Friday, February 26, 2010

Historical Timeline of Home Education in N.H.

In 1871 parents, who instructed their children at home, were completely exempt from the compulsory attendance law which required attendance for 12 weeks per year from age 8 to 14. The duty of parents to instruct their children pre-dates government. Over time this explicit exemption from the compulsory attendance law was dropped from statute without explanation.

Prior to the 1990 home education law, home schooling parents were required to appeal to their district school boards for relief under RSA 193:3 by demonstrating that attendance at public school would pose a “manifest educational hardship” for their child. The Department of Education eventually developed guidelines for home schooling under this “manifest educational hardship” clause. These guidelines, while problematic, lacked any statutory authority whatsoever. They were guidance or suggestions for the school districts to heed or ignore.

Enforcement under these guidelines varied dramatically across the state. Families besieged by one district could move to a nearby town and home school in peace. One such family moved from Litchfield to escape litigation and continued to home school in Mont Vernon without further incident.

This particular case roused the concern of a Litchfield school board member and state Representative Ellen Anne Robinson who filed a bill to impose statewide regulation upon parents to insure greater compliance. The bill’s co-sponsor, Senator George Disnard boasted to his colleagues that the state could “finally litigate and win against home schoolers" with his bill.

Chaptered Law: 0279

SB 373-FN-A Session Year 1990 Senator George Disnard and Rep. EllenAnne Robinson

Established Home Education Law RSA 193-A

Title: (New Title) relative to compulsory school attendance and to home education.

G-Status:

SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

House Status:

PASSED / ADOPTED WITH AMENDMENT

Senate Status:

CONCURRED

Date

Body

Description

01/03/1990

S

INTRODUCED AND REF TO EDUCATION SJ 1 , P 4

01/03/1990

S

HEARING 1/16/90 9:00 RM 209,LOB FOR: EDUCATION [Representatives Hall]

01/11/1990

S

RECESSED HEARING 1/30/90 9:00 RM 209,LOB FOR: EDUCATION

02/08/1990

S

COMMITTEE REPORT OTPA SJ 8 P 107

02/08/1990

S

PASSED/ADOPTED WITH AM

02/14/1990

H

INTRODUCED AND REF TO EDUCATION; HJ39,P1253

02/14/1990

H

IN SEAT POCKET ON 02/14/90 DUE ON 03/22/90

02/15/1990

H

==CANCELLED==HEARING MAR14 10:00 RM202,LOB FOR: EDUCATION

02/21/1990

H

RESCHEDULED HEARING MAR15 10:00 RM202-204,LOB FOR: EDUCATION [Representatives Hall]

03/15/1990

H

SUBCOMM WORK SESSION MAR21 10:00 RM202,LOB FOR: EDUC

03/22/1990

H

MAJ REPORT OTP/AM FOR MAR27 (VOTE 14-0;CC)

03/26/1990

H

PROP COMM AM; HC45,P1434-1435

03/27/1990

H

REMOVED FROM CC, REQ REP SKINNER; HJ49,P1512

03/27/1990

H

COMM AM, AA VV; PASSED WITH AM AND

03/27/1990

H

REF TO APPROP DIV(301-27); HJ49,P1536-1537

03/27/1990

H

REP KIDDER SUSP RULES FOR HEARING, MA 2/3VV; HJ49,P1541

03/27/1990

H

HEARING MAR29 11:00 RM100,SH FOR: APPROPRIATIONS

04/05/1990

H

MAJ REPORT OTP FOR APR10 (VOTE 18-2)

04/10/1990

H

PASSED VV; HJ60,P1719 + 1725

04/12/1990

S

SENATE CONC WITH HOUSE AM

04/19/1990

H

ENROLLED; HJ65,P1829

04/19/1990

S

ENROLLED

04/28/1990

S

SIGNED BY GOVERNOR 4/28/90 EFF: 7/1/90* CHAP. 0279