Nina Rees, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, issued the following statement regarding the New Hampshire Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee’s vote to reject $46 million in new money for public education:
“Today, Democrats on the New Hampshire Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee voted to reject $46 million in new federal funding for public school students in the Granite State. The funding, intended to give at-risk students the same educational opportunities as wealthier families, was rejected in the committee on a party-line, 7-3 vote.
Like Governor Sununu, we are sickened that New Hampshire Democrats turned their backs on their professed values and openly mocked the more than 200 hundred teachers, students, parents, and leaders who attended the meeting today. These individuals were there to let legislators know how important this funding is and would be for students across the state.
It is clear from today’s vote that the Democratic members of the committee are beholden to the educational establishment and specifically the teachers’ unions, which lobbied committee members hard not to accept the funding in order to maintain the status quo in the state’s public schools.
We will continue to work with New Hampshire teachers, students, parents and leaders to bring more resources to the state to ensure all students can access a great public school.
