How to start homeschooling in New Hampshire
The legal steps, in order, checked against New Hampshire law.
Short answer: Since July 1, 2026, New Hampshire parents have a legal right to home educate their own child with no required notice, records, evaluations or set subjects. A written declaration is needed only when you withdraw a child from public school or want your child to use public school classes or activities.
Checked against N.H. Laws 2026, ch. 297 (HB 1268, Home Education Freedom Act), effective July 1, 2026 on Nov 8, 2026. Compulsory school ages: 6 to 17 (at least 6 and under 18). This is what the law says, not legal advice.
Home education program
Any New Hampshire parent teaching their own child at home.
Steps
- Decide to home educate. No approval is needed, and your schedule does not have to match the district calendar.
- If your child is enrolled in a public school, give the school a declaration of home education when you withdraw: a signed statement with your child's name, date of birth and address, saying the child is home educated.
- If you want your child to take public school classes or join activities, file the same declaration with your district.
- When your child finishes, you may sign a certificate of completion and send it to the commissioner of education, who issues a state certificate within 30 days.
| Notice to the state | No notice required |
|---|---|
| Subjects | None required by law |
| Time | None required by law |
| Parent qualifications | None required by law |
| Testing or evaluation | None required by law |
| Records to keep | None required by law |
The law: N.H. Laws 2026, ch. 297 (HB 1268, Home Education Freedom Act), effective July 1, 2026
Leaving public school mid-year
A declaration of home education is required upon withdrawal from a public school. The program ends if the child enrolls full time in a public, charter or nonpublic school or joins the Education Freedom Account program.
High school, transcripts and diplomas
Parents may issue an optional certificate of completion. If sent to the commissioner of education, the commissioner issues a certificate within 30 days stating the student completed a home education program in New Hampshire.
Public school sports and activities
Home educated students may use public school courses and programs under RSA 193:1-c. A declaration of home education is required to do so, and district policies for those programs apply.
After the paperwork
Common questions
Do I have to tell the state I am homeschooling in New Hampshire?
Not under the home education program route.
Is testing required for homeschoolers in New Hampshire?
No. New Hampshire law does not require testing under the home education program route.
What subjects are required for homeschooling in New Hampshire?
None. New Hampshire law does not set required subjects under the home education program route.
What ages must be schooled in New Hampshire?
Ages 6 to 17 (at least 6 and under 18), per state law.
Sources
- N.H. Laws 2026, ch. 297 (HB 1268, Home Education Freedom Act), effective July 1, 2026
- RSA 193-A
- New Hampshire Department of Education, Home Education Rules and Regulations
We read each source on Nov 8, 2026 and recheck every guide each quarter. Laws change. If something here no longer matches the state, write to us and we will fix it.