Guide to Homeschooling in New Hampshire

Resources

Homeschool Laws and Requirements in New Hampshire

While homeschooling is legal everywhere in the United States, each state government has different laws and regulations surrounding home education. In New Hampshire, homeschooling laws are straightforward and do not require too much of the parent. First, the parent will need to submit a notice of intent to their current school’s principal, which includes each child’s name in the homeschool as well as birthdates and addresses. In addition to the notice of intent, parents should consider the required subjects, homeschool portfolios, and annual evaluations.

For detailed information on the homeschooling requirements in New Hampshire, we recommend that parents review the resrouces published by the Home School Legal Defense Association and the New Hampshire Department of Education.

RECORD KEEPING

New Hampshire homeschool laws require parents to maintain homeschool portfolios for two years. These portfolios will need to include samples of courses; however, it is always a good idea to keep progress reports, attendance records, transcripts, and annual evaluations, as well. Maintaining records of everything that pertains to a student’s education will be beneficial to have on file if they choose to pursue secondary education or ever transfer to a public or private school.

Power Homeschool makes the record keeping process easy through our app’s parent portal. Our program automatically generates transcripts, tracks attendance, and allows students to set academic goals.

HOMESCHOOL STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

In New Hampshire, homeschoolers are not required to participate in standardized assessments. These tests do, however, fulfill the annual evaluation requirement, but parents can also choose to meet with a certified teacher or a combination of the two. New Hampshire offers several state standardized tests, including ELA and Math, Science, and Dynamic Learning Maps. Students can also take nationally normed assessments. High school students should also consider taking the ACT or SAT if they plan to attend college after graduation.

HOMESCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

As in most states, parents are responsible for setting high school graduation requirements for their students. While these can align with the state’s subject requirements, parents should also consider their students’ plans after high school. Many colleges, universities, and trade schools will share their admissions policies for homeschool students. Parents can use these to establish each student’s graduation requirements.

Resources

Homeschool Support & Groups in New Hampshire

In New Hampshire, homeschoolers have access to various support groups and resources that help enhance the homeschooling process. Homeschooling associations are usually statewide organizations that protect the homeschooling rights in the state as well as provide events, resources, news, and more!  

New Hampshire has multiple homeschool associations: New Hampshire Homeschooling Coalition (NHHC) and Granite State Home Educators (GSHE).

In addition to statewide associations, homeschool support groups and co-ops connect homeschoolers to other families in their local area. Homeschool support groups allow parents to share and receive advice, tips, and homeschooling experiences, as well as connect students with peers and allow them to socialize. Homeschool co-ops are similar to support groups, but they are more academic-focused, allowing homeschoolers to learn alongside their peers in group settings. There are a wide variety of groups, such as religious homeschool co-ops or ones focused on certain areas of study such as STEM. Whatever your family is looking for, you are sure to find a group that fits your needs.

Usually, homeschool support groups and co-ops have Facebook pages or websites, making them easy to find with a few simple searches. The following are a few examples of the homeschool support groups available in New Hampshire:

• Southern NH Homeschoolers
• WeAre Home Educators
• Central NH Homeschoolers
• Homeschooling Families of Seacoast
• Homeschooled Teens Together Club
• North County Homeschoolers
• Lake Region Homeschoolers
• Gear Up Homeschoolers
• Lighthouse Homeschool Co-op

Check out our Power Homeschool Parent Support groups!

New Hampshire has many different field trip destinations across the state, but the following are just a few examples to give you an idea. 

• Seacoast Science Center in Rye: Learn about ocean health, ecological diversity, and New Hampshire beaches at the Seacoast Science Center. Students can explore environmental and marine biology through exhibits, presentations, and homeschool programs.
• Moffett House Museum in Berlin: Located in a historical structure that was built in 1890, this museum allows visitors to explore the region’s history and culture through artifacts, photos, books, and documents.
• Children’s Museum of New Hampshire in Dover: With special events, interactive exhibits, camps, and workshops, young learners will have plenty of opportunities to partake in educational play. Exhibits include Dino Detective, Pattern Pala, Music Matrix, and so many more!
• Fort at No. 4 Living History Museum in Charlestown: Students will get to see what life was like during the Colonial Era through a living history museum. With hands-on programs and reenactments, visitors learn about the history and culture conflicts that took place in the 1700s.
• Mount Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner: Learn about indigenous tribes and Native American culture through guided tours, workshops, and special events. The museum also features a Medicine Woods Natural Trail and arboretum.
• Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness: Homeschoolers can explore plenty of different wildlife species, making this a great field trip to enhance lessons about habitats and ecosystems. The science center’s educational opportunities include homeschooling programs.
• Mariposa Museum and World Culture Center in Peterborough: With artifacts from around the world, this museum makes the perfect field trip to learn about world history and cultures. The museum organizes plenty of special events throughout the year, as well.
• Currier Museum of Art in Manchester: Exploring beautiful art from world-famous artists will be sure to inspire young artists. With many different exhibits and family tours, students will learn about culture and history through paintings, sculptures, pottery, and more.
• Appalachian National Scenic Trails: Spanning more than 2,000 miles, the Appalachian Mountains will give homeschoolers the opportunity to learn an appreciation for the wilderness of the region. Students can learn about wildlife through nature walks, camping, and many different activities.

Power Homeschool hopes to provide families with helpful information about homeschooling in New Hampshire. In addition to an online curriculum, Power Homeschool offers various resources and tools to help families get started. Please contact us if you have any questions about how we can help your family start homeschooling today!