Home educators fight to keep advisory council
Home educators defend survival of advisory council
Jennifer Wright, center inset and a home educator, spoke Tuesday against the idea of getting rid of the Home Education Advisory Council.
Many home education advocates turned out Tuesday to oppose what one called an 'ambush' amendment to eliminate the 14-member Home Education Advisory Council (HEAC).
'You want home educators to get on board, sit down and shut up,' said Katherine Abbott of Portsmouth in defending the council's work.
Rep. Glenn Cordelli, R-Tuftonboro, argued that after 35 years of advocacy, leaders have gotten sidetracked, and the group has become dysfunctional.
Several HEAC members have become critical of Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs), taxpayer-subsidized scholarships for parents to send their children to private, religious, alternative public or home school programs, he said.
'HEAC has lost its way and deviated from its role per law and rule and is not adhering to its responsibility to provide support to home educators,' Cordelli said.
Cordelli proposed his amendment to an unrelated bill (HB 57) to study whether the state should reduce the number of supervisory administrative units (SAUs) in New Hampshire.
Several members of the HEAC said the creation of EFAs in 2021 has threatened to dilute the independent nature of home education by having families accept public funding.
Many home educators believe accepting EFA money gives the state more control over their instruction.
Amanda Weeden with Granite State Home Educators said the council since September has raised issues with Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut about the freedom of their movement.
'The optics of this non-germane amendment being snuck in, it is an ambush,' said Weeden. 'The (EFA) school choice movement is late to the party. We are the original school choicers.'
Group began as a way to advise DOE on the topic
The Legislature created HEAC in 1990 as a forum to give advice to the education commissioner on home education.
'Without this council, this valuable line of communication would be lost,' said Jennifer Pereira, who served on the council for eight years.
Dianne Nolin, a member of HEAC, noted Gov. Kelly Ayotte has already announced that she will name a new education commissioner at the end of this school year when Edelblut will move on after eight years on the job.
'Through periods of change we need the experience of those who do the work every day,' Nolin said.
Several opponents of Cordelli's idea called on the Legislature to get rid of agency rules that along with state law govern home education practices.
'This is an important liaison for us,' said Jennifer Wright, a home educating mom. 'Are there things that could be fixed? Absolutely. This has been going on since I was born. I think eliminating it would be really short-sighted.'
Cordelli had said other advocacy groups such as the New Hampshire Home Educators Association founded in 1983 could take the place of HEAC and be more focused on the mission.
But after nearly every speaker opposed Cordelli's idea, Cordelli told the House Education Policy and Administration Committee he chairs that he would drop the idea, meet with advocates and perhaps pursue cooperative legislation in the future.
'We can give HEAC a little more time,' Cordelli summed up. 'I am hopeful that the tone of discussion between traditional home educators and EFA families who are primarily home schooling will improve, that the rhetoric calms down.'
What's Next: The full House early next month will vote on the SAU study bill without the home education issue in it.
Prospects: Lawmakers never run short of ideas for study committees and this one too is likely to make it to the finish line.
klandrigan@unionleader.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
148 Democrats back noncitizen voting in DC as GOP raises alarm about foreign agents
The majority of House Democrats voted in favor of allowing non-citizens to participate in Washington, D.C. elections on Tuesday. The House of Representatives passed a bill led by Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, to prohibit non-U.S. citizens from voting in elections in the nation's capital. It passed 266 to 148, with 56 Democrats joining Republicans in passing the measure. One Democrat voted "present," while 148 voted against the bill. "I believe strongly in not having federal overreach, but we have jurisdiction, Congress has jurisdiction over Washington, District of Columbia…and we don't like to utilize our jurisdiction and our authority, but in this case, they've gone too far," Pfluger told Fox News Digital in an interview before the vote. D.C.'s progressive city council passed the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act in 2022, granting non-U.S. citizens the ability to vote in local elections if they've lived in the district for at least 30 days. Scoop: House Gop Memo Highlights Republican Wins In Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' Read On The Fox News App Noncitizens can also hold local elected office in the D.C. government. The local measure has been a frequent target of GOP attacks, with Republican national security hawks raising alarms about the possibility of hostile foreign agents participating in D.C. elections. But progressive Democrats like Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., who spoke out against the bill on Tuesday afternoon, have dismissed that as an implausible scenario. "Republicans claim that Congress has a constitutional duty to legislate on local D.C. matters, but this is historically and legally incorrect. Republicans legislate on local D.C. matters only when they think they can score political points, such as by demonizing immigrants," Frost said during debate on the House floor. "They only bring it up to the floor when they think they can score political points, taking away the democratic rights of people here in D.C. and home rule." Frost also argued that it was "highly unlikely" foreign officials would vote in those elections, claiming they would have to "renounce their right to vote in their home country" and because "D.C. has no authority in federal matters." But Pfluger, who spoke with Fox News Digital before the vote, was optimistic that it would get at least some Democratic support. He noted that 52 Democrats voted for the bill when it passed the House in the previous Congress. It was never taken up in the formerly Democrat-controlled Senate, however. "It's hard to go back to your district as a Democrat and say, yeah, I want foreign agents to be able to vote in our elections – 'Oh yeah, it's not federal elections,' some may say. But it has an impact on the way the city is run," Pfluger said. Meet The Trump-picked Lawmakers Giving Speaker Johnson A Full House Gop Conference "This could be Russian embassy personnel, they could be Chinese embassy personnel – a number of folks. It's just wrong. It goes against the fabric of our society," he added. Another bill receiving a vote on Tuesday is legislation that would grant D.C. police the ability to negotiate punishments via collective bargaining, and would help shield the capital's police force from at least some liability by installing a statute of limitations against the Metropolitan Police Department. That legislation was introduced by New York Republican Rep. Andrew article source: 148 Democrats back noncitizen voting in DC as GOP raises alarm about foreign agents
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ayotte nominates Caitlin Davis to be next education commissioner
A 15-year agency staffer is Gov. Kelly Ayotte's nominee to replace Frank Edelblut as the next commissioner of education. Ayotte nominates new education agency chief Caitlin Davis, a 15-year employee at the Department of Education, is Gov. Kelly Ayotte's choice to be the next commissioner of education. If confirmed by the Executive Council, she will replace Frank Edelblut who has served eight years in that post. Caitlin Davis of Concord most recently has served as the director of education analytics and resources in the Department of Education. 'Our state has made incredible strides toward helping every student reach his or her full potential, and today, I am proud to announce Caitlin Davis as my choice to continue this progress as commissioner of education,' Ayotte said in a statement. 'Caitlin will ensure New Hampshire schools remain innovative and forward-thinking, support our fantastic teachers and public schools, and strive for the highest standards of academic achievement. Caitlin's collaborative, data-driven approach will help us continue delivering a best-in-class education for all of New Hampshire's students.' Ayotte said in keeping with state law she will present her pick to the state Board of Education at its next meeting on Thursday. The Executive Council must then confirm the nomination. Last spring, Ayotte announced that she would not be naming Edelblut to a third, four-year term as head of the agency. Former Republican Gov. Chris Sununu made Edelblut one of his first high-profile appointments after Edelblut had run for governor and barely lost to Sununu in the 2016 Republican primary. Edelblut, state board chair endorse the pick Edelblut said Davis has the right combination of leadership skills and personal relationship building that will make her a good commissioner. 'She recently oversaw the successful implementation of a new, statewide student information system, and she was instrumental in the adoption of iPlatform, an online data dashboard that highlights student assessment performance, enrollment, attendance and more,' Edelblut said. 'Caitlin is a respected peer within the state's education field and a pivotal member of our leadership team. We are proud to have this nomination from within our own pool of talented professionals.' While commissioner, Edelblut led the campaign to create Education Freedom Accounts, an education choice option for parents to receive taxpayer funds to send their children to private, religious, alternative public or home school programs. He also promoted career-ready education programs with dual enrollment programs at community colleges and spearheaded a rewrite of the state's academic standards. As someone who home-schooled his own children, Edelbut was often a lightning rod for opposition from the state's education unions and many public school advocates. Edelbut often said his top priority was serving students and not the educational bureaucracy. During her tenure, Davis has overseen the department's Bureau of Assessment and Accountability, Bureau of Education Statistics, Bureau of Educational Opportunities, Bureau of School Finance and Bureau of Federal Compliance. She said the agency's greatest strength is its talented staff and seeks to promote a culture of collaboration, transparency and shared problem-solving. Board of Education Chairman Andrew Cline said Davis was a great choice. 'Caitlin's been a real asset for the department over the years and I'm very pleased that the governor has chosen to put the department in such capable hands,' Cline said. klandrigan@
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ayotte says two priority bills she signed back parental rights
Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed into law two of her signature priority bills Tuesday, a parental rights law to give them access to information about their children in schools and one allowing parents of any income level to receive a taxpayer-paid Education Freedom Account (EFA). Surrounded by legislators, education choice advocates and school children, Ayotte said the two bills put the state on the right course for education reform that emphasizes choice and promotes families. 'Giving parents the freedom to choose the education setting that best fits their child's needs will help every student in our state reach their full potential,' Ayotte said. 'I'm proud to sign this into law today along with the Parental Bill of Rights, which ensures parents are the central voice in their children's education. I thank the House and Senate for working to get these across the finish line.' But critics maintain that both bills harm the public school system. They contend the parental rights measures (HB 10 and SB 72) could make it harder for educators to report cases of suspected child abuse to authorities. They opposed the EFA legislation (SB 295) since this expansion is estimated to add another $17 million a year to a program that was already costing taxpayers $30 million annually. 'All students deserve a high-quality education and the support they need to thrive. Unfortunately, expanding the unaccountable voucher scheme will exacerbate the already inequitable public education funding system in New Hampshire,' said Megan Tuttle, president of the National Education Association of New Hampshire. 'Limitless vouchers will take millions of dollars out of public schools to subsidize private school education for a few at the expense of nearly 90% of students who attend community public schools.' Outgoing Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut had been one of the leading advocates for EFAs, which were created in a 2021 state budget trailer bill that then-Gov. Chris Sununu signed into law. "New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account program has already transformed lives by giving families access to the educational pathways that best fit their children's needs,' Edelblut said. 'Expanding this opportunity through universal eligibility is a bold and forward-thinking move that reimagines what education can be, providing every student with the opportunity to reach their full potential and experience a bright future. We are proud to support this expansion and eager to see the lasting impact it will have on student success across our state.' Limiting EFA expansion was proposed The EFA law went far beyond what Ayotte had asked for from legislators four months ago. Currently, EFAs are limited to families making up to 350% of the federal poverty level or just over $100,000 a year for a family of four. The bill would eliminate that income eligibility limit while initially setting a cap on 10,000 EFAs given statewide. Currently, there are about 5,600 families that receive EFAs, averging about $5,100 a year. Ayotte had only wanted the expansion of EFAs to apply to families that have their children in public schools. According to surveys, more than 75% of those who have received EFAs already had their children enrolled in private schools. 'New Hampshire parents are grateful and relieved that more doors are finally open,' said Kate Baker Demers, executive director of the Children's Scholarship Fund, the nonprofit group that administers the EFA program for the state. 'They've known what their children needed — and now, thanks to this law, more families can access the freedom to choose what works best. This isn't about politics. It's about possibility.' Several leaders of education choice groups praised Ayotte's move on the EFA. "Gov. Ayotte knows that every young Granite Stater has unique needs to fulfil their education. Today, she ensured that every family is empowered with resources to find what works best for them,' said Nick Murray, public affairs manager for yes. every kid. 'We look forward to working with her administration to ensure New Hampshire's EFA program continues to serve families' needs in the best ways possible.' EdChoice President Robert Enlow said New Hampshire becomes the 19th state to offer these vouchers to all students. 'What New Hampshire has done isn't just expand eligibility — it's set a new benchmark for what educational freedom should look like,' Enlow continued. 'We're proud to support the Granite State in realizing the vision Milton Friedman outlined nearly 70 years ago — one in which every family has the freedom to choose, and every child has the opportunity to thrive.' State Sen. Victoria Sullivan, R-Manchester, sponsored the EFA bill that became law. House Democratic Leader Alexis Simpson said a byproduct of the parental rights bill will be to target transgender students who will no longer be able to confide in 'one trusted adult' at school about their views about gender identity that their parents don't know about. "Today, Gov. Kelly Ayotte and State House Republicans turned our classrooms into political battlegrounds. They've passed a bill that forces teachers to out LGBTQ+ teens to potentially abusive parents and makes it harder for educators and DCYF to protect vulnerable kids who need help the most. They've made teachers' jobs a nightmare and put children at risk, all in the name of a hateful culture war. Nobody asked for this.' House Speaker Sherman Packard, R-Londonderry, was the prime author of the parental rights bill. 'By advancing education freedom and the Parental Bill of Rights, we've reaffirmed a simple truth: parents, not bureaucracies, should make decisions about their children's lives. This legislation gives families real choices and ensures their values are respected,' Packard added. klandrigan@
