Homeschool benefits and savings in Rochester
Rochester Recreation & Arena Program Scholarships are partial fee waivers on seasonal youth recreation programs for Rochester residents facing financial hardship. You apply online at least two weeks before the program starts, and nothing in the rules ties eligibility to school enrollment.
Who qualifies
Lives in Rochester
Only Rochester residents are eligible, and the city may ask for proof of residency.
Shows financial hardship
Help is given only when the department finds financial hardship. It may ask for documents for any social services you list.
Joins a youth program
Scholarships cover seasonal youth recreation programs. Summer camp uses a separate Camp-Aid Application during the camp pre-season.
Attends the whole program
Families must take part in the entire program, or they may lose eligibility for future help.
What it is worth
Rochester's Program Scholarship Rules and Conditions, revised November 3, 2022, set these terms.
- Award based on
- Early registration fee
- Scholarships per child per season
- 1
- Sessions covered in session-based programs
- 1
- Late fees
- Not covered
- Transfer to another program
- Staff approval
The rules do not give a dollar amount or percentage, and you still pay the parent or guardian portion when you register, so ask the Assistant Director what your share would be.
From applying to the program
- At least 2 weeks before
Apply online
Submit the online Program Scholarship Application. Families without internet can contact the Assistant Director instead.
- Within 7 business days
Get a decision
Complete applications get an email decision. If you hear nothing in that time, contact Recreation staff.
- After approval
Register and pay your share
An award does not hold a spot, so register right away and pay the parent or guardian portion of the fee.
- During the program
Attend every session
Participate in the whole program to stay eligible for future scholarships.
What it pays for
Covered
- Part of seasonal youth program fees
- One session of swim lessons or Learn to Skate per season
Not covered
- Summer camp, which uses Camp-Aid
- Late fees
- Adult programs
- Nonresidents
Scholarships are limited for each program and granted first come, first served to eligible applicants.
Who to contact
Assistant Director Steve Trepanier handles financial assistance questions and helps families with the application; call the Rec Office at extension 0.
Steve.Trepanier@rochesternh.gov 603-332-4120 Scholarship application
Homeschool rules and statewide help in New Hampshire
Since July 1, 2026, a declaration is optional except upon public-school withdrawal or to obtain public-school program access. The declaration identifies the child’s name, birth date, and address and is signed by a parent. There is no general annual filing deadline.
New Hampshire sets these rules:
- Subjects: Parents direct the home education program; current RSA 193-A does not prescribe a subject list or require the district’s calendar or hours.
- Testing: No annual evaluation or standardized-test requirement under RSA 193-A after July 1, 2026. Education Freedom Account participants follow a separate program.
- Records: RSA 193-A no longer requires a portfolio or annual assessment records. Families may keep progress records and optionally certify completion.
- Teachers: No state degree or teaching-license requirement for parents directing home education under RSA 193-A.
New Hampshire also has an education savings account that home-educated students can use.
- The Education Freedom Account directs state adequacy funding to home education, tutoring, classes, and other approved costs, with no income limit since 2025. The 2026-27 enrollment cap has been reached, so new applicants may be waitlisted.
- TheHomeschoolingCompany is an approved vendor for it.
Read the New Hampshire homeschooling guide See statewide programs in New Hampshire
Questions parents ask
- Can a homeschooled child get a Rochester recreation scholarship?
- Yes. The rules require Rochester residency and financial hardship and say nothing about school enrollment.
- Does a Rochester scholarship cover summer camp?
- No. Rochester Summer Camp has its own financial assistance process, the Camp-Aid Application, offered during the camp pre-season.
- If we get a scholarship, is my child guaranteed a spot?
- No. Most programs fill first come, first served, so you still have to complete registration and pay your portion.
- What happens if my child stops going?
- Families who do not finish the program may become ineligible for future financial assistance.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Camps and local activities give your child new interests to explore. Their discoveries can shape the examples and questions they study at home. We are an approved Education Freedom Account (EFA) vendor, so your ClassWallet balance can pay for it.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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