Chloe Longstreet

To Whom it May Concern, I want to begin by saying that I am a Democratic voter, and the reason I mention that is because I feel a lot of the rhetoric around programs like this focuses on people who homeschool because of religion or politics and I would like to include the perspective of someone who needs these programs for other reasons. My daughter has struggled socially and emotionally with school from day one. Even before COVID, she would frequently melt down when I dropped her off for preschool, to the point where I had to bring her home because she was hyperventilating and couldn't be calmed. She constantly had stomach aches and nausea in the car in the morning when she was three and four because of the anxiety that going to school gave her. Early on, I knew she needed to be in an environment that supported her mental and emotional needs as well as her academic needs. That is one of the main reasons why we chose the school she currently attends, because it is a private school that focuses on the whole child. And we have been grateful for that choice a number of times as she has had the support she needed through times of stress that a public school would not have been able to or willing to give her, such as half days for a few months in first grade when she was so overwhelmed by the loud noises and frenzied activity of her peers that she would break down before classes ended for the day. Her school and teachers accommodate her in so many ways and those accommodations have enabled her to thrive. We have since sought and received an ADHD diagnosis and gotten her on medication, which has greatly improved her anxiety and social stress, but we are a long way from her being able to attend a traditional school full-time. And we tried homeschooling for a few months, but she needs structure that I am unable to give as a working mom. We have been around in circles and tried many different options for her schooling, but ultimately, the school she is currently at is the best choice for her. Additionally, she is getting ready to finish the fifth grade and has been with the same class since the beginning of first grade. Her anxiety, coupled with moving to a new school with new students, teachers, and curriculum, would be crippling. We cannot afford her school without these funds. Point blank. I am barely making ends meet. I work three part-time jobs and am barely making enough to cover bills and put food on the table. We get the maximum allowable scholarship from my daughter's private school each year, which allows us to keep her there if and only if we receive the full funding from both the education tax credit scholarship and the education freedom account. I honestly don't know what we would do if this bill goes through. The economic hardship that it would impose upon my family would be insurmountable. But it isn't just the economic hardship, it is also the mental and emotional hardship as well. We are just getting to a point where my daughter is thriving, and the thought of having to take that away from her now isn't something I want to even consider. I know it is considered a privilege to attend a private school, and I understand that these programs are just that. I also wish our public school system was able to cater to children with different learning abilities and different social and emotional needs. But the sad reality is that public school are, by necessity, forced to focus on the average student in order to ensure they catch the needs of the majority of the students in each class. These programs help many people across the state access education that is the best possible option for the individual needs of their children. In places that do not have programs like this, the opportunity to choose is only awarded to the rich. If HB1803 goes through, it will still give some New Hampshire residents the option to choose. But families like mine, who are struggling every day to stay above the poverty line but also want the freedom to choose what is best for our children will lose that opportunity. For myself, it would mean an extra $400-500 a month that we would need to come up with. When my monthly income is just over $3,000; a cost like this is impossible. These programs have enabled me to provide my daughter with the education that works best for her. One that meets her where she is at and allows her to thrive. I beg of you to please consider the effect that the passing of this bill would have on families like mine, children like my daughter who need a more unique environment to thrive. These children are our future. They are the ones who will carry the weight of the world when we are no longer able to do so. In return, it is our responsibility to ensure they are given what they need to succeed. Thank you for your time.