This RSA section is an unofficial mirror, is not legal advice, and may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrectly processed.
RSA 194-F:3 · Application for an Education Freedom Account
194-F:3 Application for an Education Freedom Account. – [Paragraph I effective until the contingency provided in 2025, 75:7 is met; see also paragraph I set out below.]
Copy linkA parent may apply to the scholarship organization to establish an EFA for an eligible student. The scholarship organization shall accept and approve applications for enrollment on a rolling basis each year and shall establish procedures for approving applications for enrollment in an expeditious manner. Priority guideline students shall not be subject to the enrollment cap and shall be enrolled on a rolling basis. [Paragraph I effective when the contingency provided in 2025, 75:7 is met; see also paragraph I set out above.]
Copy linkA parent may apply to the scholarship organization to establish an EFA for an eligible student. The scholarship organization shall accept and approve applications for enrollment on a rolling basis each year and shall establish procedures for approving applications for enrollment in an expeditious manner. [Paragraph I-a repealed by 2025, 75:6, II, effective contingent pursuant to 2025, 75:7.] I-a. For the 2025-2026 school year, the enrollment cap shall be 10,000. For each subsequent year, if the total enrollment of the prior year is greater than 90 percent of the prior year's enrollment cap, then the enrollment cap shall be increased once by 25 percent when enrollment begins for the year. The department of education shall publish on its website information identifying the enrollment cap when it is increased pursuant to this paragraph. [Paragraph I-b repealed by 2025, 75:6, II, effective contingent pursuant to 2025, 75:7.] I-b. The scholarship organization shall prioritize current EFA students for renewal in the subsequent year by reserving space for them under that subsequent year's enrollment cap before enrolling new EFA students in that subsequent year.
Copy linkThe scholarship organization shall create a standard form that parents can submit to establish their student's eligibility for the EFA program and shall ensure that the application is publicly available and may be submitted through various sources, including the Internet.
Copy linkThe parent submits an application for an EFA in accordance with application procedures established by the scholarship organization.
Copy linkTo provide an education for the eligible student in the core knowledge domains that include science, mathematics, language, government, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, the history of the constitutions of New Hampshire and the United States, and an exposure to and appreciation of art and music.
Copy linkNot to enroll the eligible student as a full-time student in their resident district public school while participating in the EFA program.
Copy linkHaving the student take a nationally-standardized, norm-referenced achievement test and to provide the results to the scholarship organization by the end of each school year which the scholarship organization shall make available to the department as aggregate scores; or
Copy linkHaving the student take the statewide student assessment test pursuant to RSA 193-C:6; or
Copy linkMaintaining a portfolio including, but not limited to, a log which designates by title the reading materials used; samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials used or developed by the student. The parent shall have a certified teacher or a teacher currently teaching in a nonpublic school, who is selected by the parent, evaluate the student's educational progress upon review of a portfolio and discussion with the parent or student.
Copy linkTo use the funds in the EFA only for qualifying expenses to educate the eligible student as established by the EFA program.
Copy linkThe signed agreement between the parent and the scholarship organization shall satisfy the compulsory school attendance requirements of RSA 193:1.
Copy linkThe scholarship organization shall annually renew a student's EFA if funds are available.
Copy linkUpon notice to the scholarship organization, an EFA student may choose to stop receiving EFA funding and enroll full-time in a public school or otherwise satisfy compulsory attendance requirements.
Copy linkEnrolling as a full-time student in the resident district public school shall result in the immediate suspension of payment of additional funds into the student's EFA. However, an EFA that has been open for at least one full school year shall remain open and active for the parent to make qualifying expenditures to educate the student from funds remaining in the EFA. When no funds remain in the student's EFA, the scholarship organization may close the EFA.
Copy linkIf an eligible student decides to return to the EFA program, payments into the student's existing EFA may resume if the EFA is still open and active. A new EFA may be established if the student's EFA was closed. Source. 2021, 91:431, eff. Aug. 24, 2021. 2025, 75:3-5, eff. June 10, 2025; 75:6, II, eff. contingent; 141:17, eff. June 27, 2025.
Copy linkSource note
Source. 2021, 91:431, eff. Aug. 24, 2021. 2025, 75:3-5, eff. June 10, 2025; 75:6, II, eff. contingent; 141:17, eff. June 27, 2025.
Source history
- 2021, 91:431, eff. Aug. 24, 2021
- 2025, 75:3-5, eff. June 10, 2025; 75:6, II, eff. contingent; 141:17, eff. June 27, 2025
Related materials
Bill relationships
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2026 HB1264
reference
II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee. III. The committee shall monitor the implementation of RSA 194-F, including the review of student data, eligibility requirements, and EFA expenditures as well as the impact of state education funding to local district schools. [, and] The committee shall also make recommendations for
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2026 HB1268
add · effective 2027-01-01
, coordinated, or directed by a parent for his or her own child. This definition shall not include a student participating in the education freedom account program established in RSA 194-F. V. “Parent" means a parent, guardian, or person having legal custody of a child. VI. “Resident district" means the school district in which the child resides. 193-A:2 Program Established; Purpose. The general co
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2026 HB1412
reference
lic charter school, public academy, or private school. (a) For the purposes of this section, "private school" shall not include a recipient of an education freedom account under RSA 194-F that is not an elementary or secondary school located in the state. (b) Schools may opt out of the applicability of this chapter for religious or political beliefs of the school community if approved by the local scho
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2026 HB1512
amend · effective 2026-07-01
chers. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Education; Education Freedom Accounts; Municipal Opt-Out. Amend RSA 194-F by inserting after section 12 the following new section: 194-F:13 Municipal Opt-Out. I. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any municipality, city, town, or village may hold a referendum
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2026 HB1513
amend
freedom account program. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Education; Education Freedom Accounts. Amend RSA 194-F by inserting after section 4 the following new section: 194-F:4-a Program Administration and Required Information. I. The following shall apply to the authority and responsibilities of the scholarship organizati
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2026 HB1521
reference
ation of art and music. Home education shall be provided, coordinated, or directed by a parent for his or her own child. A child receiving an education freedom account pursuant to RSA 194-F shall not be considered home educated under this chapter. 2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage. HELPFUL LINKS Redistricting Information Ethics Committee Statutory/Study Committ
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2026 HB1578
amend
VII. "Reimbursements" means payments made to parents or guardians for approved education-related expenses. 2 New Section; Program Administrator Reporting Requirements. Amend RSA 194-F by inserting after section 12 the following new section: 194-F:13 Program Administrator Reporting Requirements. Beginning with the quarter ending September 30, 2026 and each quarter thereafter, the program administ
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2026 HB1716
amend
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 Education Freedom Accounts; Application Approval; Educational Attainment Records. Amend RSA 194-F:3, III(d)(3) to read as follows: (3) To provide an annual record of educational attainment by: (A) Having the student take a nationally-standardized, norm-referenced achievement test and to provide the results to th
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2026 HB1716-FN
amend
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 Education Freedom Accounts; Application Approval; Educational Attainment Records. Amend RSA 194-F:3, III(d)(3) to read as follows: (3) To provide an annual record of educational attainment by: (A) Having the student take a nationally-standardized, norm-referenced achievement test and to provide the results to th
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2026 HB1820
reference · effective 2026-07-01
stration ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ANALYSIS This bill changes the administration of the education freedom account program under RSA 194-F from scholarship organizations to the department of education. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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2026 HB1820
repeal · effective 2026-07-01
nt of one quarterly distribution into the student’s EFA and any excess year-to-year roll over funds shall be returned to the education trust fund. 7 Education Freedom Accounts. RSA 194-F:3 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows: 194-F:3 Application for an Education Freedom Account. I. A parent may apply to the department to establish an EFA for an eligible student. The department shall accept a
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2026 HB1820-FN
repeal · effective 2026-07-01
nt of one quarterly distribution into the student’s EFA and any excess year-to-year roll over funds shall be returned to the education trust fund. 7 Education Freedom Accounts. RSA 194-F:3 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows: 194-F:3 Application for an Education Freedom Account. I. A parent may apply to the department to establish an EFA for an eligible student. The department shall accept a