New Hampshire recognizes home schooling and requires home education to include instruction in 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. A parent beginning home instruction must:

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  File a notice of intent within 30 days of starting home instruction. The notice must include the names, addresses, and dates of birth of the children participating in the program. The parent must file the notice with one of the following: the commissioner of education; the district superintendent; or the principal of a nonpublic school;

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  Keep a portfolio of records and materials about the home education program. The portfolio must contain a list of the reading materials used, and also samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials the child used or developed. The parent must keep the portfolio for two years from the date the instruction ends; and

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  Provide for an annual educational evaluation that shows the child's educational progress at a level appropriate for the child's age and ability. The child will be considered to have successfully completed his/her annual evaluation by meeting one of the following requirements:

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    A certified teacher or a teacher currently teaching in a nonpublic school who is selected by the parent will review the child's portfolio, talk with the parent and child, and evaluate the child's educational progress. The teacher will then submit a written evaluation to the commissioner of education, resident district superintendent, or nonpublic school principal;

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    The child will take a national student achievement test administered by a person who meets the qualifications determined by the provider or publisher of the test. Combined results at least at the fortieth percentile on such a test are considered acceptable. The test results must be reported to the commissioner of education, resident district superintendent, or nonpublic school principal;

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    The child will take a state student assessment test used by the resident district. Combined results at least at the fortieth percentile on such a test are considered acceptable. The test results must be reported to the commissioner of education, resident district superintendent, or nonpublic school principal; or

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    The child will be evaluated by any other measurement tool that the parent and the commissioner of education, resident district superintendent, or nonpublic school principal agree on, and the parent or testing agency will report the test results to an appropriate official.

Ask the parent to submit evidence of compliance with New Hampshire law. The student must also meet federal standards for full-time attendance and all other requirements for the payment of benefits.

In response to your request for a survey of state laws regarding the requirements for home schooling in the states in the Boston Region, we provide below a summary of the applicable laws for each New England state. If you have any questions about how these laws would apply to the facts of any specific claim for child’s benefits, please let us know.

Attendance at school is required for persons at least 6 years of age and under 16. Attendance in the public schools is not required for a child who is receiving home education. By statute, home education must include instruction in “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.”

A parent commencing home instruction must file a notice of intent within 30 days of the commencement of home instruction with one of the following: the commissioner of education, the district superintendent, or the principal of a nonpublic school. The notice must include the names, addresses and dates of birth of children participating in the program.

The parent must maintain a portfolio of records and materials relative to the home education program. The portfolio shall consist of a log which designates by title the reading materials used, and also samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials used or developed by the child. Such portfolio must be preserved by the parent for 2 years from the date of the ending of the instruction.

The parent must provide for an annual educational evaluation which documents the child's demonstration of educational progress at a level commensurate with the child's age and ability. The child shall be deemed to have successfully completed his annual evaluation upon meeting the requirements of any one of the following:

1. a) 

   a certified teacher or a teacher currently teaching in a nonpublic school who is selected by the parent shall evaluate the child's educational progress upon review of the portfolio and discussion with the parent or child. The teacher shall submit a written evaluation to the commissioner of education, resident district superintendent, or nonpublic school principal;

2. b) 

   the child shall take any national student achievement test, administered by a person who meets the qualifications established by the provider or publisher of the test. Composite results at or above the fortieth percentile on such tests shall be deemed reasonable academic proficiency. Such test results shall be reported to the commissioner of education, resident district superintendent, or nonpublic school principal;

3. c) 

   the child shall take a state student assessment test used by the resident district. Composite results at or above the fortieth percentile on such state test shall be deemed reasonable academic proficiency. Such test results shall be reported to the commissioner of education, the resident district superintendent, or nonpublic school principal; or

4. d) 

   the child shall be evaluated using any other valid measurement tool mutually agreed upon by the parent and the commissioner of education, resident district superintendent, or nonpublic school principal. The results shall be reported by the parent or the testing agency to such appropriate official.

See N.H.R.S.A. §§ 193:1, 193-A; New Hampshire Department of Education website at http://www.ed.state.nh.us/education/doe/organization/curriculum/HomeEd_LegislationRules.htm