How to start homeschooling in New York
The legal steps, in order, checked against New York law.
Short answer: New York parents who teach at home send a written notice of intent to their school district superintendent by July 1 each year, or within 14 days of starting home instruction. They then file an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP), submit four quarterly reports, and file an annual assessment with the fourth report. Instruction must be substantially equivalent to public school, given by a competent teacher, and cover required subjects for set hours.
Checked against 8 NYCRR 100.10 on Nov 8, 2026. Compulsory school ages: 6 to 16. This is what the law says, not legal advice.
Home instruction
Parents or persons in parental relation who will teach a child of compulsory attendance age at home.
Steps
- Send written notice of intent to teach at home to the superintendent of your school district of residence by July 1 for the school year, or within 14 days of starting home instruction or moving into the district. In New York City, the district for elementary and middle grades is the community school district where you live.
- Within 10 business days, the district must send you a copy of the regulation and an IHIP form for each child.
- Submit an IHIP for each child within four weeks of receiving the form or by August 15, whichever is later. List the child's name, age, and grade, the materials or plan of instruction for each required subject, the dates of your four quarterly reports, and the names of the people providing instruction.
- If the district finds the IHIP deficient, it must tell you in writing, and you have 15 days, or until September 15 if later, to revise it. You may contest a final finding before the school board and appeal to the Commissioner of Education.
- Provide the equivalent of at least 180 days of instruction, with 900 hours a year in grades 1 to 6 and 990 hours a year in grades 7 to 12, and keep attendance records.
- File a quarterly report for each child on the dates in your IHIP.
- File an annual assessment with the fourth quarterly report.
- Send a new notice of intent by July 1 each year.
| Notice to the state | Yes To: Superintendent of the school district of residence When: By July 1 each school year, or within 14 days after starting home instruction in the district |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Grades 1 to 6: arithmetic, reading, spelling, writing, English, geography, U.S. history, science, health, music, visual arts, physical education, and bilingual education or ESL where needed. Grades 7 to 8: two units each of English, history and geography, science, and math, a half unit each of art and music, and regular physical education, health, practical arts, and library skills. U.S. history, New York State history, and the U.S. and New York constitutions at least once in grades 1 to 8. Grades 9 to 12: four units of English, four of social studies (including American history, participation in government, and economics), two of math, two of science, one of art or music, a half unit of health, two of physical education, and three electives. Also patriotism and citizenship, substance abuse education, highway and bicycle safety, and fire and arson prevention. |
| Time | The equivalent of at least 180 days a year, with 900 hours a year in grades 1 to 6 and 990 hours a year in grades 7 to 12 |
| Parent qualifications | Instruction must be given by a competent teacher. The regulation sets no specific credential for the parent. |
| Testing or evaluation | An annual assessment filed with the fourth quarterly report. Either a norm-referenced achievement test from the approved list, given by a qualified person agreed under the regulation, with a composite score above the 33rd percentile or one year of academic growth counting as adequate, or a written narrative by a certified teacher, peer review panel, or other qualified person approved by the superintendent. The narrative may be used every year in grades 1 to 3 and every other year in grades 4 to 8. A deficient result places the program on probation for up to two years with a remediation plan. |
| Records to keep | Attendance records, made available to the district on request. Quarterly reports showing hours of instruction, material covered in each subject, a grade or written narrative for each subject, and an explanation for any subject where less than 80 percent of the planned material was covered. |
The law: 8 NYCRR 100.10 N.Y. Educ. Law 3204 N.Y. Educ. Law 3205
After the paperwork
Common questions
Do I have to tell the state I am homeschooling in New York?
Yes, under the home instruction route, you notify superintendent of the school district of residence by July 1 each school year, or within 14 days after starting home instruction in the district.
Is testing required for homeschoolers in New York?
An annual assessment filed with the fourth quarterly report. Either a norm-referenced achievement test from the approved list, given by a qualified person agreed under the regulation, with a composite score above the 33rd percentile or one year of academic growth counting as adequate, or a written narrative by a certified teacher, peer review panel, or other qualified person approved by the superintendent. The narrative may be used every year in grades 1 to 3 and every other year in grades 4 to 8. A deficient result places the program on probation for up to two years with a remediation plan.
What subjects are required for homeschooling in New York?
Grades 1 to 6: arithmetic, reading, spelling, writing, English, geography, U.S. history, science, health, music, visual arts, physical education, and bilingual education or ESL where needed. Grades 7 to 8: two units each of English, history and geography, science, and math, a half unit each of art and music, and regular physical education, health, practical arts, and library skills. U.S. history, New York State history, and the U.S. and New York constitutions at least once in grades 1 to 8. Grades 9 to 12: four units of English, four of social studies (including American history, participation in government, and economics), two of math, two of science, one of art or music, a half unit of health, two of physical education, and three electives. Also patriotism and citizenship, substance abuse education, highway and bicycle safety, and fire and arson prevention.
What ages must be schooled in New York?
Ages 6 to 16, per state law.
Sources
- 8 NYCRR 100.10
- N.Y. Educ. Law 3204
- N.Y. Educ. Law 3205
- Part 100.10 Home Instruction, New York State Education Department
We read each source on Nov 8, 2026 and recheck every guide each quarter. Laws change. If something here no longer matches the state, write to us and we will fix it.