Thursday, May 17, 2012

CONCORD — The New Hampshire House of Representatives and Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to approve a school choice program that would provide tax credits to nonprofits that, in turn, distribute private school scholarships. Because there were amendments to the bills, both must be reconciled before they can reach Gov. John Lynch.

“New Hampshire is one step away from empowering parents to choose the educational options that work best for their kids,” Robert Enlow, president and CEO of the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, said. “New Hampshire is part of a national trend in which states are adopting or expanding school choice for more families.”

Currently, eight other states provide tax credits to individuals or corporations that make donations to scholarship-granting nonprofits. In New Hampshire, should the measure become law, businesses would receive an 85 percent tax credit for their donations. Children would be able to receive scholarships worth up to $2,500 on average. Homeschool students could receive $750 annually.

Since 2004, the Friedman Foundation has worked with its local New Hampshire partners to provide support services, including research and lobbying efforts. The Friedman Foundation is the legacy organization of Milton Friedman, the Nobel laureate and “father” of the modern school choice movement.

“Many deserve praise for this monumental vote in support of school choice and New Hampshire families,” Enlow added, “including Charlie Arlinghaus of the Josiah Bartlett Center, Speaker William O’Brien, House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt, and Sen. James Forsythe, Vice Chairman of Senate Education Committee.”

When a reconciled version reaches his desk, Gov. Lynch can let the bill become law without signature, sign it, or veto it. Should the governor veto the measure it will return to both chambers for final passage.

About the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice

The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, solely dedicated to advancing Milton and Rose Friedman’s vision of school choice for all children. First established as the Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation in 1996, the Foundation continues to promote school choice as the most effective and equitable way to improve the quality of K-12 education in America. The Foundation is dedicated to research, education, and outreach on the vital issues and implications related to choice and competition in K-12 education.

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