Governor Sununu on SB 193: I have concerns about putting public funds towards non-public schools

On NHPR’s The Exchange this morning, Josh Rogers ran a clip of a  statement given by Governor Sununu on SB 193. The bill would create an “education freedom savings account” program, or voucher system, in New Hampshire. Here’s what the Governor said:

I think when it comes to using state money for schools, and I think a lot of people know I’m a big believer in school choice, that whatever we do, we have to make sure we’re not harming public schools.

We’re not just removing funds out of those schools and we understand that as we move money around, what those pros and cons might be.

I do have concerns when you start using state funds, whether it be a voucher program, or all the different terms that you want to put for it, to schools of a non-public nature.

Whatever we do, we have to take things step wise. I think that’s the most important thing. You don’t want to jump into everything all at once.

One of the things I like and that I’ve seen and that I’ve encouraged on the table are opening it up just within a program that allows flexibility within public schools, whether it just be for certain grades or maybe for entire districts if the districts were small enough or compact enough.

I think the point is that you don’t want to jump in too big too fast. You have to understand what the repercussions to the public school systems might be and make sure that you’re doing it step wise so that you understand the pros, cons, negative effects, and unintended consequences of any program you put forward in the state.

Listen to the full show here.