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Homeschooling in New York

Homeschooling in New York

Complete guide to homeschooling in New York. Learn about IHIP requirements, quarterly reports, annual assessments, required subjects, and how to get started.

By Homeschool Hive·Verified March 2026

At a Glance

New York homeschool law overview

Compulsory Age
6-16 (6-17 in NYC)
Notification Required
Yes, annual Notice of Intent
Teacher Qualifications
Competent instructor (no certification)
Testing Required
Yes, annual assessment
Statute
8 NYCRR §100.10
Instructional Hours
900 hrs (1-6), 990 hrs (7-12)

Important Notice

This guide is for informational purposes only. Laws change. Verify current requirements with your local school district or consult a qualified attorney.

Requirements

What you need to know to start homeschooling in New York

Legal Framework

New York regulates homeschooling under Commissioner's Regulation 8 NYCRR Section 100.10, which establishes requirements for "home instruction." New York is widely considered one of the most heavily regulated states for homeschooling, requiring a Notice of Intent, an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP), quarterly reports, and annual assessments. It is manageable once you understand the rhythm, but there is definitely more paperwork than most states.

Step-by-Step Process

  1. Submit a Notice of Intent. By July 1 of each school year (or within 14 days of starting to homeschool mid-year), send written notice to your local school district superintendent stating your intention to provide home instruction. Include your child's name, age, and grade level.
  2. Receive the regulations and IHIP form. Within 10 business days of receiving your notice, the district must send you a copy of the home instruction regulations and the IHIP form.
  3. Submit the IHIP. Within four weeks of receiving the materials (or by August 15, whichever is later), submit a completed Individualized Home Instruction Plan for each child. The IHIP must include the child's name, age, and grade level; a list of syllabi, curriculum materials, textbooks, or plan of instruction for each required subject; the dates for quarterly report submissions; and the names of individuals providing instruction.
  4. District reviews your IHIP. The district has 10 business days to notify you that the IHIP is compliant or has deficiencies. If there are deficiencies, you have 15 days to submit a revised IHIP.
  5. Provide instruction. Deliver the substantial equivalent of 180 days of instruction per school year -- 900 hours for grades 1-6 and 990 hours for grades 7-12.
  6. Submit quarterly reports. On the dates specified in your IHIP, submit a report covering hours of instruction, material covered in each subject, and a grade or narrative evaluation for each subject.
  7. Submit the annual assessment. Include annual assessment results with your fourth quarterly report.

Required Subjects

New York mandates specific subjects by grade level:

  • Grades 1-6: Arithmetic, reading, spelling, writing, English language, geography, U.S. history, science, health education, music, visual arts, physical education, and bilingual education or ESL where needed.
  • Grades 7-8: English, history, geography, science, mathematics, physical education, health, art, music, and practical arts.
  • Grades 9-12: English (4 years), social studies including American history, government, and economics (4 years), mathematics (2 years), science (2 years), art/music (1 year), health (1/2 year), physical education (every year), and electives (3.5 years).

Record-Keeping

New York is specific about what records you need to maintain. Keep your Notice of Intent, a copy of your IHIP, quarterly reports, annual assessments, attendance records showing the total hours of instruction, curriculum materials used, and samples of student work. These are not optional -- the district can request to see them.

Need a letter of intent?

Generate a free, customized letter that meets New York's requirements.

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Evaluations

Annual evaluation and assessment options

Annual Assessment Requirements

New York requires an annual assessment for every homeschooled student, submitted with the fourth quarterly report. The type of assessment alternates by grade:

  • Grades 1-3: A written narrative evaluation prepared by a certified teacher, a home instruction peer review panel member, or another qualified person chosen by the parent.
  • Grade 4 and every other year thereafter (4, 6, 8): A standardized test that meets or exceeds the 33rd percentile. Acceptable tests include the Iowa Assessments, Stanford Achievement Test, CAT, or the New York State Testing Program (if the district administers it to homeschoolers).
  • Grades 5, 7, and alternating years: Either a standardized test OR a written narrative evaluation.
  • Grades 9-12: Either a standardized test or a written narrative evaluation each year.

If your child scores below the 33rd percentile on a required standardized test, you must submit a plan of remediation to the district. If scores remain below the 33rd percentile for two consecutive years, the district may place your child on probation, and you will have one year to show adequate improvement or the district may require your child to attend public school.

The written narrative evaluation must come from a person certified to teach the grade level being evaluated (or a peer review panel), and must state that the child has made adequate academic progress for the year.

Financial Resources

Vouchers, scholarships, and tax credits

State Funding and Financial Resources

New York does not currently offer a state ESA, voucher, or dedicated homeschool tax credit. However, there are some financial resources available to families.

Proposed Homeschool Tax Credit (Bill A485)

New York Assembly Bill 2025-A485, introduced January 2025, would create a personal income tax credit of up to $2,400 for parents who homeschool, covering the cost of textbooks, workbooks, supplemental reading material, videos, and software. If enacted, this would apply to tax years beginning January 1, 2026. As of February 2026, this bill has not yet been passed into law.

Textbook and Material Loans

Under existing New York law, homeschooled students are entitled to loan of textbooks from their local public school district. Contact your district for availability.

Federal 529 Plan Expansion (2026)

Starting in 2026, families can withdraw up to $20,000 per student per year from 529 education savings accounts for qualified K-12 expenses, including homeschool curriculum, test fees, tutoring, and educational therapies. Verify that New York conforms to the expanded federal definitions before claiming state tax benefits.

Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit

The federal Education Freedom Tax Credit allows taxpayers to receive a credit of up to $1,700 for contributions to approved Scholarship Granting Organizations beginning January 1, 2027. These SGOs distribute scholarships to K-12 students including homeschoolers. As of February 2026, New York has not opted into this program.

Grants and Scholarships

Several national organizations offer grants to homeschool families, including HSLDA Compassion Grants and the Children's Scholarship Fund NYC through ClassWallet. These can help offset curriculum costs for qualifying families.

Explore New York Homeschooling

More resources for your homeschool journey

Homeschool Groups

Find co-ops, clubs, and support groups in New York

Upcoming Events

Field trips, classes, and activities in New York

Funding & Scholarships

Federal programs available to New York families

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about homeschooling in New York

What are the requirements for homeschooling in New York?

Under 8 NYCRR §100.10, you must: (1) Submit a Notice of Intent to your local superintendent by July 1 each year; (2) File an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP); (3) Provide 900 hours of instruction per year for grades 1-6 or 990 hours for grades 7-12; (4) Submit quarterly reports on the dates specified in your IHIP; and (5) Complete an annual assessment. Required subjects vary by grade level. No teaching certification is required, but the instructor must be "competent."

How do I start homeschooling in New York?

Send a written Notice of Intent to your local school district superintendent by July 1 (or within 14 days if starting mid-year). The district must send you the home instruction regulations and an IHIP form within 10 business days. Complete and return the IHIP within four weeks (or by August 15, whichever is later). The district then has 10 business days to approve or identify deficiencies. Once approved, begin instruction and submit quarterly reports on schedule.

What is an IHIP for homeschooling in New York?

An Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) is New York's required curriculum plan for each homeschooled child. It must include the child's name, age, and grade level; a list of syllabi, curriculum materials, or textbooks for each required subject; the dates you will submit quarterly reports; and the names of anyone providing instruction. You submit a new IHIP each school year. The district reviews it for compliance — if they find deficiencies, you have 15 days to revise and resubmit.

What subjects are required for homeschooling in New York?

New York mandates specific subjects by grade. Grades 1-6: arithmetic, reading, spelling, writing, English, geography, U.S. history, science, health, music, visual arts, and physical education. Grades 7-8: English, history, geography, science, math, physical education, health, art, music, and practical arts. Grades 9-12: four years of English and social studies, two years of math and science, one year of art/music, half a year of health, physical education every year, and 3.5 years of electives.

What are quarterly reports for New York homeschoolers?

You must submit four quarterly reports per school year on the dates specified in your IHIP. Each report must include the number of hours of instruction completed that quarter, a description of material covered in each required subject, and a grade or written narrative evaluation of your child's progress per subject. The fourth quarterly report must also include your child's annual assessment results. Keep copies of all reports for your records.

Do I need a teaching degree to homeschool in New York?

No teaching certificate or college degree is required. New York law requires only that the person providing instruction be "competent," which is not further defined in the regulations. Any parent or guardian can serve as the home instructor. You may also have other individuals provide instruction in specific subjects — just list them by name in your IHIP.

Can homeschoolers play public school sports in New York?

Generally, no. Commissioner's Regulations require students to be full-time enrollees to participate in interscholastic sports. Homeschooled students cannot try out for public school athletic teams in most districts. Some districts may allow participation in non-athletic extracurricular clubs at their discretion. Proposed legislation (Senate Bill S1010) would grant homeschoolers access to public school sports, but it has not been enacted as of 2026.

Is New York homeschool friendly?

New York is one of the most heavily regulated states for homeschooling, requiring annual notice, an IHIP, quarterly reports, and annual assessments with minimum score requirements. However, thousands of families homeschool successfully throughout the state. The regulations are well-defined and predictable, there is a strong homeschool community with co-ops statewide, and the process becomes routine after the first year. New York City has additional considerations since the compulsory attendance age extends to 17.

How many hours per year do you need to homeschool in New York?

New York requires 900 total instructional hours per year for grades 1-6 and 990 hours per year for grades 7-12. This is equivalent to approximately 180 school days. There is no specific daily minimum — you can distribute hours however you choose throughout the year, including year-round schooling or a compressed schedule, as long as you meet the annual total and report hours accurately in your quarterly reports.