Over and over again, New Hampshire Democrats keep hammering away at some non-existent voucher bill in the state. They appear to be referring to Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs) but they never let facts get in the way of their propaganda. ESAs are not a school voucher program nor will they cause an increase in property taxes – two lies the Democrats keep regurgitating.
What are Educational Savings Accounts?
They are a much-needed alternative option to public education that parents within a certain income in the state can use (the original legislation allowed for ALL parents to use ESAs):
Education savings accounts (ESAs) allow parents to withdraw their children from public district or charter schools and receive a deposit of public funds into government-authorized savings accounts with restricted, but multiple, uses. Those funds—often distributed to families via debit card—can cover private school tuition and fees, online learning programs, private tutoring, community college costs, higher education expenses and other approved customized learning services and materials. Some ESAs, but not all, even allow students to use their funds to pay for a combination of public-school courses and private services.
Since these parents are already paying taxes for the public schools, why shouldn’t some of their own money follow their child in his or her education?
Democrats hate this idea and claim it will hurt public education and raise property taxes. They are lying:
All too often, especially in election years, we hear candidates make promises they cannot – or will not – keep. They claim they can lower property taxes without proposing spending cuts or indicating where the dollars would come from to replace the reduced funding source. With specific regards to education funding, they typically do not address expenses, academic achievement, or even mention children. They simply appeal to the masses with empty promises that don’t hold up to scrutiny.
The myths about education funding and ESAs can be found here but know that the United States has increased education funding by 300% since the seventies yet test scores remain flat. Democrats don’t care about the actual education of children since the teachers’ union became one of their biggest supporters and help buy them into office. The people who suffer as a result of this are children and parents.
Children’s Scholarship Fund also helps New Hampshire children
If Democrats are elected in New Hampshire, they will also try to do away with the Children’s Scholarship Fund which is a program that provides school choice for low-income families. This program is paid for by a business tax credit which New Hampshire businesses can voluntarily use in order to fund the scholarships.
This program has had overwhelming success in helping children in need get the best education possible. Children who were failing miserably in traditional public schools were provided the ability to choose a school that better fit their needs. These same children are now THRIVING:
The statistics from CSF speak for themselves. To date they have helped 525 New Hampshire children who have received scholarships to a tune over $1 million. Every household must contribute a percentage to a child’s tuition and the average family income of scholarship recipient’s is a little over $44,000.
Once again, the New Hampshire Children’s Scholarship Fund proves how valuable their organization is to Granite State children. They couldn’t do what they do without the generous donations from private business owners and residents of the state. CSF is further proof that school choice is of the utmost importance to children from all walks of life.
Unfortunately, New Hampshire Democrats have long been opponents of this program. They will do everything possible to repeal the business tax credit for this scholarship fund because they literally abhor school choice for children who don’t have wealthy parents. It might have something to do with their partnership with teachers’ unions, who help buy their elections.
If Democrats are elected in New Hampshire, the school choice that so many parents fight for and need for their families, will end up on the cutting room floor of the legislature.
