NH EFA Renewal Process and Annual Assessment Options

EFA Accounts Don't Auto-Renew

Your child's EFA account must be renewed every year through the CSF NH portal during the spring application window. This isn't a rubber stamp — you need to re-verify residency, sign an updated Parent Agreement, and submit proof that your child met the annual assessment requirement.

The reward for completing renewal on time: Priority Tier 1 status, which reserves your child's seat under the enrollment cap before new applicants are processed. Missing the July 15 attainment deadline can jeopardize that reserved renewal space.

The July 15 Deadline

The critical date is July 15. Your Record of Educational Attainment — the proof that your child met the assessment requirement — must be submitted and verified by this date to receive 100% of the next year's EFA grant.

Applications verified after July 15 receive prorated quarterly disbursements. Missing the attainment deadline can also jeopardize your reserved Tier 1 renewal space; do not assume that late submission preserves it.

Work backwards from July 15: if you're using a standardized test, schedule it by May so scores arrive in time. If you're using a portfolio evaluation, book the evaluator by late May or early June.

Three Ways to Satisfy the Annual Assessment

CSF NH accepts one of three pathways for the Record of Educational Attainment. You choose which one fits your family — there's no requirement to use the same method each year.

Option 1: Standardized Achievement Test

Your child takes a nationally norm-referenced test, and you upload the official score report showing a Total Score, Math Score, and English Language Arts (ELA) Score.

Approved tests include:

• Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS)
• Stanford Achievement Test
• TerraNova
• California Achievement Test (CAT)
• Classical Learning Test (CLT)
• NWEA/MAP
• ERB (CTP/Milestone)
• PSAT
• SAT

The required report must show Total, Math, and ELA scores.

Option 2: Statewide Student Assessment

Your child participates in New Hampshire's statewide academic assessment program under RSA 193-C:6. You upload the results showing Total, Math, and ELA scores.

This option is straightforward if your child is already taking the state assessment through a participating school. It's less common for families educating entirely at home, since arranging access to the statewide test requires coordination with a local district.

Option 3: Certified Teacher Portfolio Evaluation

A certified teacher — either someone with an active New Hampshire state teaching credential or a teacher currently employed by a non-public school — reviews your child's portfolio and conducts a student interview.

The portfolio should include a reading log and samples of academic writing, worksheets, and creative work. After the evaluation, the teacher writes an Evaluation Letter that must contain:

• The teacher's name and address
• Proof of their teaching credential or current employment at a named non-public school
• Evaluation dates
• A description of the academic work reviewed
• A summary statement on whether the student has made educational progress appropriate for their age or grade level
• The teacher's original signature

This is the most flexible option for families who don't want to test, but finding a qualified evaluator takes planning. Certified homeschool evaluators in New Hampshire are in high demand during May and June.

The Renewal Checklist

Each spring, the renewal process follows these steps:

1. Log into the CSF NH portal at nh.scholarshipfund.org
2. Re-verify your New Hampshire residency (current utility bill, property tax statement, lease, or NH driver's license)
3. Sign the updated annual Parent Agreement
4. Upload the Record of Educational Attainment (test scores or evaluation letter)
5. If applicable, update special education documentation (IEP or Medical Certification Form) and income verification for priority tier status

CSF NH processes renewals before new applications, but verification still takes 4-6 weeks. A renewal submitted in June with all documents attached should clear before the July 15 target. A renewal submitted in late June with a missing document may not.

For detailed assessment timelines, evaluator-finding strategies, and the exact document formats CSF NH accepts, see the New Hampshire EFA Parent Guide.

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