Learn about homeschooling laws, requirements, and resources specific to New York.
New York State has some of the most detailed homeschooling regulations in the United States. Parents have the legal right to homeschool in New York, but they must follow specific guidelines set by the state to ensure a "substantially equivalent" education to that of public schools. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of what New York law requires for homeschooling, including legal options, required notifications and paperwork, curriculum and subjects, parent qualifications, testing and assessments, recordkeeping and attendance, oversight by school districts, legal protections, common pitfalls, and support resources for families.
In New York, there is only one legal option for homeschooling: operating a home instruction program in compliance with Section 100.10 of the Commissioner's Regulations.
This means the parent or guardian assumes responsibility for educating the child at home and must follow the state's homeschool procedures. New York does not have multiple homeschooling statutes such as private "umbrella" school enrollment or charter homeschools.
New York does not impose any additional legal structures such as homeschooling under a private school or independent study program – it is simply home instruction under the oversight of the local school district as defined in state regulation.
Our AI-powered tools can help you understand New York's home instruction regulations, track required filings with your local district, and keep your homeschool program in full compliance. We'll provide guidance specific to your local district, as implementation can sometimes vary across New York State.
Homeschooling families in New York must follow a strict schedule of notifications and submissions to their school district each year. The required paperwork includes an initial notice of intent, an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP), quarterly progress reports, and an annual assessment report.
New York homeschoolers must submit multiple documents throughout the school year to remain in compliance with state regulations. Keeping track of these deadlines is crucial for maintaining your homeschool program's legal status.
| Document | Deadline | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Letter of Intent |
July 1 or within 14 days of starting mid-year |
A written notice to the district superintendent indicating your intent to homeschool for the coming year |
| District Acknowledgment |
Within 10 business days after receiving your Letter of Intent |
District sends a copy of regulations and IHIP forms |
| IHIP Submission |
August 15 or within 4 weeks of receiving forms |
Your detailed plan for the year including subjects, materials, and quarterly report dates |
| IHIP Approval |
Within 10 business days after receiving your IHIP |
District notifies if IHIP is approved or needs revisions |
| Revised IHIP (if needed) |
Within 15 days of receiving deficiency notice |
Submit corrections if the district identified any deficiencies |
| Quarterly Reports |
Four times per year on dates you specify in IHIP |
Progress reports detailing what was taught and student's progress in each subject |
| Annual Assessment |
With 4th quarterly report typically in June |
Standardized test results or written narrative evaluation (requirements vary by grade level) |
Every year, parents must submit a written notice of intent to homeschool to the district superintendent by July 1st. This applies to families continuing homeschooling into a new school year.
Key points:
Note: The district must respond within 10 business days by sending a copy of the homeschooling regulations and an IHIP form.
The Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) is essentially your academic plan for the year. It must be submitted by August 15th or within 4 weeks of receiving the district's IHIP form.
Required elements:
Tip: You do not have to use the district's IHIP form if you prefer to write your own, but all required elements must be included.
New York requires homeschoolers to submit four quarterly reports throughout the year to demonstrate ongoing instruction.
Each report must include:
Example timeline:
Important: You choose the due dates in your IHIP, but they should be roughly evenly spaced throughout the school year.
If your IHIP is rejected, there is a clear process to resolve disagreements:
Note: The law emphasizes that superintendents should make objective determinations based on whether the plan addresses mandated subjects, not subjective judgments of educational quality.
Timelines are very important in New York. Missing a deadline (especially the initial letter or failing to turn in a report) can trigger warning letters and potentially jeopardize your homeschooling program. However, districts must work with parents by notifying them of issues and allowing corrections within reasonable timeframes before taking further action.
Our AI tools can help you create compliant Letters of Intent, develop comprehensive IHIPs that meet all requirements, generate quarterly reports, and track your submission deadlines. We'll send you automatic reminders before each deadline and help you maintain organized records of all your homeschool documentation.
New York State mandates that certain subjects be taught to homeschooled children at various grade levels. While the state does not prescribe specific curriculum or textbooks, the content areas that must be included are clearly delineated by law.
Parents have the freedom to choose their own curriculum materials and teaching methods as long as all required subject areas are covered. New York defines the subjects that must be taught, but allows flexibility in how and when they are taught.
Across the K–12 span, there are topics that New York requires homeschoolers to address at least once during the child's education, generally by the end of eighth grade:
Tip: Most families integrate these topics into social studies or health classes over the course of several years.
For the elementary years (approximately ages 6–11), New York lists basic subjects that must be taught every year:
Note: New York does not require formal schooling for Kindergarten, but if a 5-year-old is homeschooled, parents often include similar subjects in an age-appropriate way.
In junior high (typically ages 12–13), the required subjects become more defined by "units" of study. Over grades 7 and 8, students must complete:
Unit Definition: 1 unit = 108 instructional hours (equivalent to a high school credit)
For high school-level homeschoolers (approximately ages 14–18), New York requires specific credit totals over the course of grades 9-12:
Note: Foreign language is not required for homeschoolers in New York, though many families choose to include it as an elective.
Curriculum Flexibility: Homeschooling parents have the flexibility to choose how and when to teach each subject, as long as over the course of the year (or years, in the case of multi-year requirements) the material is covered. For the IHIP, parents usually list the resources or textbooks they plan to use for each subject.
The district's role is not to compare the parent's chosen curriculum with the public school's, but simply to confirm that instruction will be provided in all required areas.
Our AI tools can help you create a comprehensive IHIP that includes all required New York subjects while tailoring the curriculum to your child's interests, learning style, and educational goals. We can suggest curriculum resources for each required subject and help you track your coverage of all mandated topics throughout the year.
One common question is whether parents need to be certified teachers or have special qualifications to homeschool their children in New York. The answer is no – New York State law does not impose any educational certification or degree requirements on parents or instructors in a home instruction setting.
The person providing home instruction is not required to hold a state teaching license or any specific credentials. School districts may not require parents or tutors to produce any particular credentials as a condition of homeschooling.
Any parent or legal guardian with custody of the child can homeschool, regardless of the parent's own level of education.
Parents may engage a private tutor or outside teacher. These instructors also do not need to be state-certified specifically for homeschool purposes.
Families may use online courses, co-op classes, or specialized instructors for certain subjects as part of their homeschool program.
Even when using tutors or outside resources, the responsibility for the homeschool program remains with the parent.
Because no formal training is required, parents should be prepared to educate themselves on curriculum and teaching methods.
The lack of a teaching credential cannot be used by a district to deny a homeschool program. Officials cannot mandate that parents take any training or have a diploma.
Parental qualifications in NY are straightforward: if you are the parent or guardian of the child, you are allowed to homeschool as long as you follow the procedure. The state trusts parents to either teach the material themselves or obtain resources to do so.
This is a legal protection for families – it affirms that homeschooling is not only for professionally trained educators, but for any family willing to undertake it, as long as they fulfill the instructional requirements.
While New York doesn't require teaching credentials, our AI tools can help you develop effective teaching strategies tailored to your child's learning style. We offer resources to help you understand curriculum options, assessment methods, and educational best practices to support your homeschooling journey, even if you have no formal teaching background.
New York State requires an annual assessment of every homeschooled student to ensure they are making academic progress. This assessment takes the form of either a standardized test or (in certain years) a written narrative evaluation.
If a family fails to submit any assessment, the district will treat it as a serious compliance issue and may ultimately report it as a case of suspected educational neglect. The assessment must be submitted with your final quarterly report in June.
| Grade Level | Assessment Options | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Grades 1-3 |
|
Parent has full choice each year between testing or narrative evaluation |
| Grades 4-8 |
|
No more than one year can pass without a standardized test |
| Grades 9-12 |
|
Must be a nationally normed achievement test or applicable state test each year |
New York regulations provide a list of approved standardized tests that can be used:
Tests can be administered in several ways:
When permitted (annually in grades 1-3, alternating years in grades 4-8), a written narrative must be prepared by one of these:
Process: The evaluator reviews the child's work portfolio and writes an assessment of academic progress. Many families have a certified teacher friend review the child's work samples and write a short report.
New York sets minimum performance benchmarks:
The student's composite score must be either:
For narrative evaluations, the evaluator must confirm that the student has made adequate academic progress based on the review of their work.
Most homeschooling families meet the performance standards, and those on probation typically improve with a remedial plan and additional support.
Our platform offers practice test materials aligned with common standardized tests, progress tracking, and assessment templates for narrative evaluations. We can help you monitor your child's progress throughout the year to ensure they'll be ready for their annual assessment, whether you choose standardized testing or narrative evaluation.
New York's homeschool regulations address attendance and recordkeeping to ensure children are receiving sufficient instruction. Homeschool families must track instructional time and maintain basic records, though with considerable flexibility in how they structure their school schedule.
Homeschooled students must receive the substantial equivalent of:
Parents must maintain a record of attendance for each homeschooled student.
Report the number of instructional hours or days in each quarterly report.
Be prepared to show attendance records if requested by the superintendent.
While not legally required, these records are highly recommended:
Samples of completed assignments, projects, essays, etc.
Track books read and resources used throughout the year.
Keep copies of all documents submitted and any responses received.
Homeschool families have significant flexibility in scheduling:
What matters is the total instructional time over the course of the year, not when that instruction occurs.
Homeschooling can encompass a wide range of educational activities:
There isn't a strict definition beyond the parent's reasonable judgment that the child is engaged in learning that furthers their education.
The concept of "absences" is different for homeschools:
Define what a "school day" means for your homeschool:
Your school district will maintain a Home Instruction Worksheet for each homeschooled student. This is an administrative document kept by the district to track compliance and record dates when required documents are received. Parents don't need to fill this out - it's for district use only. NYSED recommends districts retain these records for 6 years after the student's expected graduation.
Our platform offers attendance tracking tools specifically designed for New York homeschool families. Easily log instructional hours, track progress toward your annual requirement, and generate quarterly reports with the required information. We also provide portfolio templates to help organize student work samples, making assessment time easier and less stressful.
Under New York law, local school districts have the responsibility to oversee homeschooling within their boundaries to ensure each child is receiving an education that meets state regulations. This oversight primarily involves reviewing submitted paperwork and addressing compliance issues.
The goal of the district's enforcement powers is to uphold educational standards while respecting parents' right to homeschool. Districts are expected to review submissions objectively based on regulatory requirements rather than making subjective judgments about teaching methods or materials.
The superintendent or designated homeschool liaison reviews:
Checks that all required subjects are included, materials are identified, and quarterly report schedule is specified.
Confirms that instruction is occurring as planned and appropriate progress is being made in all subjects.
Verifies that test scores show adequate progress or narrative evaluation is positive.
When a family fails to meet requirements, districts follow this general process:
Reminder letters or phone calls about missing or incomplete documents.
Written notification of non-compliance with specific deficiencies noted.
For ongoing non-compliance, may refer to Child Protective Services for educational neglect or initiate a truancy proceeding.
Note: Probation is a rare enforcement measure. Most homeschool families never experience it as long as they maintain communication with the district and ensure their child is making progress.
Districts cannot require:
No home visits unless a program is on probation (and even then, only with 3 days' notice).
Health or fire inspection reports that apply to school buildings do not apply to homes.
Following public school hours/calendar or logging in at certain times.
Important: Each district sets its own policy on extracurricular participation for homeschoolers. Check with your district for specific policies.
Many school districts approach homeschool oversight as a cooperative process. By submitting required documents on time, responding promptly to communications, and addressing any concerns raised by the district, most families find the oversight process to be straightforward. Remember that district staff are following their legal obligations, and a respectful approach typically leads to smoother interactions.
Our platform offers automated reminders for document submission deadlines, templates that ensure all required information is included, and guidance on addressing district concerns. We can help you maintain positive relations with your school district while ensuring your homeschool program remains in full compliance with New York regulations.
Homeschooling in New York, while paperwork-intensive, comes with legal protections for families who follow the rules. At the same time, there are common pitfalls that families should avoid to stay in good standing.
New York law explicitly recognizes parents' right to instruct their children at home. As long as you submit required notifications and provide instruction in the required subjects, districts cannot deny your choice to homeschool on arbitrary grounds.
If a dispute arises, parents have the right to defend their homeschool program. They can present evidence to the school board and appeal to the State Education Department's Commissioner.
Outside of specific probation scenarios, parents can decline home visits and are not subject to school-type inspections. The law respects that the home is a private environment.
Parents have control over curriculum and teaching methods. The state cannot dictate how you teach your child or which books to use, as long as the required subjects are taught.
Parents are not required to hold teaching credentials, and children are not required to take state standardized tests like the Regents Exams (though they can opt in if desired).
Organizations like Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) and Homeschool New York (LEAH) offer advocacy and support if families face legal challenges.
While New York's homeschooling regulations provide clarity, they also leave less room for error compared to more lenient states. Here are the most common pitfalls and how to avoid them:
The Pitfall: New York's deadlines (July 1 for intent letter, August 15 for IHIP, quarterly due dates) are strict. Missing them can trigger warning letters or escalation.
How to Avoid: Mark all deadlines on a calendar. For mid-year starts, remember the 14-day rule for the letter of intent. Send documents early rather than waiting until the last day.
Consider setting up reminders 2 weeks before each deadline
The Pitfall: Submitting an IHIP that lacks required components (missing a subject, not including quarterly report dates) can lead to a deficiency notice.
How to Avoid: Use a checklist when preparing the IHIP. Ensure every required subject for your child's grade level is mentioned and all information is included.
Have another person review your IHIP before submission
The Pitfall: Inadvertently focusing on some subjects while shortchanging others can lead to compliance issues in quarterly reports or assessments.
How to Avoid: Ensure that throughout the year you give attention to every required subject. It doesn't mean equal time for each, but there should be some instruction in each.
Create a weekly schedule that includes all required subjects
The Pitfall: Not preparing for standardized tests or selecting an unsuitable evaluator for narratives can result in scores below the 33rd percentile or negative assessments.
How to Avoid: Treat the annual assessment seriously. If testing, ensure your child practices with timed tests. If using a narrative evaluation, select an evaluator who understands homeschooling.
Consider practice tests or sample evaluations before the real thing
The Pitfall: Enrolling in an online curriculum or "homeschool program" and thinking you don't need to file paperwork with NY state. This is incorrect—you still must file all documentation.
How to Avoid: Understand that any curriculum providers or umbrella programs are supplemental. You, the parent, are legally the "school" in the eyes of NY law. Submit all required paperwork.
Note in your IHIP that you're using an online program as your curriculum
The Pitfall: If a group of homeschoolers arranges full-time group instruction, the state might view it as an unregistered private school, which is not legal.
How to Avoid: Homeschool co-ops should complement, not replace, parent-directed instruction. Keep the majority of the program under your supervision.
Limit co-op classes to specific subjects or 1-2 days per week
The Pitfall: Issues can escalate due to lack of communication – letters might get lost in the mail, or changes in district personnel can lead to misunderstandings.
Most districts will reciprocate with a cooperative tone when communications are clear, timely, and respectful.
The legal protections for homeschoolers in New York are strong when families fulfill their duties. You have the right to educate your child at home without harassment, and the structured process provides clarity on expectations. By being informed and organized, homeschooling parents can navigate New York's regulations successfully. The paperwork may seem daunting at first, but it becomes routine with experience.
Our platform offers tools designed specifically to help New York homeschoolers avoid common pitfalls. Our deadline reminders, document templates, and compliance checklists ensure you never miss a filing date or required document component. We'll help you track subject coverage throughout the year and prepare effectively for annual assessments.
Homeschooling can be challenging, but families in New York have access to a wealth of support and resources. From statewide advocacy organizations to local co-ops and enrichment classes, the homeschooling community in NY is vibrant and well-established.
While New York's regulations are detailed, no family has to navigate them alone. There is a longstanding community of NY homeschoolers and organizations dedicated to helping each other succeed. Connecting with these resources can make your homeschooling journey both easier and more enriching.
The largest statewide homeschool support organization, founded over 35 years ago. While Christian-oriented, they provide valuable resources for all homeschoolers including:
A secular, inclusive network providing support and information for New York homeschoolers. One of the first online hubs for NY homeschooling law information.
A national advocacy organization that many New York families join for legal peace of mind. They provide:
Across New York, local support groups and co-ops provide valuable resources and community connections:
Many families participate in co-ops where they meet weekly for group classes. Parents take turns teaching subjects like art, science labs, or foreign languages.
Search for local groups through:
Many curriculum providers understand New York's requirements:
Remember: Using these services doesn't remove your obligation to file paperwork, but it can make the actual teaching easier.
Take advantage of these educational resources:
Connect with other NY homeschoolers online:
Official resources:
Resources for homeschooling children with special needs:
These resources can provide guidance on evaluations, therapies, or equipment while still homeschooling.
Options for homeschooled teens in New York:
New families are encouraged to plug into these networks – join a local group, attend a homeschool conference or curriculum fair in New York, or connect online. By doing so, you can gain insights on everything from choosing curriculum that satisfies state requirements to finding enrichment activities for your child. The combination of official resources and community support makes it entirely possible to homeschool effectively in New York State.
At Learning Corner, we've developed specific tools to help New York homeschooling families navigate the state's detailed requirements while enhancing their educational experience.
Our Regulation Navigator helps you stay on top of New York's homeschooling requirements:
Design a curriculum that meets all of New York's subject requirements:
Get ready for New York's annual assessment requirements:
Navigate the path from homeschooling to college in New York:
Our AI assistant can help answer your specific questions about homeschooling in New York, suggest resources tailored to your child's needs, and help you troubleshoot any compliance challenges. It's like having an experienced New York homeschool mentor available 24/7.
Access basic tools for free, with premium features available for subscribers.
Learning Corner offers several AI-powered tools that can assist New York homeschoolers:
Analyze your student's activity to understand which concepts they're learning, helping New York homeschool parents track academic progress across required subject areas.
Create custom quizzes and assessments to track student progress and ensure comprehensive coverage of New York's required subject areas.
Generate customized worksheets for practice and reinforcement across all required New York subject areas.
Create structured lesson plans that can serve as documentation of your instruction and help maintain recommended records for New York homeschoolers.
Last Updated: April 24, 2025