Sen. Waters pitches split CTE fund and outreach to let EFA students access career‑technical programs

Senator David Waters (District 4) introduced HB491, saying the bill has two central aims: separate tuition and transportation reimbursement for career and technical education (CTE) into distinct funds and ensure students using Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs) are informed about CTE options. Waters told the House Education Committee the current single fund can cause tuition costs to “cannibalize” transportation dollars, leaving sending districts undercompensated and creating surprise invoices.

The measure would move statutory authority for setting the tuition/transportation amount from the State Board of Education to the Department of Education and create clearer, separate funding lines so the department can use its program data to make more realistic budget requests. Waters said the separation ‘‘will allow the department to put sufficient funding in to support both sending and receiving schools.’’

Committee members pressed the sponsor on how EFA students currently access CTE and who covers any shortfall when an EFA sum does not cover program costs. Waters said those financing questions fall outside HB491’s immediate scope: the bill focuses on outreach and accounting changes. Representative Bricky asked whether families would still be responsible for differences between EFAs and high‑cost programs; Waters replied that addressing that gap would require subsequent legislation.

Chrissy Vanderhook, administrator for the Bureau of Career Development at the Department of Education, explained the current statutory framework (RSA 188‑E references were cited during the hearing) under which sending districts pay a 25 percent local share of a receiving center’s tuition. Vanderhook described how centers determine tuition — sometimes as an aggregate percentage of cost‑per‑pupil and sometimes by program — and walked legislators through how federal Perkins funds (allocated by population and poverty factors) and a $9 million state fund currently interact to reimburse tuition and transportation.

Melissa White, division director for learner support, clarified the handling of EFA students: families and scholarship organizations generally work directly with the receiving CTE center to cover costs, and sending districts are not always involved for EFA students. She told the committee the department does not always see local billing arrangements, which has contributed to confusion reported by some districts.

The committee did not take a vote; members asked the sponsor to follow up with the department and CTE center directors to produce clearer examples of local billing practice and to consider whether further statutory changes will be needed to address who ultimately pays when EFAs do not cover program costs. The hearing on HB491 was closed.

What’s next: The committee requested follow‑up information from the Department of Education about surprise invoicing practices and program cost breakdowns. Any policy shifting the financial burden off families would require additional legislation.