Bethaney Bowie

Dear Members of the House Education Funding Committee, My name is Bethaney Bowie and I am a New Hampshire parent writing in strong opposition to HB 1803. My son has severe immune disorders, along with other serious health issues. Because of these medical challenges, he cannot safely attend a traditional public school. He requires a private school environment that can provide the level of care, flexibility and understanding necessary to protect his health while still allowing him to receive an education. This setting is not a choice for our family it is a medical necessity. The Education Freedom Account and Education Tax Credit scholarship work together to make this possible. Without both forms of support, my son would not be able to attend the school that keeps him safe and supported. This funding, in its entirety, is imperative. It is not optional and it is not supplemental it is the difference between my child being able to learn safely or suffering without appropriate care. I also want to highlight that many New Hampshire families do not fit the mold of a traditional household. Thousands of children are being raised by grandparents, older siblings, or extended family members. According to New Hampshire data, approximately 23,750 children in our state live in households headed by a relative and about 6,000 of those children live with a relative caregiver with no parent present. Additionally, roughly 17,500 New Hampshire children; nearly 7% of all children in the state live in grandparent-led households. These numbers represent thousands of families who have stepped in to raise children out of love and necessity. My home is one of them. In addition to raising my own children, I have been caring for my siblings since I was a child myself and gained official custody of all four of them at the age of eighteen. Today, two remain in my care in addition to my own 2 children. Families like mine carry immense responsibility, emotionally, physically and financially. Private school tuition, ongoing medical expenses and basic household needs quickly become overwhelming. For many of us, they are simply impossible to manage without this support. Through no fault of our own, my husband and I are raising children who are not biologically ours, yet we love them and care for them as our own. Families in these circumstances should not have vital support stripped away. Without this assistance, my son would suffer, not because we are unwilling to provide for him, but because the financial burden becomes insurmountable. We are good people doing everything we can to protect, educate and care for the children entrusted to us. This bill would make that significantly harder for families who are already stretched to their limits. I respectfully urge you to consider the real and human impact of HB 1803 and to vote against it. Please preserve the flexibility and support that New Hampshire families depend on to meet both the health and educational needs of their children. Thank you for your time and for listening to the voices of parents who are advocating for their families. Sincerely, Bethaney Bowie New Hampshire Parent