NH Charter Schools May Get More State Aid

More-equal footing with public schools

Charter school supporters urged New Hampshire lawmakers Tuesday to increase state aid to these nontraditional schools.

State Rep. Ken Weyler, a Kingston Republican, told the House Education Committee the current state aid level isn't fair when the amount taxpayers spend on public schools is taken into account.

Weyler is the prime sponsor of a bill to set the aid level for charter schools at half the statewide average cost per pupil. Weyler said charter schools now get $5,450 per student. Under his proposal, the schools would get about $1,100 more per pupil based on the statewide average for the last school year.

''Charter schools have been laboratories of innovation in our state,'' said Weyler.