Homeschooling Laws Face Radical Changes: Experts Fear Impact on Child Welfare and Education
A proposed bill, the Home Education Freedom Act, seeks to significantly reduce requirements for families in New Hampshire who choose to home-school their children, potentially making the state one of the least regulated in the nation. If passed, the legislation would eliminate the need for notification to school districts or the Department of Education, as well as the mandates for maintaining work portfolios and obtaining annual academic evaluations. While proponents argue this fosters greater trust and freedom for homeschooling families, some express concern over the removal of documentation that could serve as protection against neglect allegations and hinder future data collection on home education trends. The bill also clarifies the distinction between traditional home education and those utilizing Education Freedom Accounts.
John Q. Hosedrinker