Across New Hampshire, one reality has become increasingly clear over the past several years: education works best when it is built around the individual child.
Parents are no longer approaching schooling as a single building or a single pathway. Instead, they are thoughtfully assembling learning environments that allow their children to grow and thrive. For some families, that means district public schools. For others, it includes public charter schools, private schools, home education, Education Freedom Accounts, or a carefully designed blend of several settings working together.
On March 2, 2026, the House Education Policy and Administration Committee voted Ought to Pass with Amendment (OTP-A) on HB 1817 in executive session and recommended the amended bill to the full House. The vote represents an important step toward recognizing this evolving reality in education.
The bill clarifies that students should not lose access to public school courses and programs simply because their primary enrollment looks different. Opportunity should not depend on a single attendance category, particularly at a time when many families are building customized educational paths that cross traditional boundaries.
In practice, access has not always been consistent. Students seeking to enroll in an individual class, participate in band, join athletics, or take advanced coursework sometimes encountered policies that treated them differently from their peers. In certain cases, families were quoted tuition rates that bore little relationship to the cost of a single course. These inconsistencies created confusion and, in some situations, discouraged participation altogether.
The legislation does not mandate new programs or dismantle local decision-making. Rather, it acknowledges how education increasingly functions in New Hampshire. Students often move fluidly across learning environments, drawing from different resources at different stages of their development. A child may attend a private school while joining a robotics team in the community. A homeschooled student may take a public school math or science course. An EFA participant may combine tutoring, online learning, career and technical programs, and extracurricular activities into a cohesive educational experience shaped around personal strengths and goals.
These blended pathways are no longer unusual. They reflect a broader cultural shift toward flexibility and customization, where the focus remains on what helps the child succeed rather than on preserving a single structure.
Education Freedom Accounts were designed to empower families to act on what they know about their children. This legislation strengthens that empowerment by affirming that flexibility and community participation can coexist. Students remain connected to their local communities even when their educational journeys extend beyond one traditional pathway.
New Hampshire has long valued responsibility, local connection, and parental commitment. Families who choose flexible educational models continue contributing to the public education system through local property taxes while often assuming additional financial responsibility to create the learning environment that works best for their children. HB 1817 recognizes that commitment and affirms that those families should not be excluded from opportunities available to others.
We are grateful to the families who shared their experiences, submitted testimony, and engaged constructively with lawmakers. Their willingness to speak up helped clarify the need for consistency and fairness.
HB 1817 will be voted on by the entire House on March 11 or March 12, so contact your legislator to tell them you support HB 1817.
This legislation strengthens access, supports diverse learners, and reflects an education system that is adapting to meet families where they are. Children’s Scholarship Fund remains proud to stand alongside families as they continue building educational journeys centered on their children’s needs and aspirations. When education is built around students, opportunity expands in ways that benefit communities across our state.
