New Hampshire Enacts Universal School Choice
On Tuesday, New Hampshire became the latest state to adopt universal school choice, with Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte signing a law that expands the state’s school voucher program. This new legislation removes income eligibility restrictions that had limited the program’s scope during its initial four years. "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 stated, also highlighting the Parental Bill of Rights.
The revised voucher program awards families at least $4,265 per child for educational expenses, including private school tuition and tutoring, with families of children with special needs eligible for up to $9,676. Previously, fewer than half of the students in New Hampshire qualified for vouchers.
Corey DeAngelis, a senior fellow at the American Culture Project, suggested that opposition from teachers’ unions during the COVID-19 pandemic fueled demands for such educational reforms. New Hampshire’s move puts it among 17 states that have implemented universal school choice in the past four years, marking it as a significant development in educational politics—especially as it is the first state that voted for Democrat Kamala Harris in 2020 to adopt such legislation.
Arizona was the first state to initiate universal school choice in 2022, creating a program that provides parents with $7,000 per student.
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