Fund the Gap

In 2003/2004 NHCVP conducted a number of forums in New Hampshire communities to discuss the requirements of successful schools. We are now using that information and other data to implement the Fund the Gap Campaign.

What Is The Gap?

The Gap is the difference between the cost to implement some basic state educational  requirements and the State education funding provided to local communities. The State has a number of educational requirements in state statutes and regulations that local school districts must follow. We looked at a “bare bones” estimated cost of four of the most basic requirements:

1. staff needed to implement some basic academic requirements
2. some building costs (excludes construction and related costs)
3. transportation
4. system leadership (SAU and school board costs)

The details of these four basic requirements and their costs are available in our Fund the Gap Presentation or our Fund the Gap Report

These requirements alone are not sufficient to provide an adequate or quality education because they exclude so many other important and required items, but we agree that these are four basic requirements that schools must provide and that the State should fund.

How Much Is The Gap?

Our estimates in our study show an average Gap of $2125 per student or at least $425 million statewide. This means that State education funding does not even cover our very conservative bare bones estimates of  four very basic requirements.  The actual Gap for local communities varies depending on their costs in the four areas we evaluated and how much state funding they receive. The Gap in some communities exceeds $5,000 per pupil and the actual Gap could be as much as $790 million statewide.

What Does The Gap Mean To New Hampshire Citizens?

New Hampshire citizens currently pay for the Gap with local property taxes. Decreases in state education funding generally mean increases in your local property tax. The State is forcing local citizens to pay for state educational requirements with local funds.

What Are The Goals Of The Campaign?

The goals of the campaign are to:

1. Educate New Hampshire citizens about the Gap.
2. Help citizens understand the connection between the lack of state funding and its resulting increase in the Gap and in local property taxes to pay for the Gap.
3. Have the State Fund the Gap and pay for its educational mandates with state funding.

How Will It Be Accomplished?

Through a public engagement campaign that will include distributing information about the Gap, holding local and regional forums and other grassroots efforts.

How Can New Hampshire Citizens Help?

1) Work with your local school district and local elected officials to hold local community forums and show our Fund the Gap Presentation. Then discuss the Gap and the things you can do collectively to have the State Fund the Gap.

2) Calculate your community’s Gap and to pass a local resolution asking the State to Fund the Gap.

3) Let your elected state officials know about your Gap and that you want the State to Fund the Gap. You can do this by:

• Writing or emailing your elected state officials
• Calling your elected state officials
• Visiting your elected state officials
• Inviting your elected state officials to a community forum to discuss the Gap
• Asking your elected state officials what they plan to do about the Gap

Contact information for state representatives, state senators and the Governor’s office.

4) Tell your friends and other people you know to look at this information and to get involved.

5) Have a local community meeting, a house party, or a meeting with groups or organizations you belong to like Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis, etc. and show our Fund the Gap Presentation. Then discuss the Gap and the things you can do collectively to have the State Fund the Gap.

6) Let us know how things go: 

• Let us know if your elected state officials respond to you and what they say.

• Let us know if you calculate your community’s Gap or pass local resolutions so we can post it on our website.

• Join our e-petition on our website to show that you support the State Funding the Gap.

• Exchange your ideas on our website bulletin board.

• Join our email listserve to get information about what we are doing and how you can help.

You can let us know by contacting us at:

NHCVP

PO Box 1803

Concord, NH 03302-1803

sjohnson@nhcvp.org

888-474-3137