Summary

New Hampshire HB 2 (Open States or New Hampshire Legislature) rejects lack of state funding as a sole reason for denying charter school applications. This bill directs the state to pay tuition directly to virtual charter schools for all applicable students.

Legislative Analysis

HB 2 stipulates that a lack of state funding alone cannot constitute grounds for denying a charter school application. The state board of education must notify all applicants of its decision in writing, and for any notice of denial must specify any areas deemed deficient, reasons for the denial, and an explanation of how to reapply in a subsequent year.

For online chartered public schools receiving their initial authorization to operate from the state board of education on or after July 1, 2013, the state will pay tuition directly to the online charter school for each pupil who is a New Hampshire resident in attendance at the school. In the legislation, an “online chartered public school” means a chartered public school that provides the majority of its classes and instruction on the Internet.

Auditing procedures for all charter schools are clarified to require that after the first year program audit by the department of education or its agent, charter schools will be subject to a program audit by the department of education at least once every three years thereafter.

Legislative History

Detailed Vote History: Legiscan | Open States

Approved by Governor Maggie Hassan on 7/2/2013