How to Homeschool in New York

New York homeschool law in detail

Each requirement below links to the statute that governs it, so you can read the law yourself instead of taking our word for it. The governing law is 8 NYCRR 100.10.

Notice / letter of intent

Under 8 NYCRR Section 100.10, you send a written notice of intention to instruct at home to the superintendent of your school district of residence by July 1 each year, or within 14 days of beginning home instruction if you start mid-year or move into the district. There is no required state form; a short letter works. In New York City, the notice goes to the central Office of Home Schooling rather than a local district (currently by email to LetterofIntent at schools.nyc.gov). Within 10 business days of receiving your notice, the district must send you the IHIP materials.

Read the law: 8 NYCRR 100.10 The record attributes the notice of intention requirement to 8 NYCRR Section 100.10 generally without naming a specific subsection.

Required subjects

Grades 1-6 require arithmetic, reading, spelling, writing, the English language, geography, U.S. history, science, health, music, visual arts, and physical education. Grades 7-8 require courses in English, history and geography, science, mathematics, physical education, health, art, music, practical arts, and library skills. Grades 9-12 require credit-based coursework including four units of English, four of social studies (including U.S. history, government, and economics), two each of math and science, one of art or music, a half unit of health, plus physical education and electives. All grades must also cover patriotism and citizenship, health education regarding substances, highway and bicycle safety, and fire prevention, and U.S. and New York history and constitutions at least once before grade 9.

Read the law: 8 NYCRR 100.10 The record ties the graded subject lists to regulation 100.10 without citing a specific subsection.

Required days or hours

New York expects the substantial equivalent of 180 days of instruction per year: at least 900 hours annually for grades 1-6 and 990 hours for grades 7-12. You schedule the hours however you like; absences are handled the same way a school would handle them.

Read the law: 8 NYCRR 100.10 The record states the 180-day / 900-990 hour expectation without naming a specific subsection; governing regulation is 8 NYCRR 100.10.

Recordkeeping

Each year you file an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) listing each child's name, age, and grade, the syllabi, curriculum materials, textbooks, or plan of instruction in each required subject, the dates you will submit quarterly reports, and the names of those teaching. The IHIP is due by August 15 or within four weeks of receiving the district's form. You then send four quarterly reports on the dates you set in the IHIP, each stating hours of instruction, material covered in each subject, and a grade or narrative evaluation. Keep attendance records; they only have to be furnished if the superintendent asks.

Read the law: 8 NYCRR 100.10 The IHIP and quarterly report requirements are attributed to regulation 100.10 without a specific subsection in the record.

Testing and assessment

An annual assessment is filed with the fourth quarterly report. In grades 1-3 you may use either a standardized test or a written narrative evaluation by a qualified person; in grades 4-8 a standardized test is required at least every other school year (narrative in the off years); in grades 9-12 a standardized test is required every year. The test can be administered at the public school at no cost, or elsewhere by agreement, and approved options include the Iowa, California, Stanford, and PASS tests. A composite score above the 33rd percentile, or one showing at least one academic year of growth, is satisfactory; a lower result places the program on probation with a remediation plan rather than ending it.

Read the law: 8 NYCRR 100.10 The annual assessment requirement is governed by 8 NYCRR 100.10; the record names no specific subsection.

Withdrawing from public school

You can withdraw from public school at any point in the year: send your letter of intent to the superintendent (in NYC, the Office of Home Schooling) within 14 days of beginning home instruction, and a short note to the school so they close out enrollment. The child does not need to keep attending while paperwork processes once your notice is in.

Read the law: 8 NYCRR 100.10 Mid-year withdrawal uses the same 100.10 letter-of-intent process (within 14 days); the record names no specific subsection.

Good to know

New York City runs everything through its central Office of Home Schooling, with its own forms and timelines layered on the state regulation, so NYC families should follow that office's instructions rather than generic district guidance. Outside NYC, districts vary in how strictly they read 100.10, some send reminder packets and forms, others expect you to track deadlines yourself. The regulation, not district preference, controls what you owe.