Molly Kelly

 Governor Lynch signs the vital bill sponsored by Senator Kelly ensuring an adequate education for New Hampshire's children

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, July 14, 2009 Contact: Senator Molly Kelly

(603) 271-4153
EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY BILL SIGNED INTO LAW

CONCORD – A multi-year legislative effort to reform the state system for funding public schools drew to a close today with the signing of legislation that will hold schools accountable for providing an adequate education.

“This important legislation represents the final piece of a three-year legislative effort to define, determine the cost and ensure accountability for delivering the opportunity for an adequate education under a ruling of the New Hampshire Supreme Court,” said Senator Molly Kelly (D-Keene), who sponsored Senate Bill 180.

“I am proud of the progress that has been made and I am honored to stand here with you today putting to rest decades of litigation,” she added.

Senate Bill 180 follows two years of work by lawmakers that included numerous forums around the state to gather input on what the state’s basic educational requirements should contain. In the first year, lawmakers spelled out the elements of an adequate education to include certain academic subjects and added a new statewide requirement for kindergarten.

Last year, lawmakers developed a funding plan that allocates aid based on such factors as the number of teachers needed for a given number of pupils, special education needs and the percentage of low-income students in a school.
“Now in Senate Bill 180 we’ve developed a sensible system to ensure that money is well spent and that our students are getting the opportunities they need to become educated and productive members of our society,” Kelly said.
She also praised the Legislature for its commitment to the new plan, increasing state aid to schools by $123 million over the next two years.

“Now, we have the opportunity to move forward, to continue to work together and to share creative ideas with renewed energy, moving education into the 21st century,” she said.