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Education funding amendment passes NH Senate
CONCORD -- The state Senate has voted 17-7 to support a constitutional amendment aimed at changing the way schools are funded in New Hampshire.
The vote was quickly praised by Gov. John Lynch, who at a press conference called the amendment a “milestone” in what has been a more than decade long struggle over education funding.
The amendment changes an earlier version by adding that the Legislature shall not only have the power and authority to set and define “reasonable standards for elementary and secondary education” but the responsibility.
Such language has been a sticking point with the House leadership, who have argued that it would continue to give the courts too much say over education standards and funding.
In its landmark Claremont decision, the State Supreme Court set strict standards for what constitutes an adequate education.
Critics, including Lynch, have argued that the decision limits the ability to target funding to needier for school districts.
If passed by the House, the amendment would go on the November ballot.
The vote was quickly praised by Gov. John Lynch, who at a press conference called the amendment a “milestone” in what has been a more than decade long struggle over education funding.
The amendment changes an earlier version by adding that the Legislature shall not only have the power and authority to set and define “reasonable standards for elementary and secondary education” but the responsibility.
Such language has been a sticking point with the House leadership, who have argued that it would continue to give the courts too much say over education standards and funding.
In its landmark Claremont decision, the State Supreme Court set strict standards for what constitutes an adequate education.
Critics, including Lynch, have argued that the decision limits the ability to target funding to needier for school districts.
If passed by the House, the amendment would go on the November ballot.