Ayotte Disputes NH School Funding Ruling Amid Education Policy Debate

Kelly Ayotte Challenges Court Decision on School Funding in New Hampshire

Republican gubernatorial candidate Kelly Ayotte has voiced opposition to a recent court ruling regarding the funding of New Hampshire’s public schools. Ayotte, who previously served as a U.S. Senator from 2011 to 2017, is competing against former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig in the governor’s race.

According to the New Hampshire state constitution, every child is entitled to an adequate education. A 2023 ruling by Superior Court Judge David Ruoff determined that the state was failing to meet this requirement. The judge ordered a significant increase in education spending from $4,100 to at least $7,356.01 per student.

Ayotte, during a candidate forum in June, expressed her hope that the U.S. Supreme Court would overturn Judge Ruoff’s decision. She stated, “When it comes to education funding, I personally think that that Superior Court decision was wrong. I’m glad that the governor has appealed that to the Supreme Court.”

Despite New Hampshire’s high ranking in public school quality, the state ranks last in state education funding. The state primarily relies on local property taxes, which creates disparities between schools in affluent and less wealthy areas.

In 2013, Ayotte opposed a federal amendment aimed at increasing funding for public schools in low-income areas, although it passed with bipartisan support. Her stance on education funding extends to higher education; in 2012 and 2015, she supported budgets that would cut Pell Grant funding, although both attempts ultimately failed.

Ayotte is a proponent of school choice, which allows public funds to follow students to private schools through vouchers. Critics argue that this approach diverts necessary resources from public schools. In 2021, Ayotte backed New Hampshire’s voucher initiative known as Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs), which permits state funds to be used for private schooling and other educational services.

EFAs have sparked controversy, partly due to concerns about their potential use. Notably, New Hampshire Public Radio reported in June that the Immaculate Heart of Mary School, linked to a group labeled as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, benefited from these vouchers.

Despite her history with education policies, Ayotte’s campaign website asserts her commitment to making New Hampshire’s public schools the best nationwide. A YouGov poll conducted in October indicates that Ayotte holds a narrow one-point lead over Craig.