Lawmakers, parents call on Gov. Ayotte to protect special education and limit voucher expansion

As Governor Kelly Ayotte prepares her first budget address, Democratic lawmakers, educators, and parents urge her to protect public schools from deep cuts and rising local taxes. Critics say Ayotte’s plan to expand private vouchers and follow the “Sununu Path” risks undermining special education, leaving working families to foot the bill.

A coalition of Democratic legislative leaders, local educators, and parents from across New Hampshire has sent a letter to Governor Kelly Ayotte, urging her to safeguard special education funding and resist expanding the state’s sprawling school voucher program as the governor prepares to unveil her state budget on Thursday.

In the letter, community members and lawmakers cite recent remarks by Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut, who warned school districts last November that special education aid would be reduced “effective this year,” with similar reductions anticipated in the upcoming budget. They argue that such cuts could force public schools to choose between reducing essential staff—including teachers and paraprofessionals—or raising already-high property taxes at the local level.

“Special education funding, which benefits our most vulnerable students, is non-negotiable—like gas and groceries,” the letter reads. “Cutting funding for special education programs and forcing taxpayers to cover the costs is calamitous for thousands of Granite Staters already struggling with growing property taxes and everyday costs.”

The letter also raises concerns about Ayotte’s stated intention to expand New Hampshire’s private school voucher program, which has already cost the state tens of millions of dollars while allowing families up to 350% of the federal poverty level to participate.

Removing the program’s income caps, they contend, could “fund private education for some of the wealthiest students,” with limited oversight of how voucher funds are actually spent. With the state facing a budget deficit, they argue, expanding vouchers would inevitably come at the expense of traditional public schools and further strain local taxpayers.

Signatories to the letter point to the urgent need to protect special education funding and ensure that any public dollars directed toward private school vouchers do not undermine local public schools. They stress that expanding vouchers without proper oversight could shift taxpayer dollars to wealthier families who already access private education, while leaving public schools underfunded and taxpayers on the hook for rising costs.

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The letter was signed by a wide range of elected officials—among them House Democratic Leader Rep. Alexis Simpson (D-Exeter) and Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Rebecca Perkins Kwoka (D-Portsmouth) — as well as current and retired educators, parents, and other community leaders from across New Hampshire.

“A budget is, as you know, a list of priorities,” the letter says. “As you set yours, we urge you to make good on your inaugural promise and ensure our most vulnerable students are taken care of.”

Ryan Mahoney, Executive Director of Amplify New Hampshire, a progressive New Hampshire communications hub, summed up the anxieties shared by many political observers in a statement this week.

“Kelly Ayotte campaigned on ‘the Sununu Path,’ but so far, she’s following the Trump playbook—hiding from accountability, pushing efficiency gimmicks, and failing to stand up for New Hampshire’s economy,” Mahoney said.  “Granite Staters deserve real answers: Will she continue Sununu’s local tax hikes? Will she protect New Hampshire from Trump’s reckless economic policies? Will she fight to keep critical federal funding flowing or stand by as Washington Republicans strip resources from our communities?”

Ayotte is set to present her budget proposal to the Legislature on Thursday, and it remains to be seen how it will address these concerns. Many New Hampshire political insiders believe Ayotte has delegated much of the budget process to her new Commission of Government Efficiency (COGE) group, modeled after the Trump administration’s DOGE group, which like COGE, puts ultra wealthy conservatives in charge of cutting spending for programs that serve vulnerable populations like Medicaid recipients and families receiving free and reduced cost school lunch.

In her inaugural address, Ayotte acknowledged looming budget cuts but also reiterated her support for vouchers, setting up what could be a high-stakes debate on the future of education funding in the Granite State. As parents, educators, and legislators await the governor’s proposal, they hope the final budget will reflect what they see as a fundamental priority: a fully supported public education system that provides equitable resources for all students — especially those with special needs.