Ny Homeschool Laws And Requirements For Parents
2020 showed us all that remote learning is possible, and you may be considering homeschooling your children full time. You can still take advantage of a lot of online resources from schools when doing so. After all, there is a lot of information already out there! However, it may be overwhelming. We have broken down some NY homeschool laws you should keep in mind if you are looking to pursue New York homeschooling. We will explore some of those below, broken down by section, so you know what to expect.
Homeschooling Laws In Your State
At Time4Learning, we believe homeschooling should be as stress-free and enjoyable as possible. This is why we are happy to provide information on homeschool requirements by state. Simply choose your state below to find out how to get started, explore homeschool laws, locate support groups, and even discover exciting field trip opportunities.
This information is not provided as legal advice. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under.
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Is Homeschooling Regulated In New York
Yes, New York is one of the highest regulated states in terms of home education. So there are hoops to jump through and boxes to tick to make sure youre in compliance with the homeschool laws. But just because its regulated doesnt mean its difficult. It simply means you need to get organized to meet filing deadlines and keep good records.
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New York Homeschool Graduation Requirements
New York is one of only a handful of states that require homeschool graduates to provide proof that they have completed their high school education. While most colleges in the U.S. will accept a diploma provided by a homeschool, New York colleges and universities will not. The most popular ways that homeschool students wishing to enter a state college show their eligibility are:
New York homeschool law also requires that all homeschooling high school students take specific courses to complete their education. These courses include:
Submit An Individualized Home Instruction Plan
Each school year, you must submit an IHIP by August 15 or within four weeks of the receipt of the IHIP form from the school district . The IHIP form requires you to submit your childs name, age, and grade level a list of your syllabi, curriculum materials, textbooks, or plan of instruction dates for submission of quarterly reports and the name of whoever is giving the instruction. The IHIP form can be downloaded below.
If applicable, your IHIP should include, along with the subjects to be covered, a statement indicating that your student will be meeting the compulsory educational requirements through full-time study at a degree-granting institution.
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How Does Homeschool Work In New York
Homeschooling in New York is regulated by the New York State Department of Education. Families who homeschool their children must submit an annual Notification of Intent to Homeschool form to their local school district. The form must be filed by July 1st for the upcoming school year. Families must also keep records of the curriculum they are using and their childs progress. These records must be made available to the school district upon request.
Homeschooling is a highly regulated field in the state of New York. Both the letter of intent and the Individualized Home Instruction Plan are critical documents that you should know about. In accordance with New York state law, this document ensures that your child receives the education he or she requires. Youll find a plethora of organizations and groups in New York that can assist you in homeschooling your children. There are numerous local and state groups that provide homeschooling advice and support, in addition to Facebook and Yahoo Groups. If you need to recommend a new link or have a problem with an existing link, please let us know. Moving Beyond the Page is not subject to homeschooling requirements in New York.
In New York, it is only the beginning. Our curriculum is built to encourage students to love learning by utilizing a variety of educational strategies. Well give you a list of any state laws that you should be aware of so that you can comply with them.
Why Time4learning Is The Leading Homeschool Curriculum In New York
While New York has regulations on what subjects you need to cover, they have no guidelines regarding what curriculum to use. Since NY law requires families to not only keep a log of educational activities but to participate in annual evaluations in specific years, youll want to make sure that your curriculum choices will adequately prepare you for these requirements. Heres why Time4Learning has become a leading NY homeschool curriculum option:
- Time4Learning includes an automated reporting system which tracks test and lesson scores, time spent on each activity , completed lesson summaries and more.
- The program is self-paced, which means each student has access to individualized learning paths that ensure skill mastery.
- Concepts are presented using humor, animated lessons, instructional videos, printable worksheets and fun assessments.
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Homeschool Associations & Support Groups In New York
Support groups are popular among homeschool families. Parents can get advice from more experienced parent educators, and children can meet peers who are also homeschooled.
- New York Home Educators Network is a secular association that supports, improves, and protects a parents right to provide their child with an at-home education.
- New York State Loving Education at Home is a Christian organization that provides legal assistance and helpful resources to homeschooling families as well as hosts various homeschooling conferences.
In addition to associations, there are various homeschooling groups and co-ops that families can join for support. Local homeschool support groups typically offer many homeschool-related activities, such as field trips, volunteer opportunities, continuing education, and other meetings. Support groups enhance the homeschool experience for parents and students alike.
Homeschool co-ops are typically more academic-focused than support groups, providing students the chance to learn alongside other homeschoolers, while practicing life skills like sharing and teamwork. Both homeschool support and co-ops provide homeschoolers opportunities to socialize while parents receive advice and resources to enhance the homeschool experience. You can find either type of group on Facebook with a search of your city or region.
Check out our Power Homeschool Parent Support groups!
How To Get Started Homeschooling In New York
If you have decided to start homeschooling your child, you are probably wondering how to get started. First, youll need to submit a notice of intent to homeschool, followed by the IHIP. We recommend formally withdrawing your student if they are currently enrolled in a public or private school.
You will also need to select a homeschool curriculum or create one yourself. Power Homeschool provides many resources to help parents and students who are homeschooling for the first time. Our curriculum covers the core subjects of math, science, language arts and reading, and social studies and history.
After you choose a curriculum and homeschool method, you can begin your homeschool journey. Like anything new, it may take some time to adjust, so be understanding with both yourself and your student!
Resources
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New York Homeschool Laws And Requirements
We recommend that every parent who is thinking about homeschooling in New York does thorough research about the laws and regulations. Visit NYSED.gov to view the specific laws pertaining to homeschooling in New York. The Home School Legal Defense Association also offers plenty of legal information about homeschooling in New York as well as every other state.
HOMESCHOOL RECORD KEEPING IN NEW YORK
New York requires parents to keep important records on file as well as submit reports quarterly to the district superintendent. Attendance, course subjects and material, standardized testing results, and grades or written evaluations for all subjects are examples of the information that may be included in these reports.
Power Homeschools online parent portal makes record keeping easy. Parents can track attendance, coursework, and sample assignments, and print them to keep hard copies on file.
NEW YORK STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENTS
The fourth-quarter report that parents must submit can be an annual assessment or written narrative, such as a report card signed by the parent or instructor. Some school districts in New York require a teacher or peer review to evaluate the end of year assessment. These annual evaluations can stand in place of a standardized assessment until third grade.
Beginning in fourth grade, students must participate in a nationally approved achievement test every two years through eighth grade and every year from ninth to twelfth grade.
Resources
Guide To Homeschooling In New York
If you live in New York and are thinking about home education for your child, then we have some helpful information that can guide your homeschool experience. Whether you recently moved to the state, are new to homeschooling, or are an experienced homeschooler looking for field trip ideas, our guide to homeschooling in New York can help you provide the best homeschool education for your student.
Homeschool Laws and Requirements in New York
Each state has different rules regarding a parents ability to homeschool their children and all the laws that they must follow.
Homeschool Associations and Support Groups in New York
Some of the best resources to help homeschool families be successful are homeschool associations, support groups, and co-ops.
How to Start Homeschooling in New York
If you have decided that homeschool is a good fit for your family, you are probably wondering how to get started with the whole process.
Field Trips Available to Homeschoolers in New York
The flexibility to go on more field trips is one of the many perks of homeschooling.
Find out what New York has to offer!
Resources
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Homeschooling In New York State: What You Need To Know
homeschoolers in the state of New York are required by the New York State Department of Education to submit an Individualized Home Instruction Plan to the district superintendent. This document outlines the subjects that must be taught at each grade level. Parents must keep attendance records and have completed 900 hours of instruction per year in grades K to 6, and 990 hours in grades 7 to 12. In New York City, homeschooled students are required to take at least 16 math, science, English, social studies, and foreign language credits. Despite the states regulations, homeschooling is legal in New York. Homeschooling is still subject to inspection by the New York State Department of Education or the local school district.
New York Homeschool Mandates
New York compulsory attendance laws require children to be in school from ages 6 through 16. Immunizations are not required for homeschool students. However, homeschooling under the New York homeschool statute requires parents to:
- Submit a notice of intent to homeschool within 14 days of beginning a homeschool program during the school year.
- Submit an annual notice of intent to homeschool by July 1.
- Submit an annual Individualized Home Instruction Plan by August 1.
- Meet attendance requirement of the substantial equivalent of 180 days per year
- Meet attendance requirements of 900 hours per year and 990 hours per year
- Teach the required subjects according to grade. Check with the Department of Education for the specific courses required in each grade.
- File quarterly reports with the school superintendent
- Follow guidelines for annual student assessment according to grade
Please consult the Department of Education for more detailed information on homeschooling under these mandates and for details on meeting graduation requirements for students wishing to attend a New York state college or university.
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Services Available To Homeschooled Students
Part-time enrollment: No. Public schools are not permitted to allow homeschool students to participate in their instructional programs or to allow for dual enrollment. Homeschool students may, however, participate in summer school programs, which are open to all residents of the district. Extracurriculars: Yes, at the districts discretion. However, as a result of Commissioners Regulation 135.4, which requires those who participate in interscholastic sports to be enrolled in the public school for which they compete, homeschooled students may not participate in high school athletics. However, homeschooled children may participate in intramural and other school-sponsored club activities, as well as other extracurriculars, at the discretion of the school district. Disabilities:
New York State Required Paperwork
Following NYS regulations can seem a little overwhelming at first, but it is actually not very difficult. You will need to submit an annual Letter of Intent to your school district by July 1, and an IHIP by August 15. You will then need to submit Quarterly Reports and some form of evaluation at the end of the year. If you are just starting out, go to the LEAH page, linked below for full explanations and exceptions to the timeline.
Here is a one page summary of NYS Homeschooling Subject Requirements from RH Homeschooling Manual to assist planning for your IHIPS.
As far as HSA goes, we do not report to your school district or even keep records past the class ending. It is your responsibility to connect with your school district though you can use the HSA class syllabi, the class curriculum and assignments, and grade reports we issue each quarter as part of your planning and assessments. See the samples below for help. Note that PDF files are easy to view here, but they are harder for you to copy and alter. To use one of our documents as a template for yourself, download the document and open in Microsoft Word .
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Assess Your Child Annually
An annual assessment is required every year. In grades 13, you can have your student take a standardized test or you can choose to submit a written narrative evaluation for your student. In grades 48, standardized testing is required at least every other year, with the written narrative evaluation available as an option in the years you do not use a standardized testing option. So, for example, you could use a written narrative evaluation in grade 4 but would need to use a standardized test in grade 5, and so on. Standardized testing is required every year in high school.
Please note: The information on this page has been reviewed by an attorney, but it should not be taken as legal advice specific to your individual situation.
Quarterly Reports And Annual Assessment
Homeschoolers must provide quarterly reports for each homeschool student. The report must contain a written narrative describing the materials that have been covered in each subject on the IHIP, the number of instructional hours, and either a written narrative that discusses the students progress in each subject or a grade.
Homeschooling families must submit an annual assessment at the same time as the submission of the fourth-quarter report. Homeschool law states that this assessment should include a written evaluation or results from a norm-referenced achievement test. This examination should be a commercial test that meets New York homeschool law. There are also alternative methods for assessment for all grade levels. Beginning in fourth grade, students must take a national achievement test on a bi-yearly basis. From 9th through 12th grade, students must be tested every year. The California Achievement Test, the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills, the Iowa Basics Test, and the PASS Test are all approved to meet the state homeschool requirements.
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New York Homeschool Field Trips
Field trips provide homeschoolers the opportunity to see what they learn in everyday lessons come to life before their eyes.
Unlike students in traditional school settings, homeschool students can go on many more field trips throughout the year. For homeschool students in New York, the following are several examples of the many field trip destinations the Empire State has to offer.
WESTERN NEW YORK
- Buffalo Niagara Heritage Village in Amherst: Explore the regions history by touring various exhibits, including the 1880s Street of Shops, Community Art Gallery, Pioneer Kitchen, and so many more!
- Rochester Museum and Science Center in Rochester: This museum has much to offer. With science exhibits, a planetarium, nature center, and educational programs, there is something for the whole family.
- Susan B. Anthony House in Rochester: Visit the home of one of the womens suffrage movements leaders, Susan B. Anthony. Discover who she was, how she inspired others, and the mark she made on history.
CENTRAL NEW YORK
- Erie Canal Museum in Syracuse: Learn about life in a canal town and how it played an important role in the countrys growth. A childrens area is available for young learners, making this a great spot for students of all ages.
- Utica Childrens Museum in Utica: Experience hands-on learning with special events, homeschool group visits, and plenty of interactive exhibits, such as the sensory exploration zone and music areas.
EASTERN NEW YORK
NEW YORK CITY
Remote Workers Also Homeschooling
In Schenectady, some parents who started homeschooling to protect an at-risk family member now have remote jobs and have chosen to continue to homeschool, said Schenectady Deputy Superintendent Lynne Rutnik.
What we were finding was many of the families had family members living with him or that they were caretaking … that did have autoimmune diseases, or diseases that made it really risky for them to come back to school, she said. When we contact them again, families told us many of their circumstances had changed, being able to work virtually.
But that means the enormous lift of juggling work and homeschool.
Some make it work because homeschool can be done on weekends and in the evenings, and many parents take turns running classes for a group or drop off children at a co-op. State rules allow parents to hire a tutor, but if they do group teaching, it cant be used for a majority of the school program because it would constitute an unlicensed school, according to state regulations.
But Schenectady officials want the students back. In the last year, 36 students returned, which they see as a victory. Were trending in the right direction, Rutnik said.
Its not that they are opposed to homeschooling but they prefer public school.
We are public educators, we believe in the public education system. We have dedicated out lives to it, Rutnik said. We would love to have the homeschool families come back.
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