CONCORD — Lawmakers are trying to negotiate a proposed constitutional amendment that would shift more control of public education and its funding from the courts to the Legislature, thereby setting goals, rather than setting specific language.

“Let's see if we can agree on common goals as a committee,” said Rep. Lynn Ober, R-Hudson, the conference committee chair. “When you work on the specific language, it is easy to get bogged down.”

House and Senate leaders and Gov. John Lynch's office have been meeting on language that could be put before voters in November, but to date no agreement has been reached.

The Senate and Lynch reached agreement earlier this year, but the House rejected similar language and instead House leadership released a new version about a month ago.

Tuesday, the conference committee essentially agreed on goals a proposed amendment should address.

The four goals outlined by House members are: return to the traditional cost-sharing arrangement with communities; raise the legal standard to successfully overturn state education law; target state aid to the neediest communities; and preserve alternative education programs like charter schools and home schooling.

The current system “puts resources into communities that frankly don't need it,” said Rep. David Hess, R-Hooksett. “Targeting aid is a reinstatement and recognition of the on-going partnerships (between the state and cities and towns) of the last 200 years.”

The committee expects to draft language for an amendment. The state's alternative education programs are succeeding in meeting the specific education needs of some children, said Rep. Michael Balboni, R-Nashua. “I would like to encourage alternative public education for the best interest of our children,” he said.

Sen. Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, noted that both the House and Senate share the priority of “do no harm and enhancing the educational opportunities for students.”

Other concerns expressed by senators include crafting clear and precise language so the public understands exactly what they are voting on, and be sure that all the state's children have educational opportunities.

“Two-thirds of the people have to recognize they are doing something to benefit the children of New Hampshire,” said the committee's lone Democrat, Sen. Lou D'Allesandro of Manchester. “It's imperative that we do something now because what we've got in place now is not doing the job.”

Bradley said senators believe this is the best opportunity in 14 years for lawmakers to put the issue before voters to weigh in on the future of the state.

For the first time since the second Claremont decision in 1997, the House passed a constitutional amendment last year limiting the courts' control over education law.

The Senate has approved proposed amendments in the past.

The committee meets again Thursday and has a deadline of May 31.