Independent New Hampshire Journalism · Northfield, NHUpdate, Sept. 19, 2026, 2:46 p.m. EDT: An earlier version of this article said a House committee was expected to debate Rep. Michael Granger's proposed constitutional amendment, with a possible statewide vote as early as November. In fact, the amendment, CACR 24, went to the House Education Policy and Administration Committee, and on March 11, 2026, it failed on the House floor, 181–156, short of the three-fifths vote a constitutional amendment needs, according to the General Court docket. The article has been updated to reflect that outcome.
Concord, NH – New Hampshire House Republicans are sharpening their focus on parental rights in education, with a strong push to protect homeschooling as a constitutional right.
State Representative Michael Granger (R-Milton) issued a statement through the House Republican Caucus declaring that the right of parents and legal guardians to educate their children “shall not be violated,” framing homeschooling as both a natural and inherent liberty.
“The Republican Party respects the rights of parents to homeschool. That is why I filed legislation to protect parental rights in this field,” Granger wrote. “We are working to protect you, the parent, and your children from the encroaching authoritarian despotism of the woke agenda and its Fabian attempts at warping and radicalizing the minds of our children.”
Granger emphasized that Republicans intend to move forward with legislation and a constitutional amendment to safeguard parental control over education. He warned against efforts by Democrats to expand public education requirements, arguing that such policies risk reducing children to “wards of the state.”
“Democrats may try to force your children into government schools and treat your children like wards of the state, but the right to homeschool is natural and inherent, and the State should protect this right with the same vehemence it protects other natural rights,” Granger continued.
A Growing Political Divide Over Education
The push reflects a broader ideological battle in New Hampshire and across the country. Republicans have increasingly positioned themselves as defenders of parental rights, religious freedom, and opposition to what they call “woke” influences in education. Democrats, meanwhile, argue for strengthening public schools, ensuring accountability in homeschooling, and protecting students’ access to standardized curricula.
The amendment, filed as CACR 24, went to the House Education Policy and Administration Committee, which recommended it 10–8 with an amendment. On March 11, 2026, the House voted 181–156 in favor, short of the three-fifths majority a constitutional amendment requires, so the measure failed and did not advance to the Senate or the ballot, according to the General Court docket.
Implications for New Hampshire Families
Supporters argued that constitutional protection would lift homeschooling rights above ordinary statute, making it harder for future legislatures to impose restrictions.
For homeschooling families, the proposal represents both reassurance and validation. For critics, it raises concerns about oversight, educational standards, and potential long-term impacts on children’s readiness for higher education and the workforce.
The vote left the question of who should ultimately control education, the state or the parent, to future sessions of the Legislature.
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