CONTACT:
Nancy Glynn
nancy@momsrising.org
Louis Esposito
louis@ablenh.org
January 13, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Granite Staters to Rally at State House in Support of Special Education Funding
Concord, NH – With growing concerns about Special Education funding, people from across the state will gather outside the New Hampshire State House on Tuesday, January 14th at 11 AM, calling on leaders to protect the rights of students with disabilities by funding their fair share of Special Education supports and services.
In November, New Hampshire school districts were informed that they should expect significantly less state aid for Special Education in 2025 due to budget shortfalls. The $33.9 million allocated for Special Education aid in 2025 falls far short of the $50.3 million needed to meet reimbursement requests from school districts. As a result, the state can only cover 67.5% of the funding it is constitutionally obligated to provide–a sharp decline from 87% in 2023 and 98.3% in 2022. Despite this gap, the New Hampshire Department of Education does not have a plan to request emergency funding, putting immense pressure on school boards to make tough decisions as they prepare their budgets ahead of town meeting season.
In response, New Hampshire residents are uniting to share a message about the importance of Special Education funding for building inclusive, equitable communities where all students can thrive. The rally will include remarks from students, local educators, parents, legislators, and advocates about the impact of Special Education services on their lives and communities.
“This is more than a call for funding, it’s a call for equity and access. Inclusive education is not a privilege, it’s a right. Adequately funding Special Education means ensuring that teachers, paraprofessionals, students, and their families have the resources, training, and support they need to provide inclusive and effective education. When we invest in Special Education, we empower educators to create classrooms where every student can thrive, and we uphold the values of access, inclusion, diversity, and community for all. Funding Special Education helps students with and without disabilities. When schools are more inclusive and fair, everyone learns and grows better together,” said Louis Esposito, Executive Director at ABLE NH.
“Budgets are moral documents, and Special Education funding must reflect our Granite State values. Without adequate support, the burden of this funding gap will fall on families who are already feeling the squeeze of skyrocketing property taxes and the high cost of living. If we want to attract young families to live, work and raise their families here, we need to listen. We heard them in Kearsarge, and we hear them now. New Hampshire families want to live in a state that values and invests in quality public education–NOT one where inequities deepen because the state fails to meet its obligations. The legislature has the tools to fix this–to prioritize Special Education funding and commit to funding the state’s constitutional responsibilities. Every day we delay is a day our students and schools are at risk,” said Nancy Glynn, New Hampshire Campaign Director for MomsRising.
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About ABLE NH
Founded and led by individuals with disabilities and their family members, Advocates Building Lasting Equality in NH (ABLE NH) advocates for the civil and human rights of children and adults with disabilities, promoting full participation by: improving systems, connecting families, inspiring communities, and influencing public policy. Learn more at www.ablenh.org.
About MomsRising
MomsRising is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to achieve economic security for all moms, women, and families in the United States. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s women and families including paid family leave, earned sick days, affordable childcare, and so much more. Learn more at www.momsrising.org.
