D 2?5 2446AE DEF56?ED — 2?5 EF:E:@? A2J>6?ED — 7C@> @FE @7 E96:C 5:DEC:4ED[ 3FE ;FDE @?6 92D 5@?6 D@[ !C@DA64E |@F?E2:? w:89 $49@@= :? p=E@?]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm&?56C E96 =2E6DE AC@A@D65 G6CD:@? @7 wq fd`[ 2== D49@@= 3@2C5D H@F=5 36 C6BF:C65 E@ 25@AE @A6? 6?C@==>6?E A@=:4:6D] qFE D49@@= 3@2C5D H@F=5 92G6 E96 23:=:EJ E@ 56E6C>:?6 E96:C 42A24:EJ E@ E2<6 @? DEF56?ED :? 6249 8C256[ AC@8C2>[ @C E649?:42= 65F42E:@? AC@8C2>] %92E 42A24:EJ :D 567:?65 2D E96 ?F>36C @7 DEF56?ED E96 5:DEC:4E 4@F=5 E2<6 H:E9@FE ?665:?8 E@ 9:C6 >@C6 DE277] qFE E96 2>6?5>6?E H@F=5 2==@H D49@@= 3@2C5D E@ 56E6C>:?6 E92E 42A24:EJ E@ 36 K6C@]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm~?46 E92E 42A24:EJ :D D6E[ 5:DEC:4ED H@F=5 36 6IAC6DD=J 7@C3:556? 7C@> C6;64E:?8 @A6? 6?C@==>6?E DEF56?ED 5F6 E@ E96:C DA64:2= 65F42E:@? ?665D @C 5:D23:=:EJ[ E96:C 2AE:EF56[ @C E96:C 2E9=6E:4 249:6G6>6?E[ E96 2>6?5>6?E DE2E6D] qFE 2 5:DEC:4E H@F=5 36 23=6 E@ C6;64E 2? :?4@>:?8 DEF56?E H9@ 5@6D?’E D2E:D7J E96 C6BF:C6>6?ED 7@C E96 AC@8C2>[ 92D 366? 6IA6==65 7C@> 2?@E96C 5:DEC:4E[ 92D 2 9:DE@CJ @7 “D:8?:7:42?E 5:D4:A=:?2CJ :DDF6D[” @C 92D 2 9:DE@CJ @7 23D6?E66:D>]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmx7 2 5:DEC:4E C646:G65 >@C6 2AA=:42E:@?D E92? :E 92D DA246D 2G2:=23=6[ :E H@F=5 36 C6BF:C65 E@ 4@?5F4E 2 =@EE6CJ[ E96 2>6?5>6?E DE2E6D] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 2>6?5>6?E H@F=5 2==@H A2C6?ED E@ 2AA=J E@ >F=E:A=6 D49@@=D @C AC@8C2>D E92E 92G6 2G2:=23:=:EJ[ 2?5 :E H@F=5 7@C3:5 D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 7C@> 492C8:?8 2AA=:42E:@? 766D] xE H@F=5 2==@H 72>:=:6D E@ 492?86 E96:C >:?5D 2?5 C6\6?C@== :? E96:C C6D:56?E D49@@= 5:DEC:4E[ 3FE :E H@F=5 ?@E 2==@H DEF56?ED E@ 492?86 D49@@=D >@C6 E92? @?46 A6C J62C F?=6DD E92E H6C6 6IA=:4:E=J 2AAC@G65 3J E96 D49@@= 3@2C5]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm|@DE D:8?:7:42?E=J[ E9:D H66<’D AC@A@D2= H@F=5 2G@:5 2 A2DE[ 4@?EC@G6CD:2= @A6? 6?C@==>6?E 2AAC@249 :? H9:49 E96 5:DEC:4E H96C6 2 DEF56?E C6D:56D H@F=5 36 C6BF:C65 E@ A2J EF:E:@? E@ E96 5:DEC:4E E96 DEF56?E 2EE6?5D] %92E AC@A@D2=[ H9:49 4C:E:4D H2C?65 4@F=5 D:A9@? =@42= E2I 5@==2CD 7C@> DECF88=:?8 D49@@=D[ :D 23D6?E 7C@> E96 d__\DEF56?E 2>6?5>6?E] x?DE625[ E96 ?6H 3:== H@F=5 C6BF:C6 E96 DE2E6 E@ A2J C646:G:?8 5:DEC:4ED 2 9:896C 2>@F?E @7 A6C\AFA:= 7F?5:?8 7@C E96 @A6? 6?C@==>6?E DEF56?ED E96J E2<6 :? E92? E96:C ?@C>2=[ C6D:56?E DEF56?ED[ 2E 2 C2E6 @7 >@C6 E92? Sh[___ A6C DEF56?E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm(:E9 2 >2I:>F> @7 d__ DEF56?ED :? :ED 7:CDE J62C 2?5 ed_ :? :ED D64@?5[ E96 @A6? 6?C@==>6?E A:=@E AC@8C2> H@F=5 =:<6=J 4@DE E96 DE2E6 23@FE Sa]f >:==:@? :? E96 7:CDE J62C 2?5 Sb]c >:==:@? :? E96 D64@?5[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2? 2?2=JD:D 3J E96 {68:D=2E:G6 qF586E pDD:DE2?E] %92E >@?6J H@F=5 4@>6 @FE @7 E96 DE2E6’D t5F42E:@? %CFDE uF?5[ H9:49 A2JD @FE 2== DE2E6 7F?5D E@ AF3=:4 D49@@=D 2?5 :D 3F586E65 E@ 4@==64E S`]ba 3:==:@? :? C6G6?F6 :? DE2E6 7:D42= J62C a_af]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm|@?52J’D 2>6?5>6?E :D ?@E 7:?2=j E96 4@>>:EE66 @7 4@?76C6?46 92D F?E:= |2J ag E@ G@E6 @? H96E96C E@ C64@>>6?5 2 4@>AC@>:D6] x7 E96 4@>>:EE66 5@6D 28C66 @? 2 AC@A@D2=[ E92E C64@>>6?52E:@? H@F=5 8@ E@ 2 G@E6 367@C6 E96 7F== w@FD6 @? yF?6 c] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm}@E 2== 2DA64ED @7 E96 3:== 92G6 366? 92>>6C65 @FEi u@C :?DE2?46[ E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 t5F42E:@? H@F=5 36 :? 492C86 @7 4@>:?8 FA H:E9 2 DJDE6> E92E 2==@42E6D E96 d__ D=@ED “:? 2 >2??6C E92E 6?DFC6D 6BF:E23=6 86@8C2A9:4 5:DEC:3FE:@? 2?5 72:C 2446DD 7@C DEF56?ED 24C@DD 2== C68:@?D @7 E96 DE2E6]” %96 3:== 5@6D ?@E @FE=:?6 9@H :E D9@F=5 5@ D@] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQms6>@4C2ED @? E96 4@>>:EE66 @7 4@?76C6?46 C2:D65 4@?46C?D @G6C E92E F?567:?65 2==@42E:@? DJDE6>[ 2?5 2C8F65 E92E 56A6?5:?8 @? E96 5:DEC:3FE:@?[ D@>6 D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 4@F=5 D66 2 8C62E6C =@DD @7 E96:C DEF56?ED E92? @E96CD]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 s6>@4C2ED 2=D@ C2:D65 4@?46C?D E92E E96 3:== 4@F=5 4C62E6 4@>A6E:E:@? 7@C D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED E92E 2=C625J 92G6 EF:E:@? 28C66>6?ED H:E9 @E96C D49@@=D] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 3:== C6BF:C6D D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED E92E 5@?’E @A6C2E6 46CE2:? D49@@=D — DF49 2D 9:89 D49@@=D — E@ >2:?E2:? EF:E:@? 28C66>6?ED H:E9 @E96C 5:DEC:4ED E@ AC@G:56 E96:C DEF56?ED 2 A:A6=:?6 E@ E9@D6 D49@@=D[ 2D 4FCC6?E=J C6BF:C65 :? =2H] xE 5@6D ?@E 2==@H 2 5:DEC:4E E@ 232?5@? E92E C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ 2?5 2D< :ED DEF56?ED E@ AFCDF6 @A6? 6?C@==>6?E :?DE625] qFE $6?] $FK2??6 !C6?E:DD[ 2 {632?@? s6>@4C2E[ D2:5 D96 :D H@CC:65 E92E D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 4@F=5 D66< E@ 2G@:5 A2J:?8 E92E EF:E:@? 3J :?E6?E:@?2==J 6?E6C:?8 :?E@ 28C66>6?ED H:E9 =6DD 56D:C23=6 D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 2?5 :?46?E:G:K:?8 A2C6?ED E@ AFCDF6 @A6? 6?C@==>6?E[ H9:49 E96 C6D:56?E D49@@= 5:DEC:4E H@F=5 ?@E A2J 7@C]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm“pC6 H6 A:EE:?8 D49@@= 5:DEC:4ED 282:?DE 6249 @E96C[ @C A@E6?E:2==J 282:?DE E96 DE2E6n” D96 2D<65]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm{2?8 A@:?E65 E@ 2 AC@G:D:@? :? E96 3:== E92E C6BF:C6D 2?J D49@@= 5:DEC:4E :? H9:49 >@C6 E92? 92=7 @7 :ED C6D:56?E DEF56?ED 2C6 =62G:?8 E96 5:DEC:4E 7@C 2? @A6? 6?C@==>6?E D49@@= E@ 4@>6 367@C6 E96 $E2E6 q@2C5 @7 t5F42E:@?[ H9:49 4@F=5 C6BF:C6 E92E 5:DEC:4E E@ 6?E6C :?E@ 2 EF:E:@? 28C66>6?E H:E9 E92E D49@@=]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmp?5 s6>@4C2ED C2:D65 2?@E96C 9JA@E96E:42=i p D49@@= 5:DEC:4E E92E 92D E96 42A24:EJ E@ E2<6 :? 2? @FE\@7\5:DEC:4E @A6? DEF56?E @?6 J62C[ 3FE =@D6D E92E 42A24:EJ E96 ?6IE J62C[ H96? E96 DEF56?E 6?E6CD E96 ?6IE 8C256] {2?8 28C665 E96C6 H2D 2 C:D< E92E E96 DEF56?E 4@F=5 =@D6 E96:C A=246 :? E96 @A6? 6?C@==>6?E 5:DEC:4E E96 7@==@H:?8 J62C[ 3FE 96 D2:5 96 5:5 ?@E E9:?< :E H2D =:<6=J] %92E H@F=5 4@>6 5@H? E@ D49@@= 3@2C5 564:D:@?D @G6C 42A24:EJ[ 96 D2:5] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm“x 92G6 72:E9 :? @FC D49@@= 3@2C5D E@ 36 23=6 E@ >2<6 E9@D6 56E6C>:?2E:@?D[” 96 D2:5] k^DA2?mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.