Two neighboring New England states moved in opposite directions in 2026. New Hampshire stripped most of the paperwork out of its home education law. Connecticut, which had almost no homeschool rules, wrote its first ones. Both bills are now law, but neither takes full effect on a single date, which is where families get confused.
This summary is based on the enacted bills and the coverage linked below. It is not legal advice; read the final text before you change anything you file.
Last reviewed: November 5, 2026.
New Hampshire: HB 1268
Status: signed by Governor Ayotte on July 10, 2026, as Chapter 290 of the 2026 session laws. (LegiScan)
What it does, in short:
- Removes the requirement to file a notice when you start or stop a home education program.
- Removes the annual evaluation (test or portfolio review) that families used to keep.
- Removes the record-keeping requirements in the old statute.
When: most of the bill took effect on July 1, 2026. Sections 11 through 20 take effect on January 1, 2027.
The debate: the bill passed the House 174 to 166 in March. Supporters described it as trusting parents. Granite State Home Educators, a homeschool group, opposed most of the original version, mainly because it removed the option to file through a private school. (New Hampshire Bulletin, GSHE)
Connecticut: HB 5468 (Public Act 26-37)
Status: signed by Governor Lamont on May 26, 2026, after passing the House 96 to 53 and the Senate 22 to 14. (CT Mirror, Connecticut Senate Democrats)
What it does, in short:
- Names "parent-managed learning" in state law as a third option next to public and private school.
- Bars a parent with an active Department of Children and Families case, or on the state's abuse registry, from homeschooling.
- Creates an annual notice of intent, which starts with the 2028–29 school year.
When: administrative provisions took effect July 1, 2026. The notice requirement does not apply until 2028.
The debate: lawmakers cited the deaths of children who had been withdrawn from school. HSLDA argued the law replaces trust in parents with registration and reporting. (HSLDA)
What this means for your family
If you live in New Hampshire: you no longer have to file or evaluate under the state law, but keep your own records anyway. If your child ever enrolls in a school, transfers to another state, or applies to college, a log of what you covered and a few work samples each term will answer every question quickly.
If you live in Connecticut: nothing changes in your day-to-day teaching yet. Use the time before 2028 to set up a simple routine: a record of school days and a short summary of each subject per term. When the notice starts, you will already have everything.
If you live anywhere else: these two laws show how fast the rules can move. Check your state once a year, before the school year starts. Our homeschool laws by state guide links every state to its legal summary.
Records that work under any law
Log your school days and print a progress report each term. Free, no account, and everything stays on your device.
