FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAY 8, 2008

CONTACT: Rep. Marjorie Smith,

(603) 271-3164

HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE PASSES EDUCATION

FUNDING AMENDMENT

CONCORD – Today, the House Finance Committee voted 20-5 to pass CACR34, a proposed constitutional amendment on funding public education in New Hampshire. The amendment now heads to the House floor.

The amendment language changed slightly from the version that was offered before the House Finance Committee last week in order to address concerns of legislators and members of the public that some school districts would not receive any aid.

This amendment reflects three core principles. First, the state has a constitutional responsibility to raise and appropriate 100% of the statewide cost of adequacy. Second, state money for education should be distributed fairly based on educational need and fiscal capacity of local school districts – which allows for targeting within adequacy. Third, it does not change the court’s standard of review.

“Over the past dozen years, 33 amendments have been offered relative to education funding, and none have passed,” said Rep. Marjorie Smith (D-Durham), Chair of the House Finance Committee. “But they continue to be offered because of the desire to target funds as efficiently as possible to help those most in need. Unlike previous amendments, we are not going to restrict the court’s scrutiny or change our level of commitment to providing an education to all New Hampshire students.”

“The new language reflects a compromise between House Democrats and Republicans, but still represents the core principles that shaped the amendment offered last week,” said Smith. “Legislators from both parties, as well as many in the public, believe we need more flexibility in targeting education dollars, and this amendment accomplishes that.”

Below is the text of the amendment that passed House Finance:

The legislature shall provide every child the opportunity for a public school education in fulfillment of the legislature’s duty with respect to public education provided for in Part 11, Article 83. The legislature shall have the responsibility to define the content of an adequate education to prepare the student to become a productive and contributing citizen and to determine the total statewide cost of providing that education to all public school students. The legislature shall have the authority and responsibility to raise the funds that total the statewide cost of this education and to distribute these funds in a manner that alleviates local disparities in educational opportunity and fiscal capacity, provided that every school district shall receive a meaningful share of these funds.