Education

​BIA supports adopting a fair and sustainable education funding system and supports efforts that make it easier for businesses to hire and retain qualified workers. A key component of business leadership and prosperity in all industries is having access to an adequate and skilled labor pool.

To view the status of current legislation related to education, click here.

Issues

Education Funding

An educated workforce is a key component of New Hampshire’s continued economic vitality.  The BIA will support legislation that adheres to our core principles for funding primary and secondary education in New Hampshire. These principles are:

• Primary and secondary education is a shared responsibility between municipal, state and federal governments.
• State education funds should be maximized through thoughtful targeting of aid to cities and towns most in need. The BIA will support a constitutional amendment if required to accomplish this goal.
• The New Hampshire business community is the largest contributor of real dollars to the state Education Trust Fund. Any further increases in the Business Profits Tax, Business Enterprise Tax, or property taxes applicable to business will put the state economy at risk and hurt New Hampshire’s competitive tax environment vis-à-vis other states and countries.
• No income tax and no sales tax are key components of the New Hampshire Advantage, which must be maintained if we are to continue our economic prosperity.

Common Core State Standards

BIA supports the Common Core State Standards, a state-led effort that establishes a single set of clear educational standards for kindergarten through 12th grade in mathematics and English language arts. The standards are designed to ensure high-school graduates are prepared to enter associate or bachelor’s degree programs or enter the workforce. They are clear and concise to ensure parents, teachers and students clearly understand student expectations in reading, writing, speaking and listening, language, and mathematics.

BIA believes the Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn and are robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that students will need for success in college and careers. The Common Core is an important part of ensuring New Hampshire's future workforce has the education and skills necessary to fill much-needed, high-paying, challenging advanced manufacturing and high technology jobs, many of which currently go unfilled in the state.

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