New Hampshire
• Compulsory Attendance Ages: Between 6 and 16. (§ 193:1). "A child who reaches his sixth birthday after September 30 shall not be required to attend school … until the following year."
• Required Days of Instruction: 180 days (not required for home schools).
• Required Subjects: Science, mathematics, language, government, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, the history of the constitutions of New Hampshire and the U.S., and an exposure to and appreciation of art and music. (§193-A:4(I))
• Teacher Qualifications: None.
• Standardized Tests: The parent can satisfy the testing requirement by submitting one of the following to the participating agency (see paragraph 1 below) by July 1st:
1. A written evaluation of educational progress prepared by a certified teacher or a current non- public school teacher selected by the parent, after reviewing the student's portfolio and discussing with the parent or child; or
2. The results of any national student achievement test administered by a person meeting the provider's or publisher's qualifications, with a composite score at or above the 40th percentile; or
3. The results of the state student assessment test used by the resident district, with a composite score at or above the 40th percentile; or
4. The child may be evaluated using any other valid measurement tool mutually agreed upon by the parent and the participating agency." The parent shall have one year to provide remedial instruction to the child, in the event that the child "does not demonstrate educational progress for age and ability at a level commensurate with his ability." Continuation of home education shall be contingent upon the child demonstrating progress "commensurate with his age and ability." "The family has a right to request a hearing if, after a year of remedial instruction, the commissioner determines the child has not made adequate progress." (§193-A:6)
• To home school, a parent must do the following:
1. A parent must file an annual notice. It is due within 30 days of the annual commencement the home school program, or within 30 days of withdrawing from public school or moving into the school district. (§ 193-A:5). A home education program should begin no later than the first day of public school in the area to ensure compliance with § 193:1.
2. The notice is filed with the parent's choice of a "participating agency"-either the commissioner of education (not recommended), district superintendent, or principal of a non-public school. (§ 193-A:5.(I))
3. The notice must include the children's names, addresses and birth dates. (§193-A:5(II)).
4. The parent shall maintain a portfolio of records and materials relative to the home education program consisting of: a log of reading materials used and samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks or creative materials used or developed by the child. (§193-A:6(I)). The parent must retain the portfolio for two years.
5. The bill that created the home school law also provided a statement of legislative intent: "The general court recognizes in the enactment of RSA 193-A ... that it is the primary right and obligation of a parent to choose the appropriate educational alternative for a child under his care and supervision, as provided by law ... The general court further recognizes that home education is more individualized than instruction normally provided in the classroom setting."
6. Home education programs automatically terminate each year on August 1st. If a family terminates a home education program before August 1st, a written notice of termination must be filed with the Commissioner of Education within 15 days.
7. Prior to May 12, 2006, the effective date of House Bill 406, §193-A:5(I) provided that: "The commissioner of education shall acknowledge in writing that the parent shall be permitted to initiate a home education program for a child …" By repealing this provision, the legislature affirmed that parents can home school without obtaining the permission of any official.
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New Hampshire State High School Graduation Requirements
- English units: 4
- Math units: 2
- Social studies units: 2.5 (1 unit U.S. and NH history and government, 1 unit "social studies elective" and .5 unit "basic business and economic education.")
- Science units: 2. (1 unit each of physical sciences and biological sciences)
- P.E./Health units: 1.25. (1 unit p.e. and .25 unit "health education.")
- Arts: .5
- Foreign language: 0
- Electives units: 7
- Other units: .5. (.5 unit computer education)
Other diploma options: State does not offer differentiated diploma pathways. State has policy on awarding proficiency-based credit.
N.H. CODE ADMIN. R. ANN. ED 306.23
Important Note: State Graduation requirements are not necessarily the best guideline for homeschoolers to use. They have been included here as a guideline for what a typical public school student would need to complete in order to graduate.
A more important guideline may be the College Entrance requirements for where your student would like to attend college. While colleges have differing requirements, there are many colleges that publish requirements for homeschool graduates.
Related Pages:
Homeschool Support Groups in New Hampshire
Colleges in New Hampshire