shannon Bouchard

Testimony in Support of HB 1221 Shannon Bouchard Before the New Hampshire House Education Committee Regarding HB 1221 – Commission to Study Special Education Costs Chairman, Vice Chair, and members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to speak today. My name is Shannon Bouchard, and I am here to speak in support of HB 1221. I want to begin by making one thing absolutely clear: HB 1221 does not move students. It does not consolidate programs. It does not create separate schools. This bill simply directs a commission to study how New Hampshire delivers specialized services, how those services are funded, and whether more efficient or collaborative models could reduce costs for taxpayers and improve outcomes for students. Right now, special education is one of the most unpredictable and fastest-growing cost centers for local school districts. Those fluctuations become a direct burden on property taxpayers, especially in smaller districts that cannot absorb sudden increases. When a single out-of-district placement can exceed $100,000 per year, districts have to choose between cutting other programs or raising taxes. We need good data, and we need an honest assessment. HB 1221 provides exactly that.