Summary

Important Legal Update:

HB 1268, the bill that rewrites New Hampshire’s home education law, was signed by Governor Ayotte on Friday, July 10, and is now law. Among the most notable changes are the elimination of the notification requirement for most homeschooling families, the portfolio requirement, and the annual assessment requirement. Notification is still required in certain circumstances, such as when a family intends to use public school services or withdraw a child who is already enrolled in public school. The NH Department of Education has provided a helpful FAQ sheet.

The NHHC is reviewing the new statute and will update our legal requirements page as quickly as possible. In the meantime, please be aware that many websites, articles, and other homeschooling resources may still reflect the previous law until organizations have had an opportunity to update their materials. Until our website has been updated, if you have questions about how the new law applies to your family, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

The information below does not necessarily apply to the new law and may no longer be relevant. Updates are in progress.

The following information is provided as a courtesy to families in New Hampshire and is not intended as legal advice. It is only applicable to those home educating under RSA 193-A. If you are using an Education Freedom Account or another educational pathway, you are governed by a different legal statute. Please see our Education Pathways page. We strongly encourage you to read and understand the text of the education law relevant to the program you intend to implement prior to beginning that program.

Summary

Since its creation in 1991, changes have been made to 193:A, the original statute, with the most recent updates signed into law on June 2, 2022. Under this law, parents or legal guardians who wish to home educate their child(ren) are required to:

 

    • Keep a portfolio of the homeschooled child’s work (for at least two years).

    • Complete an annual evaluation demonstrating educational progress commensurate with the child’s age, ability, and/or disability.

    • Cover the following subjects over the course of the child’s education: science, mathematics, language, government, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, the history of the constitutions of New Hampshire and the United States, and an exposure to and appreciation of art and music.

You do NOT need to teach a certain number of days in a year or a certain number of hours in a day.
You do NOT need to have your program approved by a school official.
You do NOT need to teach each of the subjects required in the law every year.
You do NOT need to submit your child’s annual evaluation for review.
You do NOT need to match the hours of the day in which public school is typically in session or adhere to the public school schedule for holidays, summer break etc.

You are allowed to not only provide your child(ren)’s education, but to direct or coordinate it through others.

Please see our complete Legal Requirements page for comprehensive information on homeschooling under RSA 193:A.