Homeschooling in New York

New York has the most heavily regulated homeschool program in the country. Families file a Letter of Intent, an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP), four Quarterly Reports per year, and an annual assessment. The regulations are codified in Section 100.10 of the Commissioner's Regulations. While the paperwork load is significant, thousands of New York families homeschool successfully every year.

Legal framework at a glance

Legal options: One pathway — home instruction under New York Commissioner's Regulations Section 100.10.

Notification: File a Letter of Intent annually with the school district by July 1 (or within 14 days of starting homeschooling mid-year).

Instructional time: 180 days per year. 900 hours per year for grades 1-6; 990 hours per year for grades 7-12 (approximately 5 hours per day).

Required subjects: Detailed subject lists by grade level — arithmetic/math, reading, spelling, writing, English, geography, U.S. history, science, health, music, visual arts, physical education, plus required topics including patriotism, character, fire/highway safety, alcohol/drug/tobacco abuse, NY history, U.S. and NY constitution. High school requires 22 units of credit..

Testing and evaluation: Annual assessment required for grades 1-12. Standardized testing required at grades 4, 6, 8, and annually in grades 9-12. Alternative narrative evaluation by certified teacher allowed in non-testing years for grades 1-3 and 5-7..

What New York families need to know

Letter of Intent: file with the school district superintendent by July 1 each year, OR within 14 days of beginning homeschooling mid-year. The district must respond within 10 business days with the home instruction regulations and an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) form.

Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP): submit to the school district by August 15 OR within 4 weeks of receiving the form from the district (whichever is later). Must include the child's name, age, and grade level; a list of syllabi, curriculum materials, textbooks, or instruction plan; the dates for submission of quarterly reports; and the name of the instructor. The district reviews and notifies you whether the IHIP is deemed sufficient.

Four Quarterly Reports: due approximately every 10 weeks throughout the school year. Each report must include the number of hours of instruction during that quarter, a description of material covered in each required subject, and either a grade or written narrative evaluation in each subject. Missing quarterly report deadlines can trigger compliance review and truancy proceedings.

Annual Assessment: required at the end of every school year for grades 1-12. Submitted with the 4th quarterly report by June 30. Options include (a) a commercially published norm-referenced standardized test, OR (b) a narrative evaluation written by a parent (grades 1-3, 5-7) or by a certified teacher / peer review panel (grades 4, 6, 8, 9-12). Standardized testing is mandatory at grades 4, 6, 8, and annually in grades 9-12.

33rd percentile threshold: if standardized test scores fall below the 33rd percentile, or if the student does not show 'one academic year of progress,' the home instruction program is placed on probation. A new IHIP with remediation plan is required.

NYC has its own Office of Homeschooling: New York City has a centralized Office of Homeschooling that handles all five boroughs. Use NYC-specific forms and timelines (Letter of Intent: July 1 to April 30 for the 2025-26 year). Email submissions to homeschool@schools.nyc.gov.

No state ESA program: New York does not currently offer Education Savings Accounts or vouchers for homeschool families. School districts may permit homeschool students to access services like BOCES programs at the district's discretion.

Compulsory attendance: ages 6 through 16 (NYC: ages 6 through 17). Children 5 and under do not require an IHIP unless requesting special education services.

Sports access: NOT guaranteed. NYC and most NY school districts do NOT permit homeschool students to participate in interscholastic athletics or extracurricular activities.

Always verify current requirements with the New York State Education Department (NYSED) before filing any official paperwork. State rules can change.

Diploma recognition

New York does NOT issue a state diploma to homeschool graduates. To obtain a NY State diploma, homeschool students must pass the GED, complete 24+ college credits as a transfer student, or earn the equivalent through other state-recognized pathways. SUNY and CUNY systems typically require either a superintendent's letter of substantial equivalency (which requires perfect compliance history) OR sufficient college credits to be admitted as a transfer student. Private colleges (NYU, Columbia, Cornell, etc.) evaluate homeschool applicants holistically based on transcript and test scores.

Getting started in New York

If you are new to homeschooling in New York, here is the practical sequence to follow:

1. Read the statute. Visit the New York State Education Department (NYSED) website and read the current homeschool regulations in full. The summary on this page is a starting point, but the official statute is the final authority.
2. Choose your legal pathway. New York offers specific options described above. Choose the one that fits your family before you file anything.
3. Prepare your notification. Gather the information required for your notice or registration — child's name, date of birth, address, subjects, curriculum plans, and anything else your chosen pathway requires.
4. File before withdrawing. If your child is currently in public school, file your homeschool notification before you send the withdrawal letter to the school. See our withdrawal guide for the full process.
5. Set up your record-keeping system. Even in low-regulation states, keep attendance records, a list of curriculum used, and samples of your child's work. See our record-keeping guide for what to save and how.
6. Connect with a local homeschool organization. New York has active statewide homeschool organizations (listed below) and usually several local co-ops in each region. These are your best source of current, practical information.

New York homeschool organizations

The following organizations provide advocacy, support, and current information for New York homeschool families:

• New York State Loving Education at Home (LEAH) — Largest statewide Christian homeschool organization — leah.org
• New York Home Education News (NYHEN) — Inclusive statewide homeschool organization
• Pennsylvania Homeschoolers AP Online Academy — Popular AP course provider used by NY homeschool families
• HSLDA New York — Legal defense and member support — hslda.org/legal/new-york

Local homeschool co-ops often meet in libraries, churches, and community centers throughout the state. A search for "New York homeschool co-op [your city]" typically surfaces groups meeting near you. The statewide organizations listed above maintain co-op directories.

Beyond the legal requirements

Meeting New York's legal requirements is only the foundation. The day-to-day work of homeschooling — choosing a curriculum, teaching multiple children at different levels, building a transcript — is the larger task. Once your legal compliance is in order, explore the rest of this site:

Homeschool360 • New York State Guide