New Hampshire · leaving public school
How to withdraw your child from public school and homeschool in New Hampshire
New Hampshire asks a homeschooling family to file something. Here is what it is, who gets it, when it is due, and a letter you can fill in.
The short version
- The law New Hampshire families homeschool under
- Home education (Home Education Freedom Act, HB 1268, 2026) (N.H. RSA 193-A:1 to 193-A:5; RSA 193:1)
- What to file
- New Hampshire does not require registration, approval or annual notice to start home education. RSA 193-A:3 says a declaration of home education is not required except to get access to public school programs under RSA 193:1-c or upon withdrawal from a public school, so a parent withdrawing an enrolled child does give a declaration. The statute defines it as a written statement, signed by a parent, that the student is home educated and meets compulsory attendance requirements, naming the student, date of birth and current address; the statute names no recipient and no official form, and the state Department of Education says it no longer accepts or keeps home education notices.
- Send it to
- The statute does not name a recipient for the withdrawal declaration. The resident district is the school the child is leaving (RSA 193-A:1 defines the resident district), so addressing the school principal or district superintendent is the natural choice, but this was not confirmed in a primary source.
- When
- No deadline in the statute. RSA 193-A:3 ties the declaration to withdrawal from public school but gives no number of days, and the annual notice, portfolio and evaluation requirements of the old law were repealed effective July 1, 2026. This is a change from 2023 and earlier law.
Step by step
Step 1. Know what New Hampshire requires to start
New Hampshire does not require registration, approval or annual notice to start home education. RSA 193-A:3 says a declaration of home education is not required except to get access to public school programs under RSA 193:1-c or upon withdrawal from a public school, so a parent withdrawing an enrolled child does give a declaration. The statute defines it as a written statement, signed by a parent, that the student is home educated and meets compulsory attendance requirements, naming the student, date of birth and current address; the statute names no recipient and no official form, and the state Department of Education says it no longer accepts or keeps home education notices.
Step 2. Leave the school the right way
The Department of Education FAQ (effective July 2026) says notification is required only if a student is being withdrawn from public school or when the family seeks access to public school programs under RSA 193:1-c. Neither the statute nor the FAQ names an exit meeting, district form, waiting period or mid-year limit, and RSA 193-A:4 says home education dates need not match the district calendar.
Step 3. Watch the deadlines
No deadline in the statute. RSA 193-A:3 ties the declaration to withdrawal from public school but gives no number of days, and the annual notice, portfolio and evaluation requirements of the old law were repealed effective July 1, 2026. This is a change from 2023 and earlier law.
Step 4. Ask for your child’s records
FERPA (34 CFR 99.10) gives a parent the right to inspect and review the child's education records, and the school must respond within a reasonable time, not more than 45 days after the request. RSA 193-A:4 also makes any information a family submits about a home education program confidential, not to be shared without written parental consent.
Step 5. If your child has an IEP or a 504 plan
Under 34 CFR 300.300(b)(4), a parent can revoke consent in writing for special education services; the school must give prior written notice and then stop providing the services, and it is not considered to have denied a free appropriate public education. The Department of Education home education page says Child Find applies to home educated children and the family can contact the resident district for an evaluation; no New Hampshire-specific withdrawal form or wait was found.
Before you pull your child out
School ages and attendance in New Hampshire
RSA 193:1 requires attendance for children at least 6 and under 18, and exempts a child receiving home education under RSA 193-A. RSA 193-A:4 says participation in a home education program is presumed to be education required by law, and that lack of notice, records or evaluations in a program run consistent with the chapter cannot be used as a failure to provide education in neglect proceedings.
A letter you can fill in
Fill in the boxes and copy the letter. It is built from what we found above for New Hampshire: the items New Hampshire asks to be included are listed in it. Check it against the state office before you send it.
Everything you type stays in this page. It is never sent to us or saved. Put the recipient's name and address on the To line before you send it.
[today's date] To: The principal of my child's current school or the school district superintendent [name and address] Re: Notice of intent to home school, [child's full name] Dear Sir or Madam: I am the parent of [child's full name], born [date of birth], who is currently enrolled in grade [grade] at [name of current school]. Under N.H. RSA 193-A:1 to 193-A:5, I am notifying you that I will be providing a home education program for my child beginning [start date]. New Hampshire asks that this notice include the following (complete or confirm each one): - Student's name [fill in] - Student's date of birth [fill in] - Student's current address [fill in] - Statement that the student is home educated [fill in] - Statement that the student meets NH compulsory attendance requirements [fill in] - Signature of a parent [fill in] Please also treat this letter as my notice that my child is withdrawn from [name of current school] effective [start date]. I also request a copy of my child's education records, including the cumulative file, attendance and any testing records. Please send them to the address below. Thank you. Sincerely, [your name] [your address]
Who to ask in New Hampshire
NH Department of Education, Office of Home Education (Bureau of Educational Opportunities), last checked October 2026.
Sources we read
- https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/xv/193-a/193-a-1.htm
- https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/xv/193-a/193-a-3.htm
- https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/xv/193-a/193-a-4.htm
- https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/xv/193-a/193-a-mrg.htm
- https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/xv/193/193-1.htm
- https://gc.nh.gov/senate_sessionday/billtext.aspx?id=1715&bn=HB1268
- https://www.education.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt326/files/inline-documents/2026/home-education-freedom-act-faq-updated.pdf
- https://www.education.nh.gov/who-we-are/division-of-education-and-analytic-resources/bureau-educational-opportunities/home-education
- https://www.ecfr.gov/api/renderer/v1/content/enhanced/current/title-34?part=300§ion=300.300
- https://www.ecfr.gov/api/renderer/v1/content/enhanced/current/title-34?part=99§ion=99.10
A plain-language summary of public sources, not legal advice. Laws and forms change, so confirm the current rules with the state office before you send anything.
Once you have left, what do you teach?
Letters & Devotion is a Christian K-12 homeschool curriculum with lessons that are never timed. All 84 courses are readable in full with no account and no card, and the first 30 days are free.
$29 a month or $290 a year for every child. Cancel anytime, in one click.
Questions
Do I have to file anything to homeschool in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire does not require registration, approval or annual notice to start home education. RSA 193-A:3 says a declaration of home education is not required except to get access to public school programs under RSA 193:1-c or upon withdrawal from a public school, so a parent withdrawing an enrolled child does give a declaration. The statute defines it as a written statement, signed by a parent, that the student is home educated and meets compulsory attendance requirements, naming the student, date of birth and current address; the statute names no recipient and no official form, and the state Department of Education says it no longer accepts or keeps home education notices.
Can I take my child out of public school in the middle of the year in New Hampshire?
The Department of Education FAQ (effective July 2026) says notification is required only if a student is being withdrawn from public school or when the family seeks access to public school programs under RSA 193:1-c. Neither the statute nor the FAQ names an exit meeting, district form, waiting period or mid-year limit, and RSA 193-A:4 says home education dates need not match the district calendar.
Who do I send the letter to in New Hampshire?
The statute does not name a recipient for the withdrawal declaration. The resident district is the school the child is leaving (RSA 193-A:1 defines the resident district), so addressing the school principal or district superintendent is the natural choice, but this was not confirmed in a primary source.
What does it cost?
This page and the letter are free. If you choose Letters & Devotion for lessons, it is $29 a month or $290 a year for every child, and the first 30 days are free with no card.
Keep reading