Protfolio Preparation

Dear Coalition Member,

We are sending this email to remind you that a portfolio evaluation is one of the assessment methods homeschoolers may use to demonstrate a homeschooled student's educational progress. Details about homeschooling evaluation options are available from our website (http://nhhomeschooling.org/law).

Regardless of the evaluation method a homeschooler uses, New Hampshire law requires every homeschooler to maintain a student portfolio for two years after the date instruction ends.

Here is a list of items to consider including in a homeschooling student portfolio:

• Reading list—(this item is required by law);
• Workbook pages—include the child’s name and the date of the work. It isn’t necessary to include every workbook page. Two or three pages from each core subject, each month is sufficient;
• Writing samples—signed and dated by the student;
• Photographs of field trips;
• Photographs of large or bulky projects;
• Ticket stubs or programs;
• List of outside courses or extra classes;
• Certificates, awards, or special achievements.

If you have any questions about portfolio tips, record-keeping suggestions, or volunteer opportunities with the Coalition, please contact your NHHC District Representative (http://nhhomeschooling.org/reps). All information available from the Coalition website or provided by Coalition representatives is offered as a courtesy to homeschoolers and is not intended as legal advice.

Sincerely,
The New Hampshire Homeschooling Coalition

Membership Information

You can download a copy of our SCHEA membership form by clicking here. Members receive our monthly newsletter, are automatically added to our Yahoo! group for homeschool news, and receive priority registration for SCHEA-sponsored events. Voting members are reqired to sign our statement of faith upon joining and membership renewal.

If you prefer to not be a member at this time, we host a homeschool Yahoo! group for non-members called Friends of SCHEA. Please follow the link to the group home page and you can join from there. Memberships must be approved by the moderator and the list is heavily moderated to maintain privacy.

Used Curriculum Sale

SCHEA has held a used curriculum sale for the homeschooling community for a number of years. Typically, it occurs in June. Please visit back here in the late spring 2010 for details about our sale.

NH Wildlife

Websites for helps in studying about NH wildlife and ecosystems:

• PDFs of Wild Times, a biannual publication about animals in NH - make sure to click on teacher resouces for additional information
• Wild New England -- more about wildlife facts
  
• Call the Public Affairs Division at NH Fish and Game and get on the mailing list to receive hard copies of Wild Times! Their number is (603) 271-3211.

Information, Links and Helps When Talking to Our State Legislators

Here are several items that you might find useful in communicating with our state legislators:

• From Mary Faiella: answers to questions that reps. and senators may have about homeschooling. Please remember to be courteous and respectful as many of them may have limited familiarity with homeschooling and our current homeschooling law.

Answers to Legislators' Questions

• A very detailed analysis of the bills, from a constitutional law perspective. Please note this is a 9 page document:

11 Reasons to Oppose HB 367 & 368

• Legalize Homeschooling Yahoo Group: Please consider joining. Great information in the files section, too.
  

More will be added as necessary.

Testing and Portfolio Evaluations -- Handouts from January 2009 meeting

Here are .pdfs from our January meeting with additional information about standardized test providers and more information about what to expect in a portfolio evaluation.

Home Education Advisory Council Meetings

The Home Education Advisory Council meets on the second Tuesday of the month from September through June. HEAC meetings begin at 3:30 p.m. at the New Hampshire Department of Education, Londergan Hall (Room 12), 101 Pleasant Street, Concord.

These meetings are a forum for homeschoolers, New Hampshire Department of Education officials, and representatives from school boards as well as from public and private school administrations to meet and discuss New Hampshire homeschooling matters. HEAC meetings are open to the public. It's important to point out that even though HEAC meetings are open to the public, only HEAC members may participate in discussion at the meetings. On rare occasions a guest may be requested to take the floor for a brief comment on a specific matter. Members of the public are welcome to attend, listen, and take notes. When homeschoolers attend HEAC meetings, we should arrive on time and conduct ourselves in a way that allows Council members to conduct HEAC business. Homeschoolers may bring matters before the Council by contacting any homeschooling Council member.

The HEAC meeting schedule through the end of 2009 is shown below:

January 13, 2009	July, 2009—no meeting
February 10, 2009	August, 2009—no meeting
March 10, 2009	September 8, 2009
April 14, 2009	October 13, 2009
May 12, 2009	November 10, 2009
June 9, 2009	December 8, 2009