New Hampshire House Bill HB1637

New Hampshire 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 12/27/21
• Refer: 12/27/21
• Report DNP: 3/7/22

Caption

Requiring parents of public school students to submit a survey when electing an education freedom account.

Impact

The implementation of HB 1637 will affect the administrative processes within the Department of Education, as they will be responsible for creating and managing the survey process. Schools will also have to adapt to receiving this information, which may enable them to better understand why families opt out of public education. This could inform adjustments to public schooling strategies aimed at improving student retention and satisfaction.

Summary

House Bill 1637 requires parents of public school students to submit a survey when applying for an education freedom account (EFA). The survey is designed to gather information on the reasons parents choose to remove their children from public schools and the benefits they perceive from enrolling in the EFA program. This legislation aims to help the Department of Education understand parent motivations and possibly guide future educational policies based on these insights.

Sentiment

The sentiment regarding HB 1637 appears to be mixed within the legislative community. Supporters believe that more information will assist in improving educational offerings and accountability for public schools. Critics, however, may view the requirement of a survey as an additional bureaucratic hurdle that could deter parents from opting for the EFA program if they perceive it to be intrusive or unnecessary.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HB 1637 include concerns about privacy and the effectiveness of such surveys in genuinely capturing the needs and opinions of parents. Some advocates for educational choice express skepticism regarding the state's ability to effectively utilize the survey data, fearing it could instead serve as a tool for further regulation or monitoring of educational choices rather than fostering genuine school improvement and parental engagement.