News – Politics – Opinion – Podcasts
Ann Marie Banfield 
Problems Persist for Superintendent David Ryan Public trust in schools depends on accountability, transparency, and a culture where parents, teachers, and students can raise concerns without fear of retaliation. When that trust breaks down, families leave, teachers resign, and communities fracture. New Hampshire has now seen similar concerns emerge in multiple school districts connected to … Read more
Youth mental health has become one of the defining public policy concerns of our time. Anxiety, depression, isolation, and behavioral struggles among children and teenagers are rising, and families across New Hampshire are searching for answers. Governor Kelly Ayotte recently addressed the issue by criticizing Anthem Insurance for not covering certain mental health services for … Read more
Dear Legislators, State Board Members, Commissioner Davis, and Members of the Media, My name is Ann Marie Banfield, and I am a parent advocate in New Hampshire focused on excellence in education. I am writing to bring your attention to a serious and ongoing issue affecting students in certain public schools, with the situation in … Read more
During a recent hearing before the New Hampshire Senate Education Committee, State Board of Education Chair Drew Cline made a revealing observation: the State Board has seen an increase in the number of bullying-related appeals brought by parents. This trend deserves serious attention. When a student experiences bullying at school, parents sometimes request a “manifest … Read more
With the help of Andy and Julie Liddell at the EdTech Law Center, some parents around the country have begun filing lawsuits against Curriculum Associates, the company that produces the i-Ready learning platform used in many schools. According to the complaints filed in these lawsuits, parents allege that the company’s business model allows for the … Read more
As if the Seabrook School District were not already facing enough challenges within SAU21, a troubling situation has now drawn Hampton Falls into the controversy as well. A student from Seabrook who was subjected to relentless bullying is seeking to transfer to the Hampton Falls School through what is known as a Manifest Hardship transfer. … Read more
Calls for the resignation of Superintendent Meredith Nadeau are resurfacing after a troubling audit conducted by the New Hampshire Department of Education. See Seabrook School Board meeting. The state review found that students with special needs in Seabrook’s elementary and middle schools were not receiving all of the services required under their Individualized Education Programs … Read more
We’ve Spent Billions. Where Are the Academic Returns for New Hampshire Students? Over the past two decades, New Hampshire’s public school system has seen a dramatic shift in both spending and instructional practice. Taxpayers now invest more than ever in K-12 education, yet the academic outcomes that matter most — foundational reading and math skills … Read more
This week, the New Hampshire House Education Policy and Administration Committee heard testimony on whether the state should withdraw from the Multi-Tiered System of Support for Behavior. Some school staff showed up to oppose this legislation and explained how these mental health practices are working well in their schools. But this legislation wouldn’t end that … Read more
And Demand Our Kids’ Data Dear Superintendent Nadeau, I am attaching a petition that calls for ending Lifetouch contracts with U.S. public schools and for protecting student data and images. A former Lifetouch executive, Leon Black, had a long-standing personal and professional association with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. As documented publicly, Black made … Read more
I hope we can all agree that even if we disagreed with the students who protested at their schools over the past couple of weeks, they have a right to free speech. There is no argument that students may express their views. However, when that expression takes place during the school day and on school … Read more
The New Hampshire Learning Initiative (NHLI) is offering a two-day professional development workshop for K–12 science teachers focused on designing a “student-centered, competency-based instructional model aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS),” with connections to Career Connected Learning. The workshop costs $495 per participant and will be held April 9–10 at the McLane Audubon … Read more
Six-Figure Salaries, Rising SPED Costs, and the Questions We’re Not Asking Across our state, SAU superintendents and administrators are paid six-figure salaries to lead public school systems that are supposed to serve all students well. Yet year after year, public confidence erodes, student outcomes stagnate, and special education (SPED) budgets continue to climb. At some … Read more
Why New Hampshire Should Repeal MTSS-B House Bill 1754-FN would repeal the statewide law for the Multi-Tiered System of Supports for Behavioral Health (MTSS-B) in New Hampshire public schools. This proposal is not an attack on student mental health. Rather, it is a necessary step to restore academic focus, protect student privacy, and respect parental … Read more
After speaking at a recent hearing on bullying legislation in New Hampshire, I left with a troubling question: Is there a growing apathy toward the suffering of bullied children in our schools? For years, Representative Glenn Cordelli—until recently the Chairman of the House Education Policy Committee—has worked to strengthen laws that protect students. I have … Read more
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) has become the latest craze in public education. Promoted as a way to help students manage emotions and build empathy, SEL is now a packaged product sold by education vendors—complete with online platforms that collect data on every child who participates in Tier 1 of the Multi Tiered System of … Read more
The Growing Cost of Legal Battles in New Hampshire Schools As school boards and budget committees across New Hampshire begin preparing next year’s budgets, local taxpayers are taking a closer look at how their property taxes are being spent. One area drawing quiet but growing concern is the rising cost of legal expenses in public … Read more
The Portsmouth School District seems to hold some students in higher esteem than others. The latest controversy centers on Anthony Ferola, a 17-year-old senior at Portsmouth High School, who has been told to refrain from praying publicly during basketball games. According to Seacoast Online, Ferola prayed before games for his teammates’ health and to express … Read more
There are many reasons behind the escalating costs in special education. It’s easy to blame the federal government for failing to fund its promised share under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), but that’s only part of the story. There are serious, fixable issues at the local level that are driving costs through the … Read more
I called Mr. Walker on Friday to ask him what he meant by this statement. Would students be punished if they wore a Trump shirt?