For Immediate Release
   
NH becomes first state in nation to reject federal grant funds for public schools
The Feltes Motion gives NH the dubious honor of being the first state in the nation to reject federal CSP funds for public schools
Concord, New Hampshire, 9/23/20, - On Friday the U.S. Secretary of Education told the NH Journal that New Hampshire had become the first state in the nation to refuse to accept a federal Charter School Program (CSP) grant for public schools in the program's 17+ year history.

This dubious honor is the result of the "Feltes Motion" which passed 7-3 at the 12/13/19 meeting of the State Legislative Fiscal Committee. The Feltes Motion moved to deny acceptance of the federal grant (over $46M) awarded to New Hampshire from the U.S. Department of Education's Charter School Program (CSP) in 2019.

"The outcome of vote was truly stunning because under the terms of the federal award funding was to be prioritized for programs seeking to serve New Hampshire's economically and educationally disadvantaged students. School districts and individual schools across the state could receive up to $1.5 million to support those populations in need." said Matt Southerton President of the New Hampshire Alliance for Public Charter Schools.

As we reported at the time, the vote was highly partisan passing 7-3 when all democratic legislators voted to reject the grant. After the vote Representative Ken Weyler expressed comments which elicited applause from the overflowing crowd of attendees. "The vote is seven Democrats versus three Republicans. As I said, this is a political motion. You have fulfilled your duties to the Teachers' Union and not to the citizens of New Hampshire", Representative Ken Weyler.

(Correction 9/24/20: Please note that a previous version of this notice mistakingly identified Mr. Southerton's title as President of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. That has been corrected above.)
About the NH Alliance for Public Charter Schools
The New Hampshire Alliance for Public Charter Schools, is a non-profit, non-partisan organization. Our members are committed to increasing public education options for all children, through the creation of high-quality public charter schools, and to helping these schools reach higher levels of student performance.
NH Alliance | Concord | (603) 513-2787 | Website
Connect with us
Facebook ‌ Twitter ‌