Editorial: NH attacks on public education

February 28, 2026 - 06:32

A concerted campaign against New Hampshire's public education system is actively undermining its stability and resources. Critics point to the rapid expansion of a parallel private education network, funded with public dollars but operating without equivalent oversight, as the primary weapon in this attack.

The mechanism enabling this shift is the Education Freedom Account program. These accounts allow state per-pupil funds, traditionally dedicated to public schools, to follow students to private, religious, or homeschooling environments. While proponents champion parental choice, opponents warn of severe consequences. They argue this siphons critical, fixed resources from public districts, leading to larger class sizes, reduced programming, and diminished services for the vast majority of students who remain in the public system.

Furthermore, the private institutions receiving these public funds are not held to the same standards of accountability. They are exempt from the standardized testing, transparency requirements, and anti-discrimination laws that govern public schools. This creates a concerning scenario where taxpayer money flows into a system with little public scrutiny or guarantee of educational quality.

The result is a direct threat to the foundational principle of a free, robust, and equitable public education for all New Hampshire children. The ongoing diversion of funds risks creating a two-tiered system, leaving public schools to serve an increasingly disadvantaged population with dwindling means to do so effectively.