Across New Hampshire, families are grateful for the education options that already exist to help their children succeed. Over the past several years, programs like Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs) have expanded opportunity for thousands of students, giving parents greater ability to find the learning environment that fits their child best. This week, during National School Choice Week, New Hampshire took another meaningful step forward.
Governor Kelly Ayotte announced that New Hampshire will opt in to the new Federal Education Tax Credit program for Scholarship Granting Organizations. For families across the Granite State, this decision represents a continuation of a clear and steady approach to education policy: expanding access to support while respecting the different paths students take to learn and grow.
The Federal Education Tax Credit allows individual taxpayers to receive a federal tax credit for charitable contributions that support education-related expenses for New Hampshire students. Just as importantly, it builds on the success of New Hampshire’s existing programs by allowing Scholarship Granting Organizations to raise funds that can support students in public schools and charter schools, in addition to private education pathways. For many families, this means help with tutoring, academic enrichment, or services for students with disabilities, all while ensuring federal education dollars stay here in New Hampshire and are used to support local students.
At Children’s Scholarship Fund New Hampshire, this announcement reflects the reality families share with us every day. Some parents reach out because their child attends a public school but needs extra academic support to stay on track. Others are seeking tuition assistance for private or alternative schools. Many families are navigating learning challenges or disabilities that require individualized services. These needs often overlap, and they change as children grow. Strong education policy recognizes that flexibility matters.
“New Hampshire families do not fit neatly into one educational category,” said Kate Baker Demers, Executive Director of Children’s Scholarship Fund New Hampshire. “Some students need tutoring while remaining in public schools. Others need tuition support or specialized services in different learning environments. This federal tax credit builds on the strong foundation New Hampshire has already established and helps ensure more students can access the support they need.”
We are thankful to Governor Ayotte for her leadership in opting New Hampshire into this program and for her continued commitment to education policies that put students and families first. We also appreciate Education Commissioner Caitlin Davis’s focus on ensuring that educational resources are aligned with students’ individual needs and delivered responsibly.
As federal agencies finalize program rules and the state outlines next steps for implementation, experience will matter. Administering education tax credit scholarships at scale requires careful oversight, strong compliance systems, and a proven ability to serve families reliably through periods of growth, scrutiny, and policy change. New Hampshire is well positioned for this next phase because of the organizations and programs already serving students every day, supported by clean independent audits, disciplined financial controls, and modern program administration systems that combine technology-driven oversight with individualized review.
At Children’s Scholarship Fund New Hampshire, our mission remains clear. We exist to help students access the educational opportunities and supports they need to succeed, wherever and however they learn, and we carry out that work with a strong emphasis on accountability, stewardship, and continuous improvement. Through years of administering both Education Tax Credit scholarships and Education Freedom Accounts, CSF has built the operational capacity, compliance infrastructure, and family-facing systems necessary to support students responsibly across a wide range of educational settings. We look forward to continuing our work alongside state leaders and community partners as New Hampshire builds on what is already working for families and students across the state.
