School choice booming in New Hampshire after program becomes universal

New Hampshire’s universal school choice program is processing thousands of applications since Gov. Kelly Ayotte removed the income cap in June for the Education Freedom Account (EFA) program.

“I can’t think of anything more important than making sure that every child in this state has the opportunity to reach his or her full potential in the setting that works best for them in terms of education,” Ayotte said when signing the measure.

Now, thousands of New Hampshire families are jumping at the chance for education freedom under the program, which launched in 2021.

About 9,000 families have completed or started an application, says Kate Baker Demers, executive director of Children’s Scholarship Fund New Hampshire.

Children’s Scholarship Fund is the sole administrator of the EFA program, for which applications will close July 15.

The program doesn’t have a budget cap, but will limit enrollment to 10,000 students in 2025-26.

Last year, 5,600 students enrolled.

While the program is now open to all students, it will still prioritize returning students and their siblings, disabled students and those from low-income families.

The average EFA scholarship is about $5,100 – a fraction of the $26,000 spent per pupil in the state’s public schools. Yet, state Democrats decried the program as a deceptive “voucher scam” benefiting wealthy families.

The state teachers’ union even sued the program in 2023 – before it became universal – claiming it was unconstitutional for public tax dollars to fund private education. The New Hampshire Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit.

Public education in New Hampshire has been regressing for decades, according to the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy. Enrollment dropped 25% in less than 25 years, from 208,000 in 2001 to 154,000 in 2024.

Test scores similarly worsened. Eighth-grade reading proficiency declined by 6 points between 2003 and 2024, according to the 2024 NAEP exam, meaning only one-third of students entering high school can read at grade level.

Eighth-grade mathematics also fell 4 points, with 68% of students testing below grade level.

Private school options such as parochial schools are booming. Meanwhile, charter schools – a popular form of public-school choice – report a 35% increase in enrollment since just 2019.