(August 4, 2021, Concord, NH) – Today, the New Hampshire Executive Council authorized the State’s Department of Education to enter into a sole source contract with Children’s Scholarship Fund (CSF) to provide Education Freedom Accounts for income eligible students in the Granite State. Beginning with the upcoming 2021-22 school year, eligible New Hampshire families can direct part of their child’s state education funding to pay for tuition at the school of their choice, tutoring, online learning programs, educational supplies, internet connectivity, and other educational expenses.
“We are very grateful to the Governor and members of the state legislature who enacted Education Freedom Accounts (EFA), and to the New Hampshire Department of Education and the Executive Council for entrusting CSF to administer EFAs,” said CSF New Hampshire Executive Director Kate Baker Demers. “They have truly empowered New Hampshire families to get the education that is best-suited to their children’s learning needs.”
Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs) are grants that re-think education and empower New Hampshire families to direct their child’s state education funding to create learning experiences that are as unique as their child.
An “Eligible Student” for an EFA means a resident of the state who is eligible to enroll in a public elementary or secondary school and whose family has a household income of 300% of the Federal poverty line or below. Families can apply to CSF to determine their eligibility, and all educational expenses will be monitored, tracked, and approved using digital wallet technology, ensuring appropriate use and rigorous oversight of all funds expended under this program.
“CSF has a proven track record of implementing Education Tax Credit (ETC) scholarships in New Hampshire worth more than $3.7 million since 2016, and we look forward to further assisting New Hampshire children in need with Education Freedom Accounts,” said CSF President Darla M. Romfo. “The pandemic clearly illustrated that many families desire educational alternatives and EFAs will give them freedom to choose the options that work best for their children and allow them to fulfill their potential.”
CSF will work as quickly as possible to have the program up and running for the upcoming 2021-22 school year. Families interested in applying for EFAs should visit CSF’s website and submit their information to be notified when the EFA program is launched and applications are open: https://nh.scholarshipfund.org
/apply/nh-education-freedom-accounts/
About Children’s Scholarship Fund: CSF is a national organization with a network of partner programs, each providing scholarships that empower parents to choose schools they otherwise could not afford. Since its inception in 1998, CSF has awarded more than $885 million in scholarships to the families of 185,000 low-income children. Since January, 2016, CSF has managed scholarships in New Hampshire funded by donations made through the state’s Education Tax Credit program. CSF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity scholarship organization with an annual independent audit. Its 990s, financial statements, and annual reports are public, and it has earned a 4-star rating (the highest possible) from Charity Navigator, including the charity watchdog’s highest possible scores a nonprofit can attain for accountability and transparency.
To learn more about the Children’s Scholarship Fund in New Hampshire, contact Kate Baker Demers at (603) 785-0174 or kbaker@scholarshipfund.org.
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