CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch today urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to support a constitutional amendment that affirms the state's responsibility for education, ensures a significant and ongoing state financial contribution to public education, and allows the legislature to direct more education aid to the communities that need help the most.

"I believe passionately that education is the single-most important investment we can make as a state. Every child in New Hampshire should have an equal opportunity to receive a quality education - regardless of where they live and regardless of their background. All children deserve a quality education that allows them to get a good job, pursue higher education if they choose and reach their full potential," Gov. Lynch said.

The amendment, CACR 18, clearly sets forth the state's responsibility to promote an equal opportunity for an adequate education for every child in public schools. It requires a significant and ongoing state financial contribution to public schools and authorizes the state to direct education aid to communities that need it the most, helping to ensure every child has an equal opportunity to receive an adequate education.

"We all know there are some New Hampshire communities that can offer more to their students, while other communities struggle to provide just the basics. A school funding formula that distributes essentially the same amount of state aid for every student, regardless of community and need, will only widen these disparities of opportunity. We will never close the gap and ensure equity and excellence for all our children under that type of approach," Gov. Lynch said.

The amendment requires the legislature to define an adequate education, to regularly adjust the cost of an adequate education, and maintain standards of accountability. It sets a significant funding floor - requiring the state to provide at least 50 percent of the statewide cost of an adequate education - and ensures that the state will not abandon its responsibility for education. It also requires that some state education aid be provided to every school district.

CACR 18 will allow the state to effectively direct education aid - lifting up the communities that need help the most and ensuring that all children in all our communities have the opportunity they deserve for a good education and better lives.

"Directing more state education aid to the communities with the greatest need will help ensure fair opportunities for all of our students. It will lift up the communities that are straining to provide a quality education and ease the burden of property taxes in communities that struggle the most.

"I have visited many schools across New Hampshire, and that equal opportunity doesn't exist the way it should. There is a disparity in the opportunities kids have. Children shouldn't be penalized because of where they live. The children in Berlin and Claremont and Laconia and Pittsfield ought to have about the same opportunity to receive a quality education as the children in some other communities," Gov. Lynch said.

The amendment will give New Hampshire the same flexibility that other states have to improve education quality for all children.

"Numerous other states have faced education-funding lawsuits. Those states have been able to address those lawsuits by directing more education aid to communities struggling to provide a quality education. And in the process, these states have been able to improve educational opportunities for all the children in their states," Gov. Lynch said. "We need that same flexibility in New Hampshire. We need the flexibility to be able to send more money to the communities most in need to help them provide quality educations to their children and ease their property tax burdens."

The proposed amendment is sponsored by Sens. Joseph Foster, Bob Odell, Peter Burling, Martha Fuller Clark; and Reps. Sharon Nordgren, Nancy Stiles, Tara Reardon and Martha McLeod.

"With this amendment, New Hampshire will at last be able to move forward with a responsible, long-term solution for education," Gov. Lynch said.