Tag: school choice

State-funded “School Choice”: A Power Grab

December 15, 2024

by Doris Hohensee

Some members of the legislature believe that public schools are no longer “fixable.” They want universal state-funded spending accounts to allow all students, rich or poor, to escape public schools. They call it “school choice,” but it’s really an insidious transfer of power to the state. Yes, public schools are a uniform mess, but the … Read more

Satanic Statues, School Choice, and Holiday Greetings

December 12, 2024December 12, 2024

by Manch Talk

This week on Manch Talk, we cover several topics, from satanic statutes at the State House to school choice and the City of Manchester’s billion-dollar proposal for a new school (no thanks!). We delve into the controversy of American holiday greetings and salutations and rip off a few Band-Aids!

EdOpt Expos were a success!

September 6, 2024

by Jody Underwood

Education Options held our first two EdOpt Expos at the Richards Free Library in Newport in August. While there are many things for us to learn, we’re off to a good start. The best part was that all the attendees could point to something that they learned there. I know I was part of a … Read more

The New England Take: School Choice and EFAs in New Hampshire …

May 31, 2024

by Op-Ed

Executive Director Kate Baker Demers, New Hampshire Children’s Scholarship Fund, dives into the highly successful Education Freedom Account program, how they have the data to back what they do, and how only politics drive the crazy claims by Democrats.

The New England Take: School Choice Goes Beyond New Hampshire but How Does It Compare?

May 17, 2024

by Op-Ed

Ben DeGrow, Senior Policy Director for Education Choice at ExcelinEd, swats down complaints from Democrats running for Governor in New Hampshire regarding education choice and how other states compare to our EFA program.

$Sheep math bad math Photo by Michal Matlon on Unsplash$

The Public School Double Standard (Part 2)

March 6, 2024

by Ian Underwood

Years ago, I wrote about how traditional public schools are to be judged by their ideals and intentions — their best possible outcomes — rather than by their actual performance; while the alternatives (e.g., charter schools, private schools, Extended Learning Opportunities, the Children’s Scholarship Fund, Learn Everywhere, and now EFAs and even home education) are … Read more

HB1002 Is Dead (For Now) – HB1610 (Requiring State Assessments for Homeschoolers) Is At Deaths Door

March 6, 2024

by Steve MacDonald

We have two bits of excellent news for Granite Staters fighting the good fight – two bills you’ve all been battling have either died in committee or crawled out on their last legs, most certainly to die unless someone screws something up – always an option this session.

WARNING: State Take Over of Private, Religious and Home-Schools if HB1610 Becomes Law!

February 23, 2024February 22, 2024

by Ann Marie Banfield

IMPORTANT: OPPOSE HB1610: This bill requires all students to participate in standardized statewide assessments.

So Kids, What Did We Learn From This Week’s House Session (2/8/24)?

February 9, 2024

by Judy Aron

We learned that State Representative Matthew (Matt) Coker (R-Meredith) officially switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. The Republican Caucus welcomed him warmly and looks forward to working with him to serve his constituents with integrity and conviction.

School Choice: Florida Leads the Way

December 14, 2023

by Ian Underwood

I just read (in Reason) that about half of Florida students are participating in some kind of school choice program. So I thought: Wow, things must be looking up in Florida, right? Academic achievement must be soaring because of all that freebie market competition.

Teacher’s Union President Blames Public Schools …

September 10, 2023

by Steve MacDonald

This is my first dance with the current Chicago Teacher’s Union president. Stacy Davis Gates sent her son to a private Catholic School. When challenged on that choice, she blamed the lack of school choice, which is racist. School choice is racist, not the lack of it.

“Gold Standard” Study Shows Charter Schools Outperform Public Schools

August 23, 2023August 21, 2023

by Rob Roper

Ten years ago, I took part in a series of debates on school choice opposite Paul Cillo of the Public Assets Institute and Bill Mathis of the National Education Policy Center and the Vermont State Board of Education. I was for school choice; they were opposed.

A Conversation I Think That The Education Establishment Will Abhor

July 16, 2023July 16, 2023

by Skip

Most folks know what the NHSBA stands for – The NH School Board Association. Frankly, it is the epitome of the Education Establishment. They know best. They will do what they want, and while they’d like “involved parents,” They don’t brook too much dissent.

Studen laptop online learning Photo by Compare Fibre on Unsplash

Free NH Charter School Provides Customized Education with Complete Flexibility

July 7, 2023

by Op-Ed

Have you ever thought about educating at home, but didn’t know how to start? Did you know there is a free online charter school for New Hampshire residents in grades K-12 and beyond?

So Kids, What Did We Learn From This Week’s House Session (06/29/23)?

June 30, 2023

by Judy Aron

We learned that when Republicans show up they can get the job done. You can see how razor-slim the votes were on some of these bills when they were voted on party lines – slim as in 1 vote! Two things we learned for sure this year: attendance matters, and so does “sticking together.”

Hillary takes-a-village-quote Parents have a Secondary role

“Remind Schools That Parents Are The Client”

June 5, 2023

by Op-Ed

Those standing in opposition to school choice fail to understand the reason parents decide to remove their kids from the public school system. It is not because these parents want to abuse their children in secret, it is not because they are helicopter parents, it is not because they desire to run and buy a … Read more

Homeschooling is Key to Preserving Liberty

May 31, 2023

by Op-Ed

The most recent release from the federally funded Nation’s Report Card shows that 40 percent of eighth graders lack even a basic understanding of US history, while only 14 percent are proficient or advanced in history.

Empty glass jar Image by ha11ok from Pixabay

The Parents’ Bill of Wishes

May 26, 2023

by Ian Underwood

As I’ve noted elsewhere, one of the many problems with the Parents’ Bill of Rights (SB 272) that recently failed to make it out of the General Court is that there are no penalties for failing to comply with it.

Student “Body,” Student “Choice”

May 25, 2023

by Steve MacDonald

North Carolina has a Democrat Governor, and he’s losing his mind. The Republicans in the legislature passed a bill to allocate an additional 400 million so students could find schools that best fit their learning needs. He was so unhinged he declared a state of emergency.

NH Democrats Deliver a BIG WIN for School Choice Proponents

May 19, 2023

by Ann Marie Banfield

Democrats delivered a blow to New Hampshire parents by defeating a parental rights Bill. Cloaked in caring for LGBTQ children, Democrats along with a small handful of Republicans, defeated legislation that supported parental rights.