Children’s Scholarship Fund NH Celebrates Enrollment Cap Milestone, Highlights Ongoing Demand from Families
Concord, NH — Concord, NH — The Children’s Scholarship Fund New Hampshire (CSF NH) announced today that the Education Freedom Account (EFA) program has enrolled 10,000 students for the 2025-2026 school year, with 295 students placed on a waitlist. This milestone marks a historic moment for education freedom in the Granite State and is a powerful testament to the choices families are making for their children’s futures.
This is the first year EFAs were open to all New Hampshire families under SB 295, which eliminated income restrictions and established a statewide 10,000-student cap. The response from families has been overwhelming: more than 11,000 students applied in the month after Governor Ayotte signed the bill – more than doubling participation from the previous year.
“Every one of these 10,000 students has a story,” said Kate Baker Demers, Executive Director of CSF NH. “Some are kids who finally feel safe and seen. Others are discovering a love of learning in ways they never had before. That’s the power of educational freedom.”
Supporting Families Where They Are
Education Freedom Accounts provide students with state education funding, which families can use for tuition, tutoring, special education services, homeschool curriculum, and other approved learning expenses. The goal: to give every child access to an education that fits.
Natalie, a single mother and CSF NH Mom, said: “My daughter used to get overwhelmed in big group settings. She has anxiety… But now she’s reading above grade level and writing in cursive. It’s night and day.”
EFAs have transformed access to education for students who once lacked options due to geography, income, or individual needs. CSF NH is honored to help families create the learning environments their children deserve.
Expansion Already in Motion
Because the cap was reached, even more opportunities will be available to New Hampshire families next year. The law provides for a 25% expansion, raising the cap to 12,500 Education Freedom Accounts for the 2026–2027 school year. This ensures that even more children will have the chance to access an education that fits their needs, goals, and learning styles.
To support this next phase of growth, CSF NH has submitted the required enrollment report to the New Hampshire Department of Education, as outlined in state law. Applications from students already enrolled in the EFA program – as well as their siblings, students with disabilities, and those from lower-income households – will continue to be processed for the 2025-26 school year in accordance with the law.
In this group of 10,000 students, CSF NH also identified returning students from economically challenged households who didn’t complete the income section of the application and were therefore underreported in the differentiated aid grant category for low-income students. From the start, this program has prioritized ensuring students with the greatest need receive the educational support they deserve. It’s a common challenge across the state- just as in New Hampshire’s public schools, where eligible families sometimes don’t apply for free or reduced-price lunch despite qualifying. That’s why we are now contacting every family that previously qualified for the differentiated aid grant to help them re-certify their income ahead of the next quarterly deadline.
“We celebrate this milestone, but we’re not done,” said Baker Demers. “There are families still waiting: families who believe their child could thrive if given the same chance. Our mission is to make sure they’re not left behind.”
Real Kids, Real Outcomes
Across New Hampshire, families are seeing the life-changing impact of Education Freedom Accounts. CSF NH Scholar Isabella shared, “I wasn’t challenged… it felt like I was just going through the motions… I wasn’t reaching my full potential.” Isabella said. Today she’s thriving at Tilton School, fully engaged with academics, and a member of the National Honor Society.
“This program isn’t about labels or sides. It’s about children,” said Baker Demers. “We owe them more than a system that sorts them by zip code. We owe them the freedom to thrive.”
