This bill amends existing laws to allow parents to enroll their children in any public school within New Hampshire, removing the previous requirement that limited enrollment to schools within the child's resident district. The introductory language of RSA 193:1, I is modified to state that children may attend "a public school" instead of being assigned to a specific school in their resident district. Additionally, the definition of "legal resident" in RSA 193:12, III is updated to indicate that a legal resident is someone domiciled in the state, rather than confined to a specific school district. The bill also clarifies that the commissioner of the department of education will only consider state residency when addressing residency issues.

Moreover, the bill establishes a framework for open enrollment policies, requiring each school district to create a policy that allows student transfers within and between districts, as well as from states with an interstate compact with New Hampshire. It mandates that districts publicly post school capacities and report annually on transfer applications. The bill eliminates application fees, specifies valid reasons for denying transfer applications, and modifies the funding structure for transferring students, ensuring that the resident district pays the receiving district based on average costs. The changes are set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and the fiscal impact remains indeterminable at both state and local levels.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 193:12, 194-D:1, 194-D:2, 194-D:5, 194-D:7