Bill > SB207

This bill transfers the administration of the Education Freedom Account (EFA) program from scholarship organizations to the New Hampshire Department of Education. The bill makes comprehensive changes to the existing law, including redefining key terms such as "commissioner" and "state board" to refer to the Department of Education leadership. Under the new provisions, the department will now be responsible for tasks previously handled by scholarship organizations, such as transferring funds, approving applications, maintaining a list of education service providers, and ensuring compliance with program rules. The bill reduces the administrative cost recovery from 10% to 5% and establishes procedures for managing EFA funds, including how unused funds will be handled and how education service providers can be approved or barred from the program. Parents will still need to apply for EFAs, agree to provide education in core knowledge domains, and submit annual educational progress records. The bill also maintains protections for religious education providers and establishes an advisory commission to help improve the EFA program. The changes will take effect on July 1, 2025, and aim to streamline the administration of the education freedom account program by centralizing oversight within the state's education department.