EFAs are anything but the best
Kathryn Myers’ recent letter claiming the state’s EFA program is the best in the country requires several reality checks.
Regarding the claim that the program is ‘monitored by a legislative oversight committee’, note that this committee met in 2025 for the first time in mid December. Ruth Ward, committee chair in that time, claimed the schedules of committee members made it difficult to meet quorum requirements all year.
Regarding audits done of where the taxpayer dollars go, as of August 31, 2025, almost $2.7 million went to administrative costs. There is detail about how the money is spent. But there is no accounting of how students perform academically or what they’re learning, both details that should be shared with taxpayers.
Contrast this with the public school system regularly posting and/or reporting students’ test scores, curriculum, instructor credentials, and pay scales. Anyone can attend a school board meeting anytime. No one works there without a background check.
The CSFNH site has a list of education providers that are from all over the country, as well as Canada. There is little information on the quality of services or the backgrounds of these providers. CSFNH collects information from educators re their processes and safety plans. The very fine print continues: “CSF does not warrant the validity or accuracy of the information provided by the Provider. It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to review and assess the information as part of the parent’s due diligence when choosing a Provider.”
So I as the taxpayer, am at the mercy of individual parents to make sure my money isn’t going to someone unqualified, incapable or possibly even dangerous to potential students. I abhor this arrangement and so should everyone else who advocates a good education for all of society’s children.