More oversight for homeschool students?

New Hampshire requires parents who homeschool to conduct an annual evaluation of their student's progress. However, the parents do not have to report the results of that evaluation to the state or any school.

Rep. Robert Theberge has requested a 2018 bill to change that process so that the state has more oversight.

No accountability for parents?

According to the Union Leader, the bill is a response to concerns from Berlin School District Superintendent Corinne Cascadden, who believes about four dozen homeschool students are receiving essentially no education at home.

Each year state law requires homeschooling parents to evaluate their student's progress one of two ways: submit a portfolio of work to a teacher to evaluate, or have the student complete a standardized test.

The parent must keep the results of the evaluation for two years, but neither the school district nor the state sees the evaluation results.

Click here to learn more about the various policy debates around school curriculum and standards in New Hampshire.

DCYF investigates homeschool failures

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is responsible for investigating any possible cases of "educational neglect." Educational neglect covers homeschool parents who do not provide education at home, parents who allow their children to frequently skip school, etc. Anyone can report suspected educational neglect to DCYF.

Critics of this investigation process note that DCYF investigators are not trained in education.

According to the state's Home Education Advisory Council, DCYF received almost 600 reports of educational neglect in fiscal year 2016. 34 of those reports resulted in a finding of neglect. DCYF does not track if those cases involved homeschoolers or public school students.

Parents know what's best?

Homeschool advocates argue that parents know the best interests of their child, and therefore there's no reason for the state to burden parents and schools with more administration.

Homeschool advocates also argue that there is no evidence of widespread educational neglect among homeschoolers.

"This bill would likely impose significant and unacceptable new burdens on New Hampshire homeschooling families and undermine the freedom of homeschooling in the Granite State."

- Mike Donnelly, attorney, Home School Legal Defense Association

Have your say!

The oversight of homeschool programs may get more attention this year because the Legislature is also considering a bill that would allow homeschoolers to claim the portion of state education funding that would otherwise go to their local public school.

Click here to learn more about state funding for homeschoolers and read what our community thought about the proposal.

Do you think the state or local schools should have more oversight of homeschooling? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.