NH School Scoop - June 10, 2025

It was a significant day for New Hampshire education as Governor Ayotte picks a new Commissioner and signs two key bills into law.

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👩‍🏫 Ayotte has announced that her nominee to succeed Frank Edelblut as Commissioner of Education is Caitlin Davis, a long-time employee of the New Hampshire Department of Education (NHED). Davis served as Director of Education Analytics and Resources at the Department for the last eight years.

• Davis has extensive experience in operations, data, and finance (she was once an internal auditor at NHED), but it’s not certain if she ever worked in schools.

• This time around, it appears that Ayotte wanted a veteran state education employee who would support data-informed decision making and efficiency, rather than a high-profile politician. In a statement, Davis said that she looks “forward to ensuring the department is well-run, transparent, and responsive to the needs of schools and students.”

• Davis will be presented as Ayotte’s nominee to the State Board of Education on Thursday.

🖊️ Today was also a significant legislative day for education:

• Governor Ayotte signed SB 295, which gives all families, regardless of income, full access to state school vouchers, known as Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs). Democrats are criticizing the legislation, which they feel is fiscally irresponsible and diverts resources from public schools. Republicans, including Ayotte, believe that the bill provides parents with the educational choices they need. Any family in New Hampshire can now receive $ 4,265 per child for the next school year to spend on educational expenses, including private school tuition. There is a cap of 10,000 students in the first year of implementation. maps

• Ayotte also signed HB 10, a parental bill of rights that may require teachers to inform caregivers about private information shared by a student. Democrats are concerned that this bill may put children in danger if information from a student is shared with an abusive home.

• It is clear that students will not receive mandatory firearms training in their schools this year. Under Senate Bill 54 and an amendment, there would have been a requirement for firearm safety training to be taught annually in all public schools. It's possible that some version of this bill could be reintroduced next year.

⚖️ On the same day the Governor appointed a Commish and signed important legislation, there was a critical NH Supreme Court decision affecting education:

• The Court ruled in a 3 to 1 decision (Rand vs. State) that NH’s education property tax, known as SWEPT, does not violate the New Hampshire Constitution. However, there’s much more to come on New Hampshire school funding news.

🏅 Extra Credit:

• On Saturday, the NH Excellence in Education Awards (The Edies) ceremony was held. Here’s the list of winners. Congrats to all!

• Iris Turmelle from Pembroke and Parker Tirrell from Plymouth are challenging Trump’s Executive Order (EO) law that bars transgender students from playing on sports teams that align with their gender identity. Federal attorneys are defending the EO, which threatens to strip federal funding from schools that allow transgender girls to compete on female sports teams. (Thanks to the Concord Monitor)

• The Trump Administration is also asking the US Supreme Court to allow the government to maintain its high level of Education Department terminations. The eventual Trump goal is to eliminate the federal Department of Education.

• Congratulations to Jessica Carcerano-Wheeler, who received the Tech Educator of the Year award at the NH Tech Alliance’s TechWomen Connect and Awards. Jessica is a teacher at Cooperative Middle School in Stratham. (Thanks to the Concord Monitor.)

• Drew Cline, president of the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, and Chair of the State Board of Education, painted a dismal report of NH schools in data released last week. Cline shared data that shows per-pupil cost in NH has nearly doubled since 2001.

• NHPR interviewed several high school students about their plans after graduation. One thing we know for sure: every student’s journey looks different.

• One of the most essential roles of a high school educator is supporting students about to graduate from high school who may have some level of disability. Laconia High School is making this a priority.

👩‍🎓 Student Wins:

• Congrats to Caitlin Seiler who received the award as Tech Student of the Year at the NH Tech Alliance’s TechWomen Connect and Awards. Caitlin is a senior at the Academy for Science and Design Charter School in Nashua. (Thanks to Concord Monitor)

• Fourth graders at Beech St. Elementary School have the opportunity to earn special prizes, including new bicycles. They must demonstrate substantial progress in reading, writing, math, or citizenship.

• A graduating senior from Keene High School, Austin Gee-Jordan, was named this year’s recipient of the High 5 Scholarship for Leaders. (Thanks to the Union-Leader)

• Kudos to Concord High student Izzie Boom and her friends who are selling rubber ducks for a buck a piece to raise money for the International Rett Syndrome Foundation. Izzie herself has Rett’s, a neurological developmental disorder. You’ll find the ducks all over the school.

• The Brodsky Prize champions “boldness and innovation in student journalism.” Congratulations to Kelsey Sweet, a junior at Londonderry High School, Josefina Eliessetch, a junior at Kearsarge Regional High School, and Eleanor Rioux, a senior from Manchester Central High School, for receiving the first, second, and third prizes, respectively.

📖 Picks of the Week:

• Sometimes wisdom can be communicated in small doses. The Leadership Freak has 6 Ways to Break the Rules and Have Great Conversations

• Collaborative data review is a crucial component of the teacher-coach relationship.