New Hampshire’s Universal School Choice Expansion Is a Win for Students, Parents

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On June 10,  Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed into law an expansion of New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Account program to include all students, regardless of income. This new law makes New Hampshire the latest state to adopt universal eligibility in education choice.

It’s a victory for Granite State families and a reminder that when policymakers listen to parents, students win. 

The journey to universal eligibility has been years-long and, at times, winding. Now, New Hampshire joins a growing wave of states — totaling more than a dozen — that have made their scholarship account or voucher programs universally available. In doing so, every child in New Hampshire will now have access to a personalized learning path that works for them. It is an affirmation that educational opportunity shouldn’t depend on where a family lives or how much money they make. 

Education Freedom Accounts empower parents to direct state education funds toward a variety of approved services, including private school tuition, tutoring, therapies, online learning and curriculum materials. This flexibility is especially critical for students who need something other than a one-size-fits-all school assignment, whether they’re struggling academically, seeking more rigorous coursework, dealing with bullying or pursuing specialized learning interests. 

Since launching the program in 2021, New Hampshire has witnessed the power of Education Freedom Accounts in action. But under previous eligibility limits, fewer than half of students could access the program. Many families who didn’t qualify because of income thresholds were still unable to afford private school or enrichment services, leaving them without meaningful options. 

Now, that barrier is gone. Every New Hampshire parent can consider the full range of learning environments and services to meet their child’s needs, not just the one assigned based on where they can afford to live.

That expansion reflects a larger national trend. Over the past few years, a sea change has taken place across the country as parents seek and gain more control over their children’s education. Since 2021, 17 states have enacted universal education choice. From Arkansas to Iowa to Texas, governors and legislators have responded to the call for change with sweeping reforms that prioritize students over systems. 

Why is this happening? Because parents know what’s best for their children. They have seen the way their states’  education methods and priorities fall short of their expectations or leave their kids behind. Choice gives families agency. It gives them hope. And it often provides students with the very thing they need to succeed: the right environment at the right time with the right support. 

The data back this up. School choice programs enjoy high levels of support among parents and the public because it has changed lives. Research shows that choice can lead to stronger academic outcomes, higher graduation and college enrollment rates and even long-term benefits like reduced crime and improved civic engagement.

Despite arguments to the contrary, universal choice doesn’t mean a mass exodus from public schools. In fact, the majority of families still choose their neighborhood public school when given the option. But having the power to choose, even if they never use it, puts parents in the driver’s seat. It ensures schools are responsive to families and that no student is trapped in a system that isn’t working. 

At ExcelinEd in Action, we believe that strong policy changes lives. And New Hampshire just changed thousands of them for the better. This expansion is more than policy — it’s possibility. 

New Hampshire policymakers have not only honored the promise of public education, they’ve expanded it. They’ve sent a clear message that students come first, and that New Hampshire will continue to create innovative, student-centered education policy. 

I hope other states take notice. Because every child, no matter where they live, deserves the chance to succeed. 

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