Historic Agreement Reached on NH Education Funding

Legislative leaders and Gov. , D-Hopkinton, have reached agreement on constitutional amendment for education funding in the Granite State, according to officials.

“This amendment meets the goals I have articulated and will allow us to put in place the best possible education funding formula for our schools and our children,” Lynch said in a statement.

Senate President , R-Milford, thanked the governor and House Speaker , for their “willingness and determination to find common ground” on the funding issue.

According to a press release, the agreed to language states the following:

[Art.] 5-c [Public Education].  In fulfillment of the provisions with respect to education set forth in Part II, Article 83, the legislature shall have the responsibility to maintain a system of public elementary and secondary education and to mitigate local disparities in educational opportunity and fiscal capacity.  In furtherance thereof, the Legislature shall have the full power and authority to make reasonable standards for elementary and secondary public education and standards of accountability and to determine the amount of, and the methods of raising and distributing, state funding for public education.

If approved by voters, “lawmakers will have the responsibility to mitigate local disparities by targeting aid to the neediest school districts,” Bragdon stated. “The Legislature will also determine the amount of and the methods of raising and distributing state funding for public elementary and secondary education.”