How to Write a Letter to the Editor

Writing a letter to the editor of your local paper is a great way to make your voice
heard on an issue you care about, highlight ways your neighbors can take action, and
hold your elected officials accountable to the concerns of their constituents.

School Funding Facts to Include in Your Letter

During the 2023-24 school year, the most recent year with complete data, the State of NH paid on average $5,148 per pupil for an “adequate” education, but the actual average cost of educating a student in New Hampshire was $21,545 per pupil.
When local taxpayers have to make up the difference for low state funding, the biggest burden is put on towns with lower property values, who need to set higher local property tax rates than their property wealthy neighbors.
New Hampshire has the biggest difference in spending between high-poverty and low-poverty districts, and no other state pays for a lower proportion of school funding.

Tips for Writing Your Letter

Incorporating local or personal stories makes a letter more interesting and relevant to your community. Combine them with facts and data from NHSFFP resources on the School Funding and Property Taxes pages of our website to support your claims
Keep it short! Most newspapers in New Hampshire have a strict limit of 250 words or less. Check your local paper’s policies and make sure you follow them. If you have more to say, you can write another letter later.
Be yourself! You don’t need to write like a policy expert to get published. Tell your story in your own voice, because being an engaged and motivated citizen is incredibly powerful and exactly what others will identify with.
Read your letter out loud! This will help you check for mistakes and make sure everything sounds the way you want. Ask someone else to read it before you submit. Fresh eyes might catch something that you missed
Share your letter! Once it goes into print share it on all of your social media, email it to people, cut it out of the newspaper and mail it to your friends. Show everyone you know what you wrote and encourage them to do their own!

How to Submit Your Letter

Follow the links below to submit your letter to your local paper. And if you need any help with your letter, or if you have any questions, send us an email at awade@fairfundingnh.org

Brentwood Newsletter: – Send your letter to info@brentwoodnewsletter.org

Claremont Eagle Times: Click here to submit your letter.

Concord Monitor: Click here to submit your letter.

Conway Daily Sun : Click here to submit your letter.

Derry News : Click here to submit your letter.

Exeter News-Letter : Send your letter to newsletter@seacoastonline.com

Fosters Daily Democrat : Send your letter to letters@fosters.com

Granite State News & Carroll County Independent : Send your letter to brendan@salmonpress.news

Hampton Union : Send your letter to hamptonunion@seacoastonline.com

Keene Sentinel : Send your letter to news@keenesentinel.com

Laconia Daily Sun : Click here to submit your letter.

Littleton Courier, Coös County Democrat & Berlin Reporter : Send your letter to tara@salmonpress.news