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DCF recommends waiver approach to let Northeast Kingdom students access New Hampshire pre‑K
Summary
Deputy Commissioner Jenna McLaughlin told the House Human Services committee that a narrow waiver process is the preferred way to address pre‑K access problems for the NEK Choice School District, rather than defining a new "geographically isolated" district in statute; the committee debated tuition, sunsets and next steps.
Jenna McLaughlin, deputy commissioner in the Department for Children and Families overseeing the child development division, told the House Human Services committee the Northeast Kingdom (NEK) Choice School District lacks a clear route for its young children to access pre‑kindergarten in New Hampshire and described a DCF recommendation to address the problem.
McLaughlin said the district is non‑operating for K–12 and many children attend New Hampshire schools, but New Hampshire programs do not always provide a pathway for Vermont's publicly funded pre‑K. She said DCF and Agency of Education staff met with local school board members and visited Essex County to understand local arrangements and the practical barriers families face.
"We thought there might be a simpler way to do it, because asking us to define a geographically isolated district could become kind of a bridal exercise," McLaughlin said, arguing that a statutory definition could create unintended consequences outside the immediate issue. Instead, she said, the administration recommends a targeted waiver process: school districts would submit a short application describing how the program in New Hampshire "substantially met" the 11 requirements for a pre‑K program, and DCF/AOE would retain visibility and oversight.
Committee members pressed for detail about tuition and rulemaking. Chair Teresa Wood asked whether the waiver would change the tuition rate paid to New Hampshire providers; McLaughlin said the dollar amount of tuition is unlikely to be set in rule and suggested districts could seek a waiver for provisions they cannot meet because of differences in New Hampshire program hours or rules. She also said the Senate considered, but did not ultimately include, a sunset date for the provision.
Wood said the committee should consider including language that the provision be revisited under any future governance changes to the education system; McLaughlin said the waiver approach minimizes the risk of creating permanent statutory language that could have unintended statewide consequences.
The committee asked whether the waiver process would ensure access for the small number of children involved. McLaughlin said the proposal "creates the conditions for that district to do the work" and recommended a narrowly tailored application rather than an automatic out‑of‑state tuition rule. She noted that the NEK district estimated only a handful of children (roughly seven per year) would be affected, and that local coordination with Head Start and community providers may further expand options.
Next procedural steps: the committee will continue drafting the bill this week and expects additional witnesses (school associations and JFO) next Wednesday; members requested follow‑up language on tuition, waiver mechanics and any sunset option before markup.
