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Working on behalf of NH Public Charter Schools since 2016

National Charter Schools Week

Celebrating 30 Years of the Charter Schools Program

2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the Charter Schools Program (CSP)—a visionary, bipartisan initiative that has fueled the growth and promise of the charter school movement across the nation. Over the past three decades, this strategic federal investment has helped more families access high-quality public school options that best meet their children’s needs.

CSP grants have been instrumental in opening new charter schools, replicating and expanding successful models, and increasing access to suitable school facilities. These grants turn bold ideas into real opportunities, allowing passionate educators to create innovative learning environments tailored to student success.

Thanks to the CSP, charter communities across America are thriving—delivering educational excellence and equity in every corner of the country. As we look ahead to the next 30 years, charter schools are poised to play an even greater role in building a public education system that truly reflects the diversity and aspirations of our students.



Here in New Hampshire, the first charter school opened in 2006. Today, the state is home to 32 charter schools serving more than 6,000 students—a testament to the growing demand for high-quality educational options in our communities.

NH Charter School Celebrations

Congratulations to Lionheart Classical Academy on being named the first Model School by the ACTA Classical Schools Foundation—a prestigious recognition of its excellence in classical education and character formation. Since opening in 2022, Lionheart has grown to serve over 300 students in the Peterborough area. This honor reflects the school's dedication to a content-rich, virtue-centered curriculum in partnership with Hillsdale College. You can read the full article here.

Spark Academy was proud to welcome Governor Kelly Ayotte, Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais, and NH University Systems Chancellor Cathy Provencher for a special visit showcasing the innovative work happening in our charter schools. Guests toured student-led projects including hydroponic gardening, our advanced 3D print farm, and "Sparky," their Boston Dynamics robot dog. Fourth-year students also impressed with their senior capstone presentations in Manufacturing Processes and Machining.

A big congratulations also goes to Spark Academy's Robotics Team Hello Kitty for qualifying for the VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, TX this May! Three team members will travel as scouts while the team competes in the high school division alongside over 20,000 students from 50 countries. Good luck, Team Hello Kitty!

Legislative Updates

Again this month, the House has voted on various bills, determining whether they are Inexpedient to Legislate (killed), retained in committee, or advanced to the Senate. Below is an update on the charter-specific bills we’ve been actively working on, along with a summary of other legislation we’ve been monitoring.

Adequate Education: This month has brought continued movement in the State House: some bills have been struck down, others have progressed to the Senate, and fresh proposals are emerging that seek to strengthen educational equity. Tension remains high as we watch to see whether lawmakers will prioritize meaningful support for students and increase school funding. The Alliance remains vigilant, tracking these developments closely and prepared to step in and testify should any threats arise to the charter school grant.

✅ Supporting HB222 – Special Education Services for Charter Students

We testified in support of HB222, which repeals the requirement for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between chartered public schools and school districts regarding how students with disabilities receive special education services.

📌 Outcome: The Senate voted to retain HB 222 in committee, effectively postponing further action on the bill until next session.

While this outcome is disappointing, our commitment to advancing policies that support our public charter schools remains steadfast. We will continue this work and look forward to engaging with you again next session.

❌ Opposing SB297 – Relative to Pooled Risk Management Programs

On Wednesday, April 23^rd , House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee held a public hearing on SB 297, relative to pooled risk management programs. There were several hours of testimony with different entities opposing the bill such as Health Trust and the NH Municipal Association (NHMA) and others testifying in support such as the Secretary of State and the Professional Firefighters of NH.

The chair of the committee, Rep. John Hunt, made it clear that these pooled risk management programs belong under the oversight of the Department of Insurance (Both Health Trust and the NHMA agree). The Secretary of State, David Scanlon, stated maybe in the future but for now should remain under his agency’s oversight.

Prior to the hearing, Chairman Hunt stated that there will be work sessions on SB 297 before a vote is taken. To date, a work session(s) has yet been scheduled.

If the changes made to SB 297 by the House Committee are not agreed to by the Senate, it will go to what promises to be an interesting Committee of Conference! We will be monitoring.