On Friday, members of the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee tabled talks on a $46 million federal grant aimed at funding additional charter schools in New Hampshire.

This is the third time the topic has been tabled by the committee.

“Commissioner (Frank) Edelblut may have made cosmetic changes, but this is still the same proposal Fiscal has twice rejected due to concerns over the sustainability of the funding which have been exacerbated by President (Donald) Trump’s move to slash this program in his budget proposal,” said Rep. Mary Jane Wallner, D-Concord, and Sen. Lou D’Allesandro, D-Manchester, in a joint statement. “Furthermore, Sen. (Jeb) Bradley has filed a late bill relative to the Department of Education’s ability to accept federal funds and we must allow that legislative process to play out.”

Republican lawmakers led by Sen. Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, have submitted the late legislation, SB 747, that would authorize the state Department of Education to accept and expend up to $10,114,544 from the U.S. Department of Education to increase, expand or replicate the number of charter schools in the state.

After Friday’s vote, Grant Bosse, spokesman for the Department of Education, said, “Commissioner Edelblut will keep fighting for at-risk students and looking for ways to open up opportunities for their education.”

Edelblut should. In today’s educational climate, it is imperative we do all we can so that Granite State students can succeed. Perhaps it is time for lawmakers to look at education in a different light and allow additional charter schools.

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