Can NH EFA Students Access Public School Sports and Activities?

The Short Answer: Yes, with a Notification Requirement

Under RSA 194-F:2, IX, EFA students retain the statutory right to take individual courses and participate in extracurricular activities at their local resident public school. This right flows from New Hampshire's equal access statute, RSA 193:1-c, which extends to both RSA 193-A home educators and RSA 194-F EFA students.

The key difference for EFA families: you must notify the resident public school district that your child is an active EFA participant. This notification requirement is written into the statute. RSA 193-A homeschoolers don't face this same disclosure obligation.

What "Equal Access" Actually Covers

RSA 193:1-c gives non-public students the right to participate in courses and co-curricular activities offered by the local district school. In practice, this includes:

• Academic courses: Your child can enroll in individual classes — a chemistry lab, a foreign language, an advanced math course — without enrolling full-time in the public school
• Extracurricular activities: Sports teams, drama, debate, student government, music ensembles, clubs
• Career and technical education (CTE) programs

The statute doesn't limit how many courses or activities your child can access. The restriction is on full-time enrollment: an EFA student cannot be enrolled for more than 50% of instructional time in a public school or public charter school.

Using EFA Funds for Public School Fees

EFA account funds can be used to pay any fees the public school charges for courses or activities your child participates in. This is explicitly listed as a qualifying expense category under RSA 194-F:2, II.

If the school charges a lab fee for a science course, an activity fee for a sport, or a materials fee for an art class, those can be submitted through ClassWallet as a Direct Pay request to the school or as a parent reimbursement with an itemized receipt.

How Districts Handle It in Practice

The statute establishes the right, but individual districts implement it with varying degrees of enthusiasm. Some districts welcome part-time participants and have straightforward registration processes. Others are less accommodating, particularly in districts where the financial impact of EFA departures has been felt.

A few practical realities to prepare for:

Athletic eligibility. The New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association (NHIAA) has its own eligibility rules for homeschool and non-public students participating in public school sports. Your child may need to meet academic progress requirements and residency verification beyond what the EFA program itself requires.

Scheduling. The district schedules courses around its full-time students. Part-time participants may not get first choice of sections or times.

Transportation. Confirm transportation arrangements with the district rather than assuming they are included. Transportation costs are a separate qualifying EFA expense category.

Fees vs. tuition. Course and activity fees are eligible EFA expenses. Ask the district and CSF NH to classify any other charge before you commit EFA funds to it.

The 50% Rule

An EFA student cannot be enrolled full-time in a public school. "Full-time" is defined as more than 50% of instructional time. As long as your child's public school participation stays at or below half of total instructional hours, the EFA remains active.

If your child crosses the 50% threshold — say, taking four of six daily periods at the public school — they would need to either reduce their public school schedule or transition out of the EFA and back into full-time public school enrollment.

For a detailed breakdown of how to exercise RSA 193:1-c rights, sample district notification letters, and guidance on managing part-time enrollment alongside the EFA, see the New Hampshire EFA Parent Guide.

See more New Hampshire guides →