Global EFA program receives 500 applications on first day of expansion

Universal Education Freedom Account Program Experiences Significant Surge in Applications Following Expansion

In a remarkable development for educational choice in New Hampshire, the recently expanded Education Freedom Account (EFA) program received approximately 500 new applications within the first 24 hours after the removal of an income eligibility cap. This notable increase reflects a growing acceptance of the program, which aims to provide families greater flexibility in choosing their educational paths.

The new surge represents a substantial 9% increase in program enrollment for the current school year, illustrating the potential impact of the state’s shift to a universal model that began this fall. The program’s implementation follows the signing of Senate Bill 295 by Governor Kelly Ayotte, which eliminated the income limit that previously restricted access. Under the previous guidelines, families earning below 350% of the federal poverty level—approximately 2,525 for a family of four—were eligible for the funds. Now, any family opting out of public schooling can apply for the educational funding offered by the program.

Kate Baker Demers, the director of the managing organization, expressed relief that families facing financial barriers to accessing educational resources can now benefit from the program without prior income limitations. “When a family comes to us with a bullied child who was just one dollar over the income limit, it was heart-wrenching not to help them. That is no longer a challenge,” Baker Demers stated.

The influx of new applications is projected to inject an additional .5 million into the program initially, with potential for that total to grow significantly as interest in the program expands. The program, which began in 2021, had already seen steady growth over its initial years, serving roughly 5,300 students despite the earlier income restrictions. Legislators had been debating the ramifications of this expansion, weighing the potential increase in student enrollment and associated funding requirements.

Notably, the new legislation establishes a cap of 10,000 participants for the first year of the expansion. Certain priority groups will be permitted to enroll even after reaching this limit, ensuring that the most vulnerable students are still accommodated. Future years may see an increase in the enrollment cap, allowing more families access to these educational funds.

With the July 15 deadline approaching for families to receive the full award for this year, Baker Demers mentioned that significant outreach efforts may be necessary to encourage wider understanding and participation in the program. “I don’t think there’s enough knowledge about the program to reach the cap in four weeks,” she cautioned, noting that many families could be unaware of the benefits available.

Currently, there are over 11,000 New Hampshire students attending private schools, all of whom are now potential beneficiaries of the EFA program. Furthermore, students who are homeschooled can also take advantage of the funding, although the state does not maintain statistics on this demographic. The extent to which the expansion will attract current public school students remains uncertain; previous data indicated that roughly one-third of newly enrolled students had attended public schools prior.

Should the program reach its enrollment cap, the anticipated cost could rise to approximately million for the next fiscal year, up from .7 million allocated this year. The state Senate has proposed a budget allocation of .3 million to accommodate these changes.

As demand for the program grows, the Children’s Scholarship Fund, which processes program applications, is preparing to handle the increased workload. Baker Demers indicated that additional personnel resources are in place to manage this surge. However, the organization will not receive further funding from the state until September, resulting in a reliance on grants and donations to cover immediate operational needs.

The EFA program aims to reshape educational experiences for New Hampshire families and may serve as a model for similar initiatives across the nation, emphasizing growing trends in school choice and educational funding flexibility.

For further updates, please contact Jeremy Margolis at jmargolis@cmonitor.com.