Committee Summary for Education Freedom Savings Account Oversight Committee (03/27/2026)

Bill/Time	Type	Title	Sponsor
Unclear 00:05:50.685 - 9:04:41 AM	General Working Session	Unclear

Unclear: Chair Ladd Information Only00:05:50.685 - 9:04:41 AM; Opened the meeting on March 27th at 10 o'clock at 1 Granite Place, confirmed live streaming, had committee members introduce themselves, discussed agenda including minutes of previous meeting, annual report, and spreadsheets on EFA costs.
Unclear: Senator Prentice Information Only00:05:50.685 - 9:04:41 AM; Introduced as Senator Prentice, District 5.
Unclear: Senator Ruth Ward Information Only00:05:50.685 - 9:04:41 AM; Introduced as Senator Ruth Ward, District 8.
Unclear: Representative Rick Ladd Information Only00:05:50.685 - 9:04:41 AM; Introduced as Representative from Haverhill (noted as chair elsewhere).
Unclear: Representative Noble Information Only00:05:50.685 - 9:04:41 AM; Introduced as Representative Noble, Hillsborough District 2, Bedford; confirmed minutes are half-typed and will be completed over the weekend; discussed challenges in note-taking and scheduling for committees.
Unclear: Representative Belboni Information Only00:05:50.685 - 9:04:41 AM; Introduced as Representative Belboni, serving Rye, Greenland, and Northampton, Rockingham 38.
Unclear: Chair Ladd Information Only00:12:33.793 - 9:11:24 AM; Presented agenda sent on Wednesday, introduced attachments for information: annual report and spreadsheets on EFA student costs; called Mark from the department to explain spreadsheets.
Unclear: Representative Belboni Information Only00:12:33.793 - 9:11:24 AM; Asked where the adequacy spending reports and EFA reports are located on the website.
Unclear: Chair Ladd Information Only00:14:05.606 - 9:12:56 AM; Clarified report locations and proceeded to have Mark explain the EFA spreadsheet.
Unclear: Mark Manganello Information Only00:15:08.523 - 9:13:59 AM; Introduced as from Bureau of School Finance, Department of Education; explained EFA funding metrics similar to district adequacy, including base aid ($4,265.64 for FY26), free/reduced meals ($2,392), special education ($2,184), English language learners ($832); total cost around $51.5 million; discussed cap of 10,000 (increasing to 12,500), priority categories allowing exceedance, enrollment data, average cost around $5,000; explained verification processes and monitoring.
Unclear: Chair Ladd Information Only00:15:08.523 - 9:13:59 AM; Asked about average cost of a child in EFA program.
Unclear: Representative Belboni Information Only00:15:08.523 - 9:13:59 AM; Asked about validation of free and reduced eligibility information; inquired about monitoring process, checklist, metrics, risk areas, and timelines for reports.
Unclear: Mark Manganello Information Only00:15:08.523 - 9:13:59 AM; Explained linking with direct certification for verification; described monitoring history, current process focusing on eligibility, student achievement, expenses; risk areas in younger/older students; reports to be posted online and notified to committee; no standardized roadmap yet.
Unclear: Chair Ladd Information Only00:15:08.523 - 9:13:59 AM; Indulged further questions on EFA administrator role and job description.
Unclear: Dr. Green (Nate) Information Only00:15:08.523 - 9:13:59 AM; Confirmed EFA administrator is a state employee under his division with standard job description available.
Unclear: Representative Belboni Information Only00:15:08.523 - 9:13:59 AM; Asked about target dates for monitoring steps and report distribution.
Unclear: Committee Chair (likely Rep. Ladd) Information Only00:30:08.523 - 9:28:59 AM; The speaker discusses the role of the fiscal committee in supervising the LBA and obtaining an audit report from Jay Henry on the Education Freedom Account program. The audit team has completed 22 of 44 planned observations, with a draft report expected mid-spring 2026 and final in summer 2026. No partial reports will be released. The speaker introduces the process for determining eligibility for differentiated aid in the EFA program, referencing administrative rules with a table of 13 special education categories, required assessments, and qualified examiners. The speaker hands off to Matt Southerden for further explanation.
Unclear: Matt Southerden, Director of Policy and Compliance, Children's Scholarship Fund Information Only00:30:08.523 - 9:28:59 AM; Southerden provides handouts including a summary report and NH Department of Education fact sheet on special education eligibility in the EFA program. He explains two pathways for qualifying for differentiated aid: (1) traditional eligibility via public school district evaluation under ED 1107.04, and (2) disabling condition determined by a licensed medical professional using the Medical Certification of Disability (MCD) form, which must be resubmitted annually. Pathway 2 does not qualify students as priority group or for equitable services under 34 CFR. He addresses reevaluation processes, noting differences from K-12. Southerden discusses expenditures for 24-25, with most funding to private school tuition, followed by curriculum/resources and educational programs (e.g., science, math, health/PE classes via public, online, or private providers). EFA funds can pay out-of-district public schools but not in-district currently. On CTE courses, some students faced high bills leading to re-enrollment in public schools. For assessments, report cards are used under DOE guidance for full-time private/out-of-district students but can be discontinued per statute. Three statutory methods: statewide assessment, national standardized test, portfolio evaluation. Data aggregation is challenging due to privacy and varied tests (17 types used, e.g., 1,127 on CAT). On waitlist, ~800 students; priority given to existing waitlisters first, then new applicants. Income data for priority status (up to 350% FRL) is available but retrieval needs clarification. The Parent Education Service Provider Advisory Commission meets as needed (e.g., for appeals), not publicly posted as it's not deemed a public body per legal advice, though it reviews implementation, administration, and improvements.
Unclear: Senator (Max/Matt? - questioning) Information Only00:35:00.000 - 9:33:51 AM; The senator asks about the IEP process for homeschooled children, evaluation funding by public schools, and examples of medical qualifying disabilities like blindness or deafness.
Unclear: Representative Balboni Information Only00:40:00.000 - 9:38:51 AM; Balboni asks for numbers on students qualifying via traditional IEP vs. medical professional, and if EFA produces a list of disabilities by category similar to DOE. Also questions on qualified examiners (e.g., SAIF) and differences between pathways.
Unclear: Unnamed Committee Member Information Only00:45:08.523 - 9:43:59 AM; The member questions if a child denied IEP services (e.g., ADHD without demonstrated learning disability) can still get differentiated aid via MCD, clarifying priority status requires IEP.
Unclear: Representative Balboni (follow-up) Information Only00:50:00.000 - 9:48:51 AM; Balboni requests numbers on MCD vs. IEP usage and emphasizes need for aggregated data by disability category.
Unclear: Committee Chair Information Only00:50:00.000 - 9:48:51 AM; The chair asks Southerden to explain the category and vendor data spending report, focusing on 24-25 expenditures overview.
Unclear: Unnamed Representative (follow-up) Information Only00:55:00.000 - 9:53:51 AM; Asks for examples of educational programs/classes (e.g., science, math, health/PE) and settings (public, online, private). Clarifies EFA funds for out-of-district public schools, not in-district. Inquires about CTE centers and bills exceeding EFA amounts.
Unclear: Committee Member Information Only01:00:08.523 - 9:58:59 AM; Questions if report cards still used for attainment despite statutory three methods, seeking written DOE permission.
Unclear: Bob (committee member) Information Only01:00:08.523 - 9:58:59 AM; Emphasizes statute supersedes DOE guidance; report cards do not provide in-depth data; directs to stop using them immediately.
Unclear: Matt Southerden (response) Information Only01:05:00.000 - 10:03:51 AM; Confirms 2023 DOE written guidance allowed report cards under conditions; will discontinue if directed. Provides stats: 1,815 report cards, 978 portfolios, 2,359 standardized tests (17 types). Aggregation possible but sample sizes small; needs DOE technical assistance for methodology.
Unclear: Representative Balboni Information Only01:10:00.000 - 10:08:51 AM; Supports aggregated data by grade/test, even if small samples (like public schools use asterisks for <11). Anything better than nothing to measure progress.
Unclear: Dr. Green, Department of Education Information Only01:10:00.000 - 10:08:51 AM; Explains challenges in comparing tests (e.g., CAT vs. Iowa) due to different scales, lack of linking studies, and state-specific cut scores. Possible but requires reviewing tests/vendors; not impossible but complex.
Unclear: Unnamed Committee Member Information Only01:12:00.000 - 10:10:51 AM; Notes past use of growth scale values for comparisons; suggests exploring with DOE despite staffing shortages.
Unclear: Committee Chair Information Only01:15:08.523 - 10:13:59 AM; Discusses assessment as one component aligned with instruction/curriculum; open to statewide assessment but room for portfolios. Updates on waitlist: ~800, two-week priority window; spot in line fluctuates. Income data for 300-350% FRL priority available in system.
Unclear: Unnamed Senator Information Only01:20:00.000 - 10:18:51 AM; Asks about parents hedging enrollment in public/charter/EFA, risks of dual enrollment flagging, July 15 cutoff for reconciliation, August 15 EFA confirmation. Notes assurance for low waitlist numbers.
Unclear: Committee Chair Information Only01:25:00.000 - 10:23:51 AM; Inquires on Parent Education Service Provider Advisory Commission: meeting frequency (as needed), appointments by director, roles in implementation/administration/improvements/appeals. Notes commissioner as ad hoc member; DOE participation.
Unclear: Senator Ward Information Only01:30:08.523 - 10:28:59 AM; Questions if commission meets monthly or as needed; not posted as not public body per legal advice, but statutorily established with public dollar oversight, argues for public access/minutes like other precedents.
Unclear: Representative (follow-up) Information Only01:32:00.000 - 10:30:51 AM; Raised issue in 2023/24; emphasizes statutory requirements for public notice/minutes despite private characterization.
Unclear: Committee Chair Information Only01:35:00.000 - 10:33:51 AM; Schedules next meeting: tentatively June 8 at 10 AM, or earlier at call of chair if LBA audit released mid-spring. Motion to adjourn passed.