According to the most recent NECAP test results, 61 percent, 68 percent and 28 percent of 11th grade students statewide fall below the “proficient” level in writing, mathematics and reading respectively. By this grade, $1.7 billion has been spent to educate these children.
Every year home-schoolers save New Hampshire taxpayers nearly $50 million by educating their children at home. Year after year, home-schoolers outperform public school students on standardized tests. Colleges and universities seek out home-schooled students because of their excellent academic background.
Yet with no supporting research on home-schooling, state Rep. Judith Day sponsored House Bills 367 and 368. These bills severely curtail home-schooling rights. The proposed legislation demands that home-schoolers rely on failing schools to approve curriculum of home-schoolers.
My 4-year-old can read at the second-grade level and is doing first-grade math at no cost to taxpayers. Our schools are failing tens of thousands of New Hampshire students every year. Yet if my child somewhere down the line fails to make progress after one year, my home-schooling program would be put on probation.
HB 367 and 368 are bad for taxpayers and for home-schoolers. Please call your representatives and tell them to vote no on these bills. Ask them to focus their energy on improving public schools through real education reform and school choice.
Please do not let failing educators interfere in our success.
CATHY PESCHKE
Croydon, NH