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to homePerhaps 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. WeAre Home Educators supports those who are new to homeschooling as well as veteran homeschoolers. Our monthly parent gatherings are open to everyone. The meetings are a good place to ask questions and receive support. Our email list is another place to find the answers to questions you may have about homeschooling. We all remember what it was like when we were just getting started, and we're happy to help others who want to pursue homeschooling as a reasonable and effective educational alternative.
One organization dedicated to helping homeschoolers is the New Hampshire Homeschooling Coalition. Organized and run by volunteers, the coalition is an important source of information (offering the New Hampshire Home Education Guidebook and a bimonthly newsletter) and support (with elected representatives throughout the state). Many coalition volunteers have been homeschooling for a decade or longer.
Your local library is another good place to start. Most librarians are comfortable with the idea of homeschooling and are very helpful when it comes to finding resources and making contact with other homeschoolers. The Weare Public Library offers several good books on homeschooling, including Family Matters: Why Homeschooling Makes Sense by David Guterson and The Complete Home Learning Source Book by Rebecca Rupp. Many other excellent books on homeschooling are also available through interlibrary loan. For additional recommendations, visit our list of books on homeschooling.
If you're homeschooling in New Hampshire, you should have a copy of the New Hampshire Home Education Guidebook. Among other things, the guidebook includes:
Basic information about some of the most commonly asked questions parents have about homeschooling
Sample letters of intent to homeschool (a basic letter and one with a space for the participating agency to sign)
Helpful hints on the "hows" of homeschooling; determining your family's goals for homeschooling, discovering how your child learns best, and deciding on the type of structure, materials and other resources you want to use.
Legal information on homeschooling in New Hampshire: complying with the home education law, protecting your homeschooling rights, and understanding other laws which may affect homeschoolers.
Information on homeschooling support organizations
Lists of books, periodicals, and Internet resources pertaining to homeschooling
Lists of curriculum suppliers
Information on testing and evaluation services
Most libraries have a copy of the guidebook. In addition, New Hampshire Homeschooling Coalition website includes this information and much more.
An excellent summary of the legal requirements for homeschooling in New Hampshire appears on the New Hampshire Homeschooling Coalition website. As a homeschooler, you should be familiar with the law so that you can understand your rights and responsibilities. If you have questions about the law, you can contact your local NHHC representative, attend a WHE support group meeting, or post a message on any one of the many homeschooling email lists (WHE or others).
One requirement for homeschooling in New Hampshire is that you have some form of evaluation done each year. Most families choose either a portfolio evaluation (done by a certified teacher) or standardized testing. The following links provide more information on each of these methods:
Portfolio Evaluations of Home Education Programs in NH - Information on how to use the portfolio method for evaluations.
Evaluators - A list of evaluators in New Hampshire.
Standardized Testing for Evaluations - A list of places which offer standardized tests and a brief overview of those tests.