At the Children’s Scholarship Fund New Hampshire, we believe every child deserves an education that fits. It’s why we’re proud to stand alongside parents like Natalie Kitching-Rajak – a single mother whose journey with her children shows how powerful educational freedom can be.
Natalie is raising three children, including an adult son with autism. Looking back, she remembers the frustration of watching him navigate a public school system that didn’t meet his needs.
“The class sizes were huge,” she says. “I always felt stuck, unable to give him the kind of education I knew he deserved.”
When he was eventually placed in an out-of-district program, Natalie knew she had to find a better option for her two youngest – Khloe, now 10, and Koleton, 7. She began exploring possibilities she had once considered out of reach.
That’s when she learned about Education Freedom Accounts.
A staff member at Laconia Christian Academy, the private school she was hoping to enroll in, mentioned the EFA program as a potential way to help with tuition. Natalie applied, unsure if they would qualify. But they did, and everything changed.
“Now, I can choose who educates my children,” she says. “That’s not something I ever imagined being able to say as a single parent.”
Today, both Khloe and Koleton are thriving at Laconia Christian Academy. With small class sizes and individualized attention, the change in their academic performance and emotional wellbeing has been dramatic.
“My daughter used to get overwhelmed in big group settings,” Natalie explains. “She has anxiety, and I know she would have struggled in our local public school. But now she’s reading above grade level and writing in cursive. It’s night and day.”
Beyond the classroom, the school offers a unique outdoor education program called TimberNook. It gives kids the chance to learn through exploration; building campfires, holding frogs, and playing in the woods while soaking up science and nature through hands-on experience.
“Koleton came home the other day and told me, ‘I made a campfire in class and held a frog!’” Natalie says, smiling. “That’s what learning should be: memorable, exciting, real.”
She doesn’t take any of it for granted. Without the EFA, none of this would be possible.
“We couldn’t afford private school on our own,” she says. “This (Education Tax Credit) scholarship has changed our lives. My kids are learning, growing, and most importantly, they’re happy.”
The application and renewal process, she notes, has been easier than she expected. Her advice to other families is simple: take your time, read the instructions, and don’t be afraid to reach out.
“The folks at Children’s Scholarship Fund were so helpful,” Natalie says. “Any time I had a question, they walked me through it.”
Still, she knows not everyone understands just how life-changing these Education Tax Credit scholarships can be. That’s why she wanted to share her story – so others can experience the same joy she sees in her children every day.
“It’s an incredible thing to hear your kid say, ‘I love school,’” she says. “To hear them excited about reading. Or tell you they built a campfire in class. That kind of joy sticks with you.”
To families just learning about EFAs, Natalie offers one clear message: don’t wait.
“If you think it could help your child, apply,” she says. “The opportunity is real. We’re living proof.”
And to lawmakers, donors, and all those who support the program, she offers a heartfelt thank you.
“You’re not just helping students afford school,” she says. “You’re helping them fall in love with learning and helping families like mine feel empowered, not stuck.”
Want to hear more stories from New Hampshire families whose lives have been changed by EFAs?
