Browse all states/New York

NY

High regulation

Homeschool laws in New York

New York allows homeschooling, but families must file paperwork, submit an individualized home instruction plan, keep attendance, and provide quarterly reports.

Last verified

2026-04-20

Compulsory age range

6-16

Quick-start checklist

What parents need to do first

This is the plain-English checklist a parent can follow to get started without reading a mountain of legal text.

  1. 1Tell your local school district that you plan to homeschool.
  2. 2Submit your Individualized Home Instruction Plan with the subjects you will cover.
  3. 3Teach the required subjects and track attendance through the school year.
  4. 4Send quarterly reports showing what was covered and how your child is progressing.
  5. 5Complete the annual assessment and keep copies of everything you submit.

New York homeschool law hub

These state-specific guides turn the core law summary into focused SEO pages for the questions parents search most: requirements, forms, records, testing, graduation, and support groups.

Requirements

Plain-English New York homeschool requirements: notice, subjects, hours, testing, records, teacher qualifications, and source links.

Letter of intent

Find out whether New York homeschool parents need a letter of intent, who receives it, timing, and what to include.

Recordkeeping

Plain-English guide to homeschool records in New York: attendance, portfolios, grades, transcripts, and what parents should keep.

Graduation

How homeschool graduation works in New York, including diplomas, transcripts, college admission, dual enrollment, and high-school records.

Testing

Plain-English New York homeschool testing guide: whether tests or evaluations are required, how often, and what records to keep.

Co-ops & support groups

How to think about homeschool co-ops, umbrella schools, virtual options, sports access, and local support while homeschooling in New York.

Popular New York homeschool searches

These guides connect the state law checklist to the long-tail questions parents actually search: curriculum by grade, secular options, ADHD support, public-school comparisons, teacher qualifications, and testing.

Best 1st grade curriculum in New YorkBest secular 4th grade curriculum in New YorkHomeschooling a child with ADHD in New YorkHomeschool vs public school in New YorkCan you homeschool without a degree?Do homeschoolers need testing?

What to do next: choose curriculum after you understand the law

The legal checklist tells you what New York expects. Curriculum is the next decision. Start with your child’s age, learning style, parent prep time, and whether you want faith-based, secular, online, workbook, or literature-rich materials.

New homeschoolers

Pick a simple open-and-go core for math and language arts first. Add science, history, and enrichment after your routine is stable.

Busy parents

Favor programs with clear lesson plans, independent student work, grading support, or online components if parent prep time is limited.

High school

Choose courses you can document with credits, grades, descriptions, labs where needed, and a transcript-friendly record from day one.

Curriculum recommendation links will only be added after official affiliate/tracking URLs are approved and verified. No placeholder affiliate links are used on this page.

Free printables

Download the homeschool starter kit

Print these before you start: a state startup checklist, letter-of-intent template, attendance tracker, and high-school transcript template.

View all downloads

New homeschool families

State homeschool startup checklist

A printable first-week checklist for choosing your pathway, handling notices or withdrawal, tracking deadlines, and setting up records.

Download PDF →

Notice or withdrawal paperwork

Homeschool letter of intent template

A parent-safe fill-in notice/withdrawal template with reminders to use official state forms when required.

Download PDF →

Recordkeeping

Homeschool attendance tracker

A simple school-year tracker for days, hours, holidays, field trips, and notes you can keep with your records.

Download PDF →

High school planning

Homeschool transcript template

A fill-in high-school transcript starter with course records, credit summary, and parent certification lines.

Download PDF →

These printables are general planning tools, not legal advice. Always verify the current rule on your state page and official source links before filing deadlines.

Full breakdown

Every field is designed to answer the real-world compliance questions parents ask first.

Legal status
Homeschooling is legal, but it is one of the more regulated systems in the country.
Compulsory age range
6-16
Notification required
Yes. Parents must notify the district and then submit an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP).
Who you notify
The local school district superintendent.
Notification deadline
Notice is generally due by July 1 each year or within 14 days of starting midyear.
Required subjects
English, Mathematics, Science, Social studies, Physical education, Health, Art, Music, Practical arts
Hours or days required
180 days per year; around 900 hours for grades 1-6 and 990 hours for grades 7-12.
Record keeping
Keep attendance records and maintain materials supporting quarterly reports and annual assessments.
Testing and evaluation
Yes. New York requires regular assessments, including standardized testing in designated years.
Testing frequency
Quarterly reports during the year and an annual assessment every year.
Teacher qualifications
Parents do not need a teaching license to homeschool.
Curriculum freedom
Moderate. Families choose curriculum, but must cover required subjects and document progress carefully.
Umbrella school option
Umbrella-style alternatives exist, but most New York homeschoolers comply directly with district reporting rules.
Virtual school option
State-funded public virtual options may exist, but they are separate from independent homeschooling.
Special education
Services may be available in limited ways, but homeschool access differs by district and program.
High school diploma
Families usually use parent-issued transcripts, completion letters, or approved equivalents rather than a standard public school diploma.
College admission
Colleges often accept homeschool applicants, but families should keep strong transcripts and supporting records.
Sports access
Participation in public school sports is limited and depends on district policy.
Dual enrollment
Opportunities vary, so families should check with local colleges and districts.
Notes
Starter dataset entry for MVP. Re-verify exact assessment options and age thresholds before public release.

From our sister site

Overwhelmed by curriculum choices?

Now that you know the laws, find the right curriculum. Take the free 5-minute quiz at The Curriculum Compass — matched to your child, your teaching style, and your family values.

Take the Free Quiz →

Official sources

Parent-friendly reminder

This page is designed to reduce confusion, not replace legal advice. If something changes or feels unclear, verify with your state Department of Education before making compliance decisions.

Want more homeschool guidance and encouragement? Follow Dani at @thedanicerrato.