Amy Kopp | Support HB1716

Dear Members of the House Education and Administration Committee, Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony regarding HB 1716. I am writing in support of the bill’s intent to add accountability requirements to Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs), specifically as they relate to assessment portfolios and performance data. As an educator working within the public school system, I believe this measure is both reasonable and necessary to ensure equity, transparency, and responsible stewardship of public funds. Public schools in New Hampshire operate under extensive accountability requirements. We are required to collect, analyze, and report student performance data, participate in state and federal assessments, and demonstrate measurable outcomes in order to justify continued funding, including federal grant allocations. These requirements are not optional; they are an essential part of maintaining public trust and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used effectively to support student learning. When public funds are allocated to parents through EFAs for educational purposes, it is appropriate and fair that similar standards of accountability apply. If families are receiving public money to educate their children outside of the public school system, there should be clear expectations for assessment, documentation, and performance outcomes. This is not about limiting parental choice, but about ensuring that public investments in education are accompanied by meaningful oversight. HB 1716 represents an important step toward parity. Holding EFA recipients to comparable standards of assessment and accountability as public schools helps ensure that all students in New Hampshire, regardless of the educational pathway chosen, are being supported in ways that are transparent, measurable, and in the best interest of the state. I urge the committee to support HB 1716 and its efforts to strengthen accountability for all publicly funded educational programs. Thank you for your time and consideration. Amy Kopp