New York Homeschool Laws

New York Homeschooling Laws, Information, and Resources for New York

If you’re looking into homeschooling in New York, you’re in the right place! This page provides the resources and information you need to determine whether homeschooling in NY is right for you.

Summary of New York Homeschool Laws

Knowing the requirements for homeschooling in New York state is one key to successful homeschooling. Below is a summary of the homeschool laws in the state of New York. You can find additional information on Home School Legal Defense Association’s (HSLDA) website as well: New York HSLDA Reference

Homeschool Options in New York

New York State Law Homeschool Summary

Submit a notice of intent to homeschool to the district superintendent by July 1 (the beginning of the school year) annually, or within 14 days of establishing your new homeschool program during the school year. For families who live in New York City (within Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, or Staten Island), this notice, and all homeschooling correspondence, should instead be submitted to the New York City Department of Education’s Office of Home Schooling. It is recommended that you submit your notice of intent via email to LetterofIntent@schools.nyc.gov (for submission of letters of intent to homeschool only). All other paperwork may be emailed to Homeschool@schools.nyc.gov (for general inquiries and document submission).
Submit an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) each year by August 15 or within four weeks of the receipt of the IHIP form from the school district (whichever is later). The IHIP form requires you to submit:
- Your child’s name, age, and grade level
- A list of your syllabi, curriculum materials, textbooks, or plan of instruction
- Dates for submission of quarterly reports
- Name of whomever is providing instruction

3. Comply with day, hour, and subject requirements and maintain records of attendance each year demonstrating that your child’s attendance meets the “substantial equivalent” of 180 days per year. Attendance records are only required to be submitted to the school district upon request of the superintendent. Homeschooled students are also required to meet hourly attendance requirements: 900 hours of school per year in grades 1-6, and 990 hours of school per year in grades 7-12.

Below are subject requirements by grade per NY homeschool laws:

K-12:

Patriotism and citizenship
About substance abuse
Traffic safety (including bike safety)
Fire safety
US and New York history and constitutions (at least once before grade 9)

Grades 1-6:

Math
Reading
Spelling
Writing
English
Geography
U.S. history
Science
Health
Music
Visual arts
Physical education

Grades 7-8:

Math
English
History and geography
Science
Health
Music
Art
Practical arts
Physical education
Library skills

Grades 9-12:

Math (2 credits)
English (4 credits)
Social studies, including American history, participation in government, and economics (4 credits)
Science (2 credits)
Art or music (1 credit)
Health (½ credit)
Physical education (2 credits)
Electives (3 credits)

4. File quarterly reports to the district superintendent each quarter. These should include the number of hours of instruction during the quarter, a description of the material covered in each subject, and a grade or narrative evaluation in each subject.

5. Assess your child annually. In grades 1-3, your student can take a standardized test, or you can choose to submit a written narrative evaluation for your student. In grades 4-8, standardized testing is required at least every other year, with the written narrative evaluation available as an option in the years you do not use a standardized testing option. Standardized testing is required every year in high school. Standardized tests can be administered at the local public school or a registered non-public school. A test can also be administered in your home, or at any other reasonable location, by a New York-certified teacher or by another qualified person (including the student’s parent) with the consent of the superintendent. You can obtain consent by simply notifying the superintendent in your third quarterly report which test you will be using and who will be administering it.
To demonstrate satisfactory progress, your student’s composite score must be above the 33rd percentile, or the score must reflect one academic year of growth compared to a test administered the prior school year.

You may choose one of the following tests:

Iowa Test of Basic Skills,
California Achievement Test
Stanford Achievement Test
Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills
State Education Department Test
Another test approved by the State Education Department, such as the Personalized Achievement Summary System (PASS) test

Written narrative evaluations may be conducted by a certified teacher, a home instruction peer group review panel, or another person with the consent of the local superintendent. As with the standardized test, you can obtain implied consent by notifying the superintendent in your third quarterly report that you will be submitting a written narrative evaluation and by whom it will be prepared.

New York State Education Resources

New York Homeschooling Support Groups

Top New York Homeschooling Field Trip Ideas

One of the many benefits of homeschooling is the flexibility to explore! Here are some ideas for amazing–and educational–field trips around the great state of New York!