CONCORD - The Children’s Scholarship Fund New Hampshire, which oversees the state’s Education Freedom Account program along with its Business Education Tax Credit Scholarship Program, is expanding its staff to prepare for the new federal voucher initiative beginning January 1.

CSF leaders note that growing the team will enhance capabilities for broad outreach across the state, building partnerships, and engaging donors ahead of the launch.

Congress passed the Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit in 2025 through the “One Big Beautiful Bill” that included the Trump Administration’s key priorities.

The initiative permits individuals or businesses to contribute as much as $1,700 to a Scholarship Granting Organization and claim a full dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit. The Children’s Scholarship Fund New Hampshire has received approval to serve as one such organization.

Those funds will support scholarships or vouchers for qualifying students covering costs like tuition, tutoring, transportation, books, educational technology, special education services, and enrichment activities.

Gov. Kelly Ayotte stated in January that New Hampshire would join the federal tax credit effort, describing it as an opportunity to sustain investment in learning options for students.

“We want every child across our state to be in the learning environment that best fits their needs, and this tax credit opportunity will help give families that choice and provide tax relief to individuals and businesses,” Ayotte said at the time. “We will continue working to provide a best-in-class education for our kids and ensure students, teachers, and their parents have the resources they need to thrive.”

The federal effort marks the third voucher or scholarship program that CSF NH will manage for eligible families in the state.

CSF leaders indicate the immediate priority involves ensuring families, donors, schools, and community groups grasp the details of the federal program and how to get involved.

Alison Mueller and Stephanie Lynn will direct that work for CSF NH.

Mueller most recently held the role of Director of Marketing, Enrollment, and Development for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from Saint Anselm College, a Master of Business Administration from Champlain College, and a Certificate in Marketing Strategy from the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University.

In her position as Director of Education Freedom Tax Credit Development, Alison will concentrate on fostering ties with donors, nonprofits, schools, and local partners while guiding statewide rollout of the new federal program.

“Over the last decade, I’ve had a front-row seat to the impact Children’s Scholarship Fund has had on families throughout the state,” Alison said. “I am thrilled to be joining an organization that opens doors, breaks down barriers, and transforms lives.”

Lynn earned her Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership from Clark Atlanta University. She founded the Altogether Beautiful Movement to support women through leadership development and community outreach.

Serving as Education Freedom Tax Credit Officer, Lynn will assist with donor engagement and outreach efforts.

“The Federal Education Tax Credit has the potential to expand educational opportunities for families across our state while inviting more people to play a meaningful role in making that possible,” she said. “Philanthropy isn’t reserved for a select few.”

In the months ahead, Mueller and Lynn will connect with schools, nonprofit partners, and community leaders to present the new federal program and ready operations for its January 1 start.

CSF NH arrived in New Hampshire in 2016 to run the Business Education Tax Credit Scholarship Program, which has since delivered 6,941 scholarships worth more than $17.2 million to lower-income students.

For the 2025 fiscal year the program attracted $2.3 million in donations and awarded scholarships to 777 students.

Annual donations face a $1 million cap, and donors receive tax credits covering 85 percent of their gifts.

The federal program enables New Hampshire residents and businesses to direct funds to a Scholarship Granting Organization rather than remitting them as taxes to the government.

Kate Baker Demers, Executive Director of Children’s Scholarship Fund New Hampshire, has noted that the federal program will supply extra resources for the state’s educational choice network.

She added that the governor’s choice to participate reflects a consistent, practical stance on education policy that acknowledges students learn differently and require varied supports at different stages.

She mentioned her group has fielded requests for EFA grants from public school students seeking tutoring yet cannot provide them under current rules because the students attend public or charter schools.

“This program reflects how education works in real life,” said Baker Demers. “New Hampshire families do not fit neatly into one educational category. Some students need tutoring while remaining in public schools. Others need tuition assistance or specialized services in different learning environments. The federal education tax credit builds on the strong foundation New Hampshire has already established and helps ensure more students can access the support they need.”

The organization received the initial contract to administer the EFA program and has retained it since the effort started five years ago.

Last year lawmakers eliminated an earnings limit from the program, and enrollment rose sharply to 10,510 students in the most recent school year at a state cost of roughly $52 million, up from $30.4 million the prior year.

Over the first five years the state has spent about $130 million on the EFA program, with most funds directed to tuition at religious and private schools or to homeschooling.

All but 7 percent of the new students this past school year attended non-public settings such as religious or private schools, homeschool programs, or were entering school age upon joining.

While the state enters the federal scholarship or voucher program, lawmakers have not yet addressed two recent education funding lawsuits that found the state has not fulfilled its constitutional duty to deliver and fund an adequate education for public school students.

In the ConVal case, Judge David Ruoff directed the state to cover the full expense of an adequate education, which would raise state support by $500 million annually, yet the state Supreme Court ruled the legislature cannot be compelled to act, even while upholding the finding that the state has not paid for an adequate education and thereby shifts the burden to local property taxpayers.

Local property tax rates differ, whereas the state constitution mandates uniform rates for state taxes, rendering it unconstitutional for local property taxes to fund an adequate education.

Ruoff’s ruling in the Rand lawsuit reached similar conclusions and also determined the state has not covered its required portion of special education costs. The Rand matter remains on appeal to the state Supreme Court.

Garry Rayno may be reached at garry.rayno@yahoo.com.