How to Start Homeschooling in New Hampshire

Are you wondering how to homeschool in New Hampshire? It’s a good idea to do your research first, as homeschool laws vary by state. 

If you’ve homeschooled before, or you just decided to make the switch to homeschooling, you’re in luck! New Hampshire homeschool laws are minimal, allowing parents plenty of freedom and flexibility.

Homeschooling in New Hampshire at a Glance

New Hampshire – The Granite State

Required Age	6-18
Standardized Testing	Annual assessments required
Subjects	11 subjects required
Time Requirements	None
Graduation Requirements	Determined by parent
Special Requirements	You must notify The Department of Education if your child graduates before age 18.
Financial Resources Available	Yes

Parent Qualifications

There are no specific qualifications listed for parents who wish to homeschool.

Notice of Intent

To homeschool in New Hampshire, you first need to notify a “participating agency.” This could be your local school district superintendent, principal of a nonpublic school, or commissioner of education. 

This Notice of Intent is due within five days of starting to homeschool or whenever you move to a new school district. Once you send your notice, you should receive a confirmation letter within 14 days. 

You’ll also need to send a Notice of Termination within 15 days before you stop homeschooling. Many families submit this document to the commissioner of education in addition to the agency they submitted the first notice to.

Attendance

There are no attendance requirements for homeschool students in NH. Parents can teach for however many hours they need to cover the material. 

Homeschool Curriculum

Your New Hampshire homeschool curriculum must include:  

Language	Science	Math
Government	History	Health
Reading	Writing	Spelling
The constitutions of NH and the United States	Appreciation of art and music

Parents do not need to teach these subjects every year, or even year-round. It’s a good idea to keep samples of each subject as proof that the curriculum requirements have been met.

Testing

Parents are required to evaluate their students annually. There are three options available:

1. Testing
2. Teacher evaluation
3. Mutually agreed-upon alternate assessment

Your child can take the state test at the local public school, or take a nationally normed achievement test, administered by a qualified test proctor. 

Parents who choose the teacher evaluation method need to have a detailed homeschool portfolio. A qualified evaluator will review this portfolio. Parents are responsible for verifying their evaluator’s credentials. 

The evaluator will set up an appointment with you to review your child’s work. They may also request to observe your child working or receiving instruction. You can use a template for the evaluation results, or your evaluator may provide their own. 

Alternate assessments will have to be agreed upon in writing by the “participating agency” and the parent. These can take the form of written tests, report cards from a third party, or additional projects. 

Parents are no longer required to submit these records to the state but should still keep them in a homeschool portfolio.

Record Keeping

Parents homeschooling in NH are required to keep a homeschool portfolio for each student. Parents need to create or update portfolios annually. You should plan to keep at least two years’ worth of work in the student portfolio. Good items to keep can include: 

• List of course materials
• List of subjects taught
• Test scores
• Completed projects
• Worksheets
• Any work your child is especially proud of

Keeping a detailed portfolio is critical if you choose annual teacher evaluations. Portfolios are also a nice way for you and your child to remember all the hours spent learning together.

Graduation Requirements

In NH, parents are able to decide when their child is ready to graduate. This allows for a more tailored and individualized high school experience! Students are able to take courses to reach their career goals, and parents can award them with their own homeschool diploma.

If your student graduates before age 18, you must notify the Department of Education to ensure you’re still in compliance with the attendance requirements.

Some homeschool students opt to take the HiSET exam, which is a high school diploma equivalency certification. Eligible students ages 18 and older (or with parent permission as a minor) can take the test. For more information, visit the New Hampshire Department of Education website.

Financial Resources

New Hampshire provides the Education Tax Credit Scholarship for eligible families. Parents can receive a credit for eligible education expenses.To qualify, the annual household income must not exceed 300% of the federal poverty limit. 

The Education Freedom Account is for families whose income is less than 350% of the federal poverty limit. This program provides funding for tuition, online learning programs, materials, and other educational expenses. Keep in mind that if you sign up for the program, you will be required to follow any additional rules and policies of that program.

Other Tips & Resources

For more information about homeschooling in New Hampshire, check out: 

• Granite State Home Educators
• NH Homeschooling Coalition

If you’re wondering whether Miacademy or MiaPrep would be the best homeschool curriculum for your family, please reach out to our customer service team! Our friendly representatives will be happy to help you find the answers you need.