Alexandra Carter

I strongly support this resolution urging the legislature to adequately fund public education. For decades, the courts have made one principle unmistakably clear: the State of New Hampshire has a constitutional obligation to define, fund, and deliver an adequate public education to every child. That duty is not optional. It is not aspirational. It is foundational to our democracy. Public education is not a line item to be minimized, it is the backbone of economic opportunity, civic participation, and community stability. When the state underfunds schools, the burden shifts onto local property taxpayers, deepening inequities between wealthy communities and those with fewer resources. That is not just inefficient policy; it is unjust. Adequate funding means more than bare minimum compliance. It means ensuring students have access to qualified teachers, safe and modern facilities, special education services, mental health supports, up-to-date materials, technology, transportation, and enrichment opportunities. It means recognizing that rural districts, high-poverty districts, and communities with higher needs require real investment. Not rhetoric. This resolution affirms what the New Hampshire Supreme Court has repeatedly held: the legislature must define the components of an adequate education, determine its cost, fund it with constitutional statewide taxes, and ensure accountability. Respecting the separation of powers includes respecting the judiciary’s role in interpreting the Constitution. The courts have spoken. It is time for the legislature to act. Chronic underfunding harms students, strains teachers, drives up local property taxes, and undermines workforce development. Businesses depend on an educated workforce. Communities depend on strong schools. Families depend on stability and fairness. This resolution is not about partisanship. it is about constitutional responsibility and moral clarity. Every child in New Hampshire, regardless of ZIP code, deserves a genuinely adequate education funded at the state level, as our Constitution requires. Supporting this resolution is a commitment to equity, to fiscal fairness, and to the future of our state.