Committee advances bill to let DOE accept donations and launch virtual preschool readiness program

The House Education Committee advanced an amended version of Senate Bill 69 on a party-line roll call after a hearing during which sponsors and witnesses argued the measure would expand early-literacy options while opponents and school officials urged clearer guardrails for donations and reporting.

The amendment would (1) add a virtual early childhood readiness family engagement program aimed at 4- and 5-year-olds not yet in kindergarten, funded initially by gifts and donations rather than ongoing state appropriations, and (2) change statutory language so school boards must vote to accept or reject charitable contributions (including a provision on anonymous gifts).

Why it matters: Sponsor testimony framed the measure as a lightweight way to expand readiness supports without adding new recurring state costs, while witnesses representing school boards and school administrators said the bill needs clearer limits and procedures so routine, low-value donations (for example, a classroom box of supplies) are not forced into cumbersome public-board handling.

Representative Glenn Cordelli, the prime sponsor, told the committee the amendment “contains a modified version” of a program previously advanced as HB 671 and described the new measure as a “virtual early childhood readiness family engagement program” intended for preschool children not enrolled in kindergarten. Cordelli said the program would “provide readiness, literacy readiness, for reading, math, and science” and that the department “may accept gifts and donations from government as well as private non public sources for the program.”

Waterford.org, a national nonprofit that already delivers an adaptive early‑literacy product, testified in support. Rob Riley, director of partnerships for Waterford.org, said the program is evidence‑based and that Waterford can provide devices and Internet for families who need them: “the laptop device would be provided and the family would be able to keep that beyond the length of the program. The Internet is provided for the duration of the program.” Riley and other witnesses said the product uses short daily sessions (Waterford described a 15‑minute, five‑days‑a‑week prescription).

But the New Hampshire School Boards Association cautioned the committee about the donations language and timing. Becky Wilson, NH School Boards Association policy director, said the amendment “does not have guardrails around this in terms of money amounts or things like that” and urged the committee to clarify whether districts could accept routine items in regular business meetings or would have to bring multiple small gifts to public vote.

Other testifiers, including representatives of school administrators and the Disability Rights Center, urged stronger reporting and evaluation. Representative Balboni and others pressed the sponsor on evaluation measures; Cordelli and witnesses said the reporting requirements from HB 671 were retained but narrowed for pre‑kindergarten participants because the amendment targets a different population than the kindergarten‑focused bill.

Votes and next steps: In executive session the committee adopted the amendment (amendment 2239h) and then voted to report the bill out of committee “ought to pass, as amended.” Committee roll calls on the amendment and the final recommendation were 9 yeas to 8 nays, as recorded on the record. Members discussed possible floor amendments to add a dollar threshold or clarify donor‑platform examples such as DonorsChoose for routine classroom needs.

The committee discussion made clear two near‑term items for floor work: adding a clear fiscal threshold or exceptions for small, routine donations (tissues, classroom craft supplies), and clarifying how the department will implement donation intake and program administration if private funding is used. The bill text as amended specifies that state funds are not required for the program but allows the department to accept private and public donations to operate it.