View in EDS

The Fiscal Effects of Expanding New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account Program

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: The Fiscal Effects of Expanding New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account Program
Language: English
Authors: Martin F. Lueken, EdChoice, Fiscal Research & Education Center (FREC), Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy
Source: EdChoice. 2025.
Availability: EdChoice. 111 Monument Circle Suite 2650, Indianapolis, IN 46204. Tel: 317-681-0745; e-mail: info@edchoice.org; Web site: http://www.edchoice.org
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 22
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Descriptors: School Choice, Elementary Secondary Education, Educational Finance, State Programs, State Legislation, Costs, Eligibility, Cost Effectiveness
Geographic Terms: New Hampshire
Abstract: This policy brief estimates the fiscal impacts of expanding New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account (EFA) program under two bills that were introduced in the state Legislature during the 2025 session. The analysis covers the first two years of each plan. The EFA program is currently open to public and private school K-12 students whose family income is up to 350% of the federal poverty level (FPL), equal to $90,370 for a family of three and $109,200 for a family of four. Governor Kelly Ayotte introduced a new proposal in her budget that would expand the EFA program to all K-12 students who reside in the state and attended a public school in the prior year. The House introduced a bill that would expand the EFA to students in families earning no more than 400% of FPL in the first year, then all K-12 students in the state after that. This paper estimates the net fiscal impact of EFA expansion on state taxpayers and the net fiscal effects of this expansion on local taxpayers under these two plans. Based on real-world experiences by other states with similar choice programs as those under consideration, and after taking account of both program costs and savings from students diverted from public schools, results indicate that EFA expansion under these bills would yield small net costs to small net savings for state taxpayers.
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: ED672449
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:This policy brief estimates the fiscal impacts of expanding New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account (EFA) program under two bills that were introduced in the state Legislature during the 2025 session. The analysis covers the first two years of each plan. The EFA program is currently open to public and private school K-12 students whose family income is up to 350% of the federal poverty level (FPL), equal to $90,370 for a family of three and $109,200 for a family of four. Governor Kelly Ayotte introduced a new proposal in her budget that would expand the EFA program to all K-12 students who reside in the state and attended a public school in the prior year. The House introduced a bill that would expand the EFA to students in families earning no more than 400% of FPL in the first year, then all K-12 students in the state after that. This paper estimates the net fiscal impact of EFA expansion on state taxpayers and the net fiscal effects of this expansion on local taxpayers under these two plans. Based on real-world experiences by other states with similar choice programs as those under consideration, and after taking account of both program costs and savings from students diverted from public schools, results indicate that EFA expansion under these bills would yield small net costs to small net savings for state taxpayers.