Just over a month after applications opened for an over-budget, under-regulated private school voucher scheme, enrollment has hit its cap. Millions in taxpayer dollars are being diverted from New Hampshire’s public schools to fund private and religious school education for the ultra-wealthy, leaving classrooms without critical funding as they prepare to start the school year.

Rather than adequately funding New Hampshire’s public schools, Ayotte’s school voucher scheme directly benefits the ultra-wealthy and the nearly “65% of participants [who] were already being homeschooled or attending private school when they enrolled.” Other surveys show that “more than 75% of those getting an EFA” had already enrolled their child “outside the public school district where they lived.” 

Meanwhile, taxpayers are left to foot the bill for the voucher scheme that “costs them $30 million annually.” The unnecessary expansion “could add another $27 million a year.” As students across the state gear up for a new school year, public school classrooms are left with fewer resources to meet the diverse needs of students across the Granite State. 

“Kelly Ayotte’s private school voucher scheme is nothing more than a cash grab for ultra-wealthy families,” said NHDP Chair Ray Buckley. “While Ayotte props up an over-budget voucher scheme, Granite State students are the ones left behind to pay the price. This is not education freedom – this is the product of a complete disregard for the future of New Hampshire.”