Getting started
Getting Started and Frequently Asked Questions
Once you have decided to homeschool, how do you begin? There are generally three steps involved:
1. Gathering information
2. Understanding and complying with the law
3. Developing a plan
Gathering Information
Perhaps the most important thing to realize when it comes to homeschooling is this: you are not on your own! There are many other homeschoolers in New Hampshire who are willing and available to help you. Dig around our HUGE website to find all kinds of information, get connected online with the NHHC Facebook group; homeschooling support groups, online and in person,are a good place to ask questions and find support. Your local NHHC representative is also available to respond to any questions you may have about homeschooling. Many NHHC volunteers have been homeschooling for a decade or longer.
The New Hampshire Home Education Guidebook is loaded with good advice and valuable information. You can purchase a copy or find it at your local library.
Understanding and Complying with the Law
Under New Hampshire’s home education law, RSA 193-A, parents or legal guardians who want to homeschool their child(ren) are required to:
1. Notify a participating agency (in most cases, the local school superintendent or a participating private school) of their intent to homeschool. For your convenience, we have a sample notification letter that you can print out and use. These are simply suggestions; feel free to write your own.
2. Keep a portfolio of the homeschooled child’s work and a list of reading materials. Note that the portfolio is the property of the parents; the superintendent cannot require that you submit it to the district for review.
3. Have an annual evaluation demonstrating educational progress commensurate with the child’s age and ability. Most families choose either a portfolio evaluation (done by a certified teacher – see our list of Evaluators) or standardized testing (see our list of testing services). The results of the evaluation, typically no more than one or two pages, must be kept by the homeschooling family and only shown to officials if a question comes up about the home education program.
For more information, please refer to our separate page on the legal requirements for homeschooling.
Developing a Plan
There are as many ways to homeschool as there are homeschooling families. How do you decide what approach and materials will work best for you? Your answer to this question will depend on your reasons for homeschooling, your long- and short-term goals, your child’s learning style, your own teaching preferences, and your family budget.
By asking other homeschoolers how they homeschool and by doing some research on your own, you will be able to develop a plan that is right for your family.