Roger LaFleur | Oppose HB1803

My name is Roger LaFleur, and as a single parent raising my family in a state that prides itself on personal liberty and individual responsibility, I am deeply concerned about House Bill 1803. New Hampshire’s principle of Live Free or Die is more than a motto—it is a commitment to ensuring families, not the state, guide the decisions that shape their children’s futures. For years, New Hampshire has made tremendous progress expanding educational freedom through the Education Freedom Account (EFA) program and the Education Tax Credit (ETC) scholarship program. These programs do not duplicate one another; they serve different roles, draw on different funding sources, and together allow families like mine to access environments where our children can truly thrive. HB 1803 would undo that progress. According to the bill text and analysis, HB 1803 prohibits any student from receiving both EFA funds and ETC scholarships in the same program year, even if the student simply carries a remaining balance from the prior year’s EFA account. This restriction represents a major rollback of parental choice and would once again limit families to fewer, less flexible options. [gshenh.org] This bill does not address a real problem—it creates one. Granite State Home Educators’ analysis shows that the actual issue is not families “double dipping,” but rather the strain on the limited pool of private ETC donations, which are already modest—around $800 per child and sometimes as low as $300. Meanwhile, average EFA awards reach approximately $4,900 per child. HB 1803 fails to address this funding imbalance and instead penalizes families who rely on both programs to afford a school that fits their children’s needs. [citizenscount.org] For my family, and for many others, these programs are lifelines. Without access to both EFA and ETC, my children would be forced back into an educational environment we already know doesn’t meet their needs. In our case, Pembroke Academy—through no fault of its own—is simply too large, too impersonal, and too overwhelmed to provide the individualized attention my children require. At Bishop Brady, their teachers know them, support them, and guide them when they struggle. These kinds of relationships are what help students flourish—and they are only possible because EFA and ETC together make this school accessible to us. HB 1803 would take that away. The bill also creates additional barriers for students who use ETC funds to access resources like the Virtual Learning Academy Charter School (VLACS). Research shows that HB 1803 restricts ETC recipients from participating fully in VLACS programs, even though ETC is privately funded and does not draw on taxpayer dollars. This is yet another example of how the bill would limit—not expand—educational opportunity for working families. [citizenscount.org] If New Hampshire was built on the principle of “Live Free or Die,” when did we decide that families should not be free to choose their children’s education? When did we decide that low-income or single-income families should have fewer options than everyone else? Limiting choice contradicts our history. It contradicts our values. It contradicts our responsibility to the next generation of Granite Staters. Educational freedom should not be reserved for the wealthy. These programs do not grant special privilege—they simply level the playing field. As a single parent without outside support, these programs make it possible for my children to learn in an environment where they can succeed, grow, and be truly seen. HB 1803 would take that possibility away from countless families. I urge you not to reverse the progress our state has made. Do not limit educational flexibility. Do not restrict options for the families who need them most. Reject HB 1803 and preserve the freedom that defines our state. Thank you for your time and consideration.