SDGANH: Home Schooling Model Policy - Granite Grok

SDGANH: Home Schooling Model Policy

SDGANH Screen Grab

The New Hampshire School Boards Association (NHSBA) recently provided to their member boards a draft of Policy IHBG regarding home education. Granite State Home Educators (GSHE) did an analysis of the NHSBA policy draft and found that their proposed policy has several problematic components.


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Working with GSHE, the SDGA has adopted a policy that more closely aligns with NH’s home education statute. Please share it with your fellow school board members so you can have a policy that reflects all aspects of the homeschooling laws and regulations. The SDGA’s model policy is attached to this email (included below).

For your reference and convenience, this is a link to current Ed 315, NH’s rules regarding home education (scroll about half-way down), the link to NH’s compulsory attendance law, and the link to NH’s truancy law.

As always, feel free to contact me with any questions.

Donna GreenPresident, School District Governance Association
617-834-6556 (cell)

Giving voters a voice by empowering elected school district officials to reclaim control over budgets and curriculum.

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Policy IHBG

Homeschooling

New Hampshire’s compulsory attendance law, RSA 193:1, applies to children who are 6 years old by September 30th of the current school year to 18 years old. Families and Participating Agencies are required to follow home education statute, RSA 193-A, and Ed 315 rules.

Notification:

A family may declare their intention to homeschool at any time, but within five days of initiating a home education program, in keeping with NH’s truancy law, RSA 189:35-a. Participating Agencies are required to acknowledge receipt of notification within 14 days.

Records:

Families are not required to provide their children’s portfolio or year-end assessment to their Participating Agency, but the materials may be reviewed, if necessary, to determine placement and eligibility in curricular and co-curricular programs available through the local district. The materials remain property of the family.

A family may request to participate in the local district’s annual assessment test at no additional fee, if a spot is available and sufficient time of the request is provided.

Equal Access:

Per RSA 193:1-c, local districts shall allow resident home educated students to participate in curricular and co-curricular activities, if space is available, without additional restrictions or requirements governing the general student population.

Re-enrollment and Graduation:

A family may seek to enroll their children in the local district schools and credits will be awarded toward graduation without discrimination and are subject to the same appeal process. Districts will not award certificates or diplomas to students who are home educated.

Legal References:

RSA 193-A Home Education

RSA 193:1 Duty of Parents, Compulsory Attendance by Pupil

RSA 193:1-c Access to Public School Programs by Nonpublic, Public Chartered Schools or Home Educated Pupils

Ed 315 Procedures for the Operation of Home Education Programs

RSA 189:35-a Truancy Defined

 

Approved December 11, 2020

 

From Email: Care of Donna Green SDGANH

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