A version of this story appeared in Granite Post’s newsletter. Subscribe here.
In case you missed it, Gov. Kelly Ayotte recently signed House Bill 1268, which loosens New Hampshire’s homeschooling requirements.
Parents who homeschool can now choose whether to notify the state or their local school district. The law also eliminates the annual evaluation requirement, and parents are no longer required to keep educational records and materials for at least two years.
This week, we asked readers: Do you think New Hampshire has the right priorities when it comes to education?
Here’s what they had to say…
“I am very concerned with this change in oversight of homeschooled students. Certainly many parents are capable of doing a good job but there’s certainly the possibility of parents who don’t have the best interests of the child foremost in their minds. The law shouldn’t have been changed. Let’s hope nothing disastrous happens!” — Frances Taylor
“New Hampshire does not have its priorities straight in regards to education. The legislature’s zeal to reduce the size of government is at the detriment of our public-school systems.” — David New Boston
“As a homeschooling family, we too are disappointed about the loss of a required yearly review. I think a once-a-year portfolio review, which we have always done, has been a nice way to have someone outside of the family look at our work, and we appreciate the accountability built into this process. We have been able to find teacher or educator neighbors to do the review whom we like and who understand our educational approach. This has been a good system, and I am not sure why it has to change. We have gotten a lot of good ideas, and also a chance to understand what schools are doing. I know we can still do this if we choose, but taking away the requirement feels unsettling. All the homeschooling families we know are doing a wonderful job, but I think children can benefit from an outside person in their area offering suggestions and a level of community accountability.” — Homeschool parent, Tamworth
“Absolutely not! It appears that Concord is trying to defund education in order to eliminate taxes. This is not what our country has supported. The key to a functional democracy is an educated populace. The governor and her cronies are trying to destroy government-supported education and our country.” — Janet Schwartz
“NH has really never prioritized education. The Republicans never want to help cities and towns pay for education. This has been going on for years! I guess they don’t want to help our young people get a jump on life. How about legalizing marijuana and using that money for education? ‘Live Free or Die’, and pot isn’t legal—it doesn’t make sense to me. Everyone goes to our neighboring states to buy their pot. We are missing out on money for education.” — Nora Smith
“While our State Constitution and, I believe, the majority of our people see NH kids as ‘our’ kids, deserving the best education provided by us collectively, much of the Republican majority in our Legislature view them as ‘your’ kids, or at least your town’s kids. They also incorrectly view our teachers, paras, and administrators, who are extremely dedicated to a successful future for our kids, as selfish, partisan, and inefficient because such characterization makes it easier to justify their disinterest. Education is a fantastic investment for the kids, their families, and the local and state communities, deserving significant and fairly distributed resources.” — Keenan Pawley
“I was disappointed to hear about the loosening of controls on homeschooling. Education should be a top priority because the next generation is the future of our society. Failing to educate them practically guarantees the decline of that society. Young people, the elderly, and the homeless are neglected either because they don’t vote or because they don’t spend a lot of money. If we want to survive and thrive, we need an educational system with high standards that everyone abides by.” — JoAnn Carlson
“During the pandemic, parents paid little attention to online learning. Now Ayotte wants to leave it up to the parents. The claim that students lost 2 years of education because of the pandemic—just how many years are they going to lose with homeschooling? Who’s going to train the parents to teach?” — Karen Landry
“HB 1268 is a disaster in the making. What sane person thinks having no academic standards or curriculum requirements is a good idea?” — Tim Kelly
“No, not even close. This bill, which requires absolutely no accountability from the parents of children who are homeschooled, is potentially nothing short of abusive. I’m not referring to the many (I’m sure) parents who take their children’s learning seriously and put in the effort to assure they receive a quality education. But what about the parents who have neither the knowledge nor the resources to teach their children, and the parents (let’s face it, they exist) who choose not to take the time and effort to teach their children? How will these kids adequately show their competence when it is time to apply for college and/or a job without a high school diploma? Public school teachers have been educated in the subjects required to be taught and, although none of them are perfect (okay, maybe a few teachers my now-grown children had were), they are qualified by virtue of a college degree in education. That means, in most cases, they studied for four years, and maybe more. Children also learn social skills while in a class of peers, and homeschooled children may miss out on those important skills without, again, the effort of their parents. This is a scary slope that must be watched carefully. I fear for the children who stay home instead of attending public school and get lost in the circumstances they find themselves in.” — Maureen Heath
“Why not limit tax increases to the rate of inflation? Currently 3.5%. There needs to be some limits. School districts must be forced to live within their means. The taxpayers are stretched very thin. And a three-fifths majority is a pretty high bar, so let’s see what the voters have to say.” — Alan M. Rice
“Four years ago I moved here from Ohio. I picked NH because I couldn’t find a home in Vermont I could afford. I had previously lived in Vernon, Vermont, for about eight years and managed production at the Brattleboro Reformer. What I am seeing is the NH government is right-wing, and at least the governor is in Trump’s pocket. The right wing is doing what right-wingers do: screw the people for big business and their own self-serving attitudes. The left are wimps at best! Yes, I’m an independent. Ayotte not contributing to the local schools as they should be (courtesy of the right) is contributing to local taxes being as high as they are. However, in Charlestown the school system is a little screwy in that they have just over 300 students and a staff of over 130. I think that’s a bit over the top. I’m all for a good education for the up-and-coming generations—we need that. I just hope it’s happening. Yes, I did not capitalize Trump’s name on purpose; he doesn’t deserve it! I don’t expect you to publish this as it’s probably too long. I just wanted to weigh in.” — Mike Blackledge, Charlestown
“Absolutely not! It appears that Concord is trying to defund education in order to eliminate taxes. This is not what our country has supported. The key to a functional democracy is an educated populace. The governor and her cronies are trying to destroy government-supported education and our country.” — Janet Schwartz
“Yes… Funding education is a problem, but if we just give more money to the education system, it doesn’t solve the problem, and probably we end up with a sales tax. Spending at the school level has to be kept under control. That includes high wages given to administration, and maybe teachers need to be looked at, along with class sizes, etc. Property taxes can’t keep going up to fund education. Either cuts are made or other ways of funding, not a sales tax, should be looked at.” — Lyla O’Neil
“OMG! Why is the state trying to make our young people stupider? Why don’t they want them to excel? Education in this state is in danger, i.e., minimal rules for homeschooling, school vouchers taking our public funds from tax-supported institutions… I really can’t understand the shortsighted and actually ignorant and ill-informed policies that are put forward in this state.” — Glen Flowers
“I think NH needs to fund public education. And stop paying rich people to send their kids to private school. Rich people can afford to pay private tuition. Taxpayers should not be paying for that.” — Mike Tranchemontagne
“Public education is at the core of our democracy. With the reduction in funding of cities and towns, there are those in the NH state government who appear to be trying to suffocate our public education system. It is time to reverse this trend and vote against any politician who does not support public education. Education empowers. Give our children the opportunities and future they deserve!” — Pamela Oldham
“During the pandemic, parents paid little attention to online learning. Now Ayotte wants to leave it up to the parents. The claim that students lost two years of education because of the pandemic—just how many years are they going to lose with homeschooling? Who’s going to train the parents to teach?” — K. Landry
