Stop the Constitutional Amendment on School Funding

NEA-New Hampshire believes every child deserves a great public school. New Hampshire’s constitution embodies that goal, promising every child the fundamental right to an adequate education.

Some now want to amend the constitution to diminish that right. NEA-NH opposes any amendment that would break the constitution’s promise to New Hampshire’s children by altering this fundamental right.

Last year the House refused to pass such an amendment, but this year the pressure continues from those who want to avoid the state’s responsibility to fund an adequate education for every child.

The 2008 version of the amendment is CACR 34. This is the wrong approach.

  • To deliver the education promised to each child in our constitution, educators need adequate tools and resources for all children, no matter where they live.
  • If this amendment passes, for the first time, some New Hampshire children will be deemed more deserving of those resources than others.
  • CACR 34 as amended extinguishes the hope of achieving full funding for an adequate education for every New Hampshire child.
  • CACR 34 as amended means state funding could be changed from year to year at the whim of the Legislature, leaving school districts unable to plan their budgets effectively.
  • CACR 34 as amended means local property taxes will continue to rise in most communities as school districts struggle to fund school budgets.
  • The role of the courts if this amendment passes is unclear. It could lead to more years of litigation. This may be a lawyer’s dream, but it is an educator’s nightmare.
  • The argument that targeting aid to districts in need can’t be done without an amendment is a false argument. Targeting can be done as long as the “adequacy cost” is funded first. SB 539 passed earlier this session, contains this kind of targeting.
  • SB 539 also demonstrates that targeting can be done based on fiscal capacity, because this bill contains that type of targeting in addition to adequacy funds.
  • SB 539 makes significant strides toward the funding New Hampshire schools need. This legislation is not perfect, but it should be given time to work because it is a good start.
  • The Legislature has completed the first two steps to meet the New Hampshire Supreme Court’s order. Legislators should be proud of this accomplishment and continue to follow the process they have begun.

A vote on CACR 34, the constitutional amendment is scheduled for tomorrow in the New Hampshire House. If you want to help us ensure that all New Hampshire’s children have great public schools, contact your legislators today! Tell them not to break the constitution’s promise to our children. Tell them to vote “no” on the constitutional amendment on school funding.

You can find your state legislators on the NEA-NH Web site, www.neanh.org, through the Legislative Action Center. Click the “Elected Officials” tab.

Links:
NEA-NH News Release, January 17, 2008
Cost of Adequacy
NEA-NH on the definition of educational adequacy (2007)
Adequacy Estimate with Fiscal Capacity Disparity Aid, March 3, 2008