CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch today urged the Senate Judiciary Committee to support a constitutional amendment that affirms the state’s responsibility for education and allows the legislature to effectively direct education aid to the communities that need help the most.

“I believe strongly that we do have a responsibility to ensure all our children have an opportunity for a quality education. And I am committed to helping ensure all of our children, regardless of where they live, have opportunities they deserve for good educations and better lives,” Gov. Lynch said.

“But it is not good education policy to send the same base amount of education aid to every school district before we help the schools that really need it. Yet that is what the Supreme Court has said we must do. That is why I so passionately believe we need a constitutional amendment,” Gov Lynch said.

The amendment, CACR 34, clearly sets forth the state’s responsibility to promote an equal opportunity for an adequate education for every child in public schools. It also provides the flexibility the state needs to effectively direct aid to communities that need it the most.

“An education plan that obligates us to send the same amount to every child before we can help communities with greater needs does not reduce the inequity that exists between schools. Rather, it widens the disparities and maintains the status quo,” Gov. Lynch said. “That is the reason that most other states direct more education aid to needier communities. It is a better education policy.”

After 10 years of debating education funding, Gov. Lynch said it is time to put an amendment on the ballot to the let people of New Hampshire have a say.

“Let’s give all our children, no matter where they live, the opportunity for a good education and a better life. Let’s give the people of the State of New Hampshire a say and put a constitutional amendment on the ballot,” Gov. Lynch said.

The proposed amendment is sponsored by Sens. Joseph Foster, Ted Gatsas, Peter Burling, Martha Fuller Clark, Jack Barnes, Sheila Roberge, Bob Odell, David Gottesman, Maggie Hassan, Sylvia Larsen, Lou D'Allesandro and Betsi DeVries.