Special Note

Coronavirus and Homeschooling

This is a strange and difficult time for everyone, including our children. It is our sincere hope that you and your families are well and weathering this storm. We know that while many are focused on those who have children displaced from their usual learning environments, we recognize homeschoolers are also missing their usual activities with friends and have their lives disrupted, too.

This edition of our newsletter will be a little different from the usual; not only are in-person events canceled or moved online, there is a greater interest in mental-health and getting through the Stay-at-Home orders as families and communities. We hope this issue is a helpful resource.

In an effort to help our neighbors struggling with remote learning, GSHE has created a few resources for them. Please feel free to share these links with your friends who may need the additional support. They are listed in this article, School at Home isn't Homeschooling. We have also compiled many free and discounted resources in Coronavirus and School Closings: Unexpected Homeschooling.

News and Articles

Unexpectedly Homeschooling -- Creating a Schedule

During this uncertain time, we have many families who are juggling remote learning while working from home, and trying to maintain a sense of normalcy for their children. No easy task.

Many people have asked Amanda Weeden, one of our leadership team members, about how to handle this for older children and teens. Here is her top suggestion – creating a schedule for your family. Read it here.

School at Home Isn't Homeschooling

Over the past week, millions of families across the country found themselves unexpectedly remote learning and working due to the Coronavirus. While we may refer to this time as “homeschooling,” it isn’t in critical ways.
Read the rest of the story here. 

Homeschool Year-End Assessments

We have fielded many questions from families who are uncertain about year-end assessments with public and private schools closed and states, including New Hampshire, seeking waivers from the US Department of Education for their annual statewide assessments due to the Coronavirus.

To date we have heard nothing that suspends or waives homeschoolers from the annual year-end assessment requirements.

GSHE leadership knows many families are concerned about the assessment requirement during this SIP time, and has brought it to the attention of Commissioner Edelblut. If the DOE waives assessment requirements for homeschoolers, we will share the information with you immediately.

Read more here. 

HEAC Reviews Ed 315 Proposal

The Home Education Advisory Council next meets on April 23 at 3:00pm. The meeting link will be posted as soon as it is available.

In fall 2018, the Commissioner of Education directed HEAC to review Ed 315 (scroll about half-way down the page), the rules that govern home education. The rules are intended to help clarify home education law, RSA 193-A, and cannot exceed it. In the Commissioner’s view, existing rules are too specific and need to be trimmed to reflect current statute, that the council needs to review the rules with a holistic view.

HEAC worked throughout last year to prepare a proposal which was presented to the Department of Education last June. This September, the DOE asked the council to clean up the rules further, to start from the beginning with a fresh approach, and work with the department’s rules administrator, Amanda Phelps, on the draft.

Read more about the revision proposal here. 

Special Resources re Coronavirus and SIP

The Reb: 5 Things to Remember When the Coronavirus Cancels Your Life -- The world is changing all around us. For students in high school and college, it can feel like everything has been cancelled or is about to be cancelled. School. Church. Youth group. Field trips. Movie theaters. Everything. The gymnastics tournament you’ve been training for all year? Cancelled. The musical you were supposed to perform in next month? Cancelled. That mission trip you’ve been fundraising for? Cancelled. That visit from an out-of-town friend? Cancelled. If something hasn’t been cancelled, it’s been postponed. Everything is up in the air. Will you be able to start college in the fall? When will your dad be able to go back to work? When will life get back to normal? Or will everything only get worse? In light of this uncertainty and disruption, I want to share five things young people would do well to remember.

Child Mind Institute: Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus -- News of the coronavirus COVID-19 is everywhere, from the front page of all the papers to the playground at school. Many parents are wondering how to bring up the epidemic in a way that will be reassuring and not make kids more worried than they already may be. Here is some advice from the experts at the Child Mind Institute.

Homegrown Learners: Please Stop Homeschooling the Children -- One week ago I was compiling the weekly homeschool roundup. Today I am advising people to stop homeschooling the children. Our world literally changed overnight; the segment of the population that probably feel that most intensely are the children.

Grown & Flown: What are You Doing to Get Through These Days? -- You are losing your mind. Join the club-me too. This is an overwhelming time but there are ways to preserve your sanity through the madness. 

Community College System of NH -- eStart Registration is Open
The eStart program enables high school students to take community college courses for dual high school and college credit.

Mother Nature Network -- What to See in the Night Sky in April

It's hard to believe, but we've almost reached that time of the year when stargazers don't necessarily need to grab hats, gloves and other cold weather accessories. We like to think of April as the gateway to those summer evenings when all that's required is a blanket and a cold beverage. Regardless of how temperamental the weather may be where you are, there's plenty in the evening sky to keep you distracted this month. What celestial events do the heavens have in store? Check out our list below for some April highlights. Wishing you clear evenings!

Museum of Science Boston -- Earth Day Youth Art Contest
Now through Sunday, April 19th, the museum is accepting 2D digital entries from K-12 students for their Earth Day Youth Art Contest. 

If you're on our Facebook group, look on the Events page for even more fun and educational opportunities coming up!