For many families, choosing a different educational path isn’t about chasing something “better.” It’s about finding a place where their child is understood.
Over the past two years, we’ve spoken with hundreds of New Hampshire families. Every story is unique, but many share a common theme: a child whose needs weren’t quite being met, followed by a remarkable change when those needs finally were.
The following story is based on one family’s experience. We’ve changed names and identifying details to protect their privacy.
Every child’s story is different. The right educational setting for one child may not be the right fit for another. But if your child isn’t thriving, it’s worth knowing that you have options.
EdOpt provides free, personalized consultations to help New Hampshire families explore those options. We also have a wicked smaht AI Navigator that can help guide you. Sometimes all it takes is a conversation to discover a path that better fits your child. Connect with us today.
-Jody
Jody Underwood, Ph.D.
President, Education Options
PARENT VOICES
Finally Seen, Finally Thriving
When people meet our daughter today, they see a bright, curious little girl who loves to learn.
What they don’t see is how hard the first few years of school were for our family.
Even before she started kindergarten, we knew she learned differently. At three years old, she was putting together LEGO sets designed for much older children, following only the pictures in the instructions. She figured things out quickly and was always looking for something new to challenge her.
On the very first day of kindergarten, her teacher asked the class to trace letters. Our daughter politely asked if she could read instead because she already knew her letters.
The answer was no. The class was tracing letters, so she needed to trace letters too.
Looking back, I understand that teachers have to manage an entire classroom. But I also wonder if that was the first time our daughter learned that school wasn’t going to meet her where she was.
As the months went by, we began seeing behaviors at home that concerned us. She pushed boundaries more than we’d expected. It seemed like we were constantly dealing with frustration and conflict.
First grade became even more difficult. Her behavior at school led to concerns that something much more serious might be going on. We found ourselves answering difficult questions, meeting with professionals, and trying to reassure people that our daughter was safe. She was evaluated by doctors. There were discussions about ADHD and whether she needed special education services.
It was emotionally exhausting.
The doctors didn’t believe ADHD explained what they were seeing or that she was being mistreated at home. Eventually, she received an IEP that acknowledged that she needed additional support, including more challenging academic work. Our family even helped provide enrichment materials.
For a brief time, those plans seemed promising. But before long, everything slipped back into the usual routine. She was once again spending most of her day doing work that wasn’t challenging her.
We still didn’t know exactly what to do.
But we noticed that each summer, those behaviors almost disappeared. She stayed busy with camp, outdoor activities, and other experiences. She came home tired but happy. Then school would start again, and within weeks the struggles returned.
We couldn’t help but wonder why.
Then we learned about another school, a new charter school nearby. It wasn’t an easy decision. Like many families, we worried about making a change. What if it didn’t work? What if we were overreacting?
But we decided to give it a chance.
On her very first day, her new teachers noticed something almost immediately. They recognized that she was academically ahead of her grade level.
Instead of asking her to wait, they moved her into a higher-grade classroom where she’d be challenged and surrounded by students working at a similar level.
The change was almost immediate.
In that first week, something remarkable happened. Her behavior at home changed. Independently, we all noticed the same thing.
She was calmer. She was happier. The daily conflicts we’d grown accustomed to were fading away.
Nothing about our daughter had changed. What changed was the environment around her.
We’re realistic enough to know this isn’t the end of the story. We know there will be new challenges ahead. No school is perfect, and no educational path guarantees smooth sailing.
But for the first time in a long time, we feel like the adults at school are seeing our daughter for who she is instead of trying to fit her into a system that wasn’t working for her.
As parents, that’s all we ever wanted.
[If you were touched by this story, please share it with a friend.]
Final Fair of 2026!
Our last fair of the year will be Saturday October 24 from 9am-1pm in Loudon (near Concord). It’ll be held indoors at the Benjamin Franklin Academy Charter School, 157 Chichester Rd in Loudon, in conjunction with a 5k run, so we expect a lot of families to show up.
Here’s the current list of providers, and we’re still accepting more. Education providers and attendees can register here.
- Benjamin Franklin Academy
- Concord Karate Studio
- CSF NH
- Education Options
- Friends Forever International
- New Hampshire Career Academy
- New Hampshire Job Corps
- NH Project Learning Tree, sponsored by New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association
- PaperPie
- That Math Stuff
- The Tuttle Twins
Stay tuned for fairs in 2027! Let us know if you want to organize a fair in your area or otherwise help out.
Let your friends know about these fairs. Word of mouth is the best way to advertise. Also, follow us and share our events and posts on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
3 Podcasts!
EdOpt has now published three Choosing School podcasts, providing a glimpse into how families experience different educational alternatives.
Check them out:
Episode 1: The Many Paths of Homeschooling
Episode 2: Moms Who Started Microschools
Episode 3: Special Needs, Different Paths
[If you like these podcasts, please share them with a friend.]
About EdOpt
Use our website to find education providers options around the state. If your organization isn’t there, please enter it!
Also check out our AI Assistant, the EdOpt Navigator, available on every page on our website. It’s wicked smaht about education in New Hampshire.
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