Edelblut statement on Fiscal Committee tabling Public Charter School Grant

CONCORD - New Hampshire Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut issued the following statement on the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee's vote to table a $46 million federal grant to double the number of public charter schools in New Hampshire:

"Today's party-line vote was extremely disappointing. Finding new ways to help at-risk public school students should not be a partisan or controversial issue. This grant is a $46 million investment in education innovation for our public schools. With roughly half of students failing to reach proficiency across grades and subjects, we must find new ways to teach students who are not well-served by the status quo.

"New Hampshire’s success with public charter schools won us this grant, the largest of its kind in the county. The 2019 assessments showed a higher percentage of public charter school students reaching proficiency in 7 out of 8 categories, including a 13 percent advantage in 11^th Grade Science. For the past five years, public charter schools have consistently outperformed traditional public schools in New Hampshire, despite receiving less taxpayer funding and often serving an at-risk student population.

"This grant would build on that success by giving both public charter and traditional district schools a chance to try new ways to reach students most at risk. We should focus on students, rather than defending the status quo."