This reminds me of when Trump appointed a new postmaster general who has undermined the post office efficiency Opening the door for other companies like FedEx and UPS.
I still fail to see how EFAs funneling public money to religious schools is constitutional in light of Part 1, Article 6 of the NH constitution including the sentence "But no person shall ever be compelled to pay towards the support of the schools of any sect or denomination."
There's an also a major misconception about "the money follows the student." Let's say that a classroom in a public school has 20 students. One of these 20 students leaves the school and uses an EFA. That money follows the student and is no longer available to the school. Can the school remove 1/20 a teacher and forego 1/20 of overhead such as heating and custodial services? Of course not. Suppose 20 students leave the school, so that the school can get by with one less teacher. Which teacher? Can the school let go 1/6 of a kindergarten teacher, 1/6 of a first-grade teacher, and so on? The flaw in EFA thinking is that the school costs are linear in the number of students, when they are not.
Tom, your concerns are spot on but Maine tried to prevent the use of vouchers at religious schools and was shot down by the US Supreme Court in 2022. The case is Carson v Makin. Read about it here. Unfortunately, in an instance like this, the US Constitution is followed even when it conflicts with the constitution of a particular state. You are correct about the misconception. Sorry my post was so dark, but difficult topic. https://www.oyez.org/cases/2021/20-1088
Yeah, I know that vouchers were ruled constitutional. I just don't get how they are.
The other HUGE problem with EFAs in New Hampshire as they are currently established is that the money comes from the Education Trust Fund. And if they blow through that, then it comes out of the General Fund. Meaning: there is absolutely no limit on how much money can go to EFAs. Talk about fiscally irresponsible! I went along in 2023 and voted for the budget, even though it had this flaw. In 2025, however, I will not vote for any budget that does not have a hard limit on how much money can go to EFAs. I'm told by a friend on the Finance Committee that others feel the same way.
Great article. Keep up this fight for education it’s future generations not just this one we are trying to protect. Most people are not paying attention and don’t realize what is happening. Thank you
This reminds me of when Trump appointed a new postmaster general who has undermined the post office efficiency Opening the door for other companies like FedEx and UPS.
I still fail to see how EFAs funneling public money to religious schools is constitutional in light of Part 1, Article 6 of the NH constitution including the sentence "But no person shall ever be compelled to pay towards the support of the schools of any sect or denomination."
There's an also a major misconception about "the money follows the student." Let's say that a classroom in a public school has 20 students. One of these 20 students leaves the school and uses an EFA. That money follows the student and is no longer available to the school. Can the school remove 1/20 a teacher and forego 1/20 of overhead such as heating and custodial services? Of course not. Suppose 20 students leave the school, so that the school can get by with one less teacher. Which teacher? Can the school let go 1/6 of a kindergarten teacher, 1/6 of a first-grade teacher, and so on? The flaw in EFA thinking is that the school costs are linear in the number of students, when they are not.
Tom, your concerns are spot on but Maine tried to prevent the use of vouchers at religious schools and was shot down by the US Supreme Court in 2022. The case is Carson v Makin. Read about it here. Unfortunately, in an instance like this, the US Constitution is followed even when it conflicts with the constitution of a particular state. You are correct about the misconception. Sorry my post was so dark, but difficult topic. https://www.oyez.org/cases/2021/20-1088
Yeah, I know that vouchers were ruled constitutional. I just don't get how they are.
The other HUGE problem with EFAs in New Hampshire as they are currently established is that the money comes from the Education Trust Fund. And if they blow through that, then it comes out of the General Fund. Meaning: there is absolutely no limit on how much money can go to EFAs. Talk about fiscally irresponsible! I went along in 2023 and voted for the budget, even though it had this flaw. In 2025, however, I will not vote for any budget that does not have a hard limit on how much money can go to EFAs. I'm told by a friend on the Finance Committee that others feel the same way.
Yup. It’s dark all right..
Great article. Keep up this fight for education it’s future generations not just this one we are trying to protect. Most people are not paying attention and don’t realize what is happening. Thank you