New York Homeschool Requirements

Under 8 NYCRR §100.10(b), parents must annually provide written notice to the superintendent by July 1. Parents commencing after the school year begins have 14 days. Within 10 business days, the district must send a copy of §100.10 and an IHIP form. In NYC, the relevant district is the community school district of residence.

Under 8 NYCRR §100.10(e), grades 1-6 must include arithmetic, reading, spelling, writing, English, geography, US history, science, health, music, visual arts, PE. Grades 7-8 require cumulative units in English (2), history/geography (2), science (2), math (2), plus PE, health, art, music, practical arts, library skills. Grades 9-12 require English (4 units), social studies (2), science (2), math (2), art/music (1), health (0.5), PE (2), electives (3). All K-12: patriotism/citizenship, drug/alcohol/tobacco misuse, highway safety, fire prevention.

8 NYCRR §100.10(f) sets minimum annual instructional hours: 900 for grades 1-6, 990 for grades 7-12. Instruction need not occur during standard school hours. Hours must be tracked and reported in each of the four quarterly reports.

8 NYCRR §100.10(h) governs annual assessments. Approved tests include Iowa, CAT, Stanford, CTBS, Metropolitan, P.A.S.S., and NYS Regents. Students must score at or above 33rd percentile or show one year of growth. If a student fails, the district and parents develop a remediation plan. Students with an IESP may use alternate assessment at any grade.

8 NYCRR §100.10(c)-(d) and (g) require an IHIP within four weeks of receiving the form (or by August 15). The IHIP includes child info, syllabi/materials for each subject, quarterly report dates, and instructor names. Four quarterly reports due at evenly spaced intervals (suggested: Nov 15, Jan 31, Apr 15, Jun 30).

NYSED Q&A explicitly states that State law does not require any specific credentials for the person(s) providing home instruction. Districts may not require parents or tutors to produce credentials. The IHIP must list instructor names but no credential verification is required.

NYSED confirms Public Health Law §2164 does not apply to students educated at home. The exception: during a declared disease outbreak, homeschooled students accessing school premises for testing or activities must produce proof of immunization. Parents do not need to file health or fire inspection reports.

Chapter 217 of the Laws of 2008 amended Education Law §3602-c to deem home-schooled students with disabilities as nonpublic school students for receiving special education. The CSE develops an IESP. Parents must request by June 1 or within 30 days of identification. Students may continue through age 21. Alternative assessments are available for students with an IESP.

NYSED clarifies that districts may not require parents to first enroll in public school. The notice of intent and IHIP process constitute the enrollment mechanism. Parents may discontinue homeschooling at any time and enroll in public school under Education Law §3202.

Education Law §3205 establishes compulsory education. Statewide: ages 6-16. NYC: ages 6 through end of school year in which child turns 17. Home instruction under §100.10 applies to students of compulsory school attendance age.

NY does not award state diplomas to homeschooled students. Diplomas from online-only programs are not recognized by NYS. Pathways: enroll in public/registered school for Regents diploma; take HSE exam; enroll full-time at a degree-granting institution (12+ semester hours). Regents exams may be taken at public schools at principal discretion.

Commissioner's Regulation §135.4(c)(7) requires enrollment for interscholastic athletics; §135.1 requires enrollment for intramurals. Club activities are open to homeschooled students per NYSED guidance. Boards should set local policy. NYC explicitly notes homeschooled students do not have access to most school-based programs including sports.