Homeschooling in New York: Guidance for Getting Started

Whether it’s easy or not is somewhat subjective. What’s hard for one family may be a walk in Central Park for another. Let’s hear from three actual New York homeschool moms for their thoughts on how easy it is to homeschool in the state. 

NY is one of the highest regulated states for homeschooling. So it is one of the most difficult states to homeschool in, but is still very manageable. You have to submit an educational plan annually and then report quarterly on what was completed to your local school district as well as submit to testing and subject requirements.” —Jennie L., Sonlighter in Ballston Lake, NY.

New York isn't the easiest state to homeschool in. There's a lot of paperwork to file. It isn't hard to follow the regulations, and once you do it for a year or so it really just becomes routine. For one child you need to file 7 different pieces of paperwork each year: a letter of intent, an IHIP (Individualized Home Instruction Plan which shows how you'll cover each required subject), 4 quarterly reports, and a year end evaluation (either testing or a written narrative). Most schools seem easy to work with. They don't question much and just file the paperwork.” —Jannette I., Sonlighter in Jamestown, NY

I began my homeschooling journey in NY and have since homeschooled in three other states. NY is difficult in that there is more paperwork to turn in to the district, but as a former teacher I did not find it to be painful. It just required that I stay on top of what I needed to do. I was thankful to be part of HSLDA while in those states. Even though we had to report to the district, there was no personal contact and we had no issues with them.” —Amber S., Sonlighter in Amherst, NY

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 you’re in compliance with the homeschool laws. But just because it’s regulated doesn’t mean it’s difficult. It simply means you need to get organized to meet filing deadlines and keep good records.

New York law states that parents or legal guardians have the right to instruct their children at home. As long as they file the appropriate forms and reports, they are eligible to homeschool.

There is no stipulation in New York homeschool laws about the style of the instruction, only that it must be offered for 180 days per school year and cover the listed subjects with a planned curriculum outlined in the annual Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP). 

Unschooling is an educational approach that gives the child autonomy about what and how to learn. You can use this child-led style of homeschooling and still be in compliance with New York homeschool laws as long as you can document days of instruction and the materials you’ve provided your child for learning. Read more from Unschooling Mom2Mom about how to comply with NY regulations as an unschooler. 

There is no New York homeschooling unschooling affidavit required.

Yes, you can be enlisted (either as a volunteer or as a paid position) to homeschool a child that is not your own. However, the parents maintain all responsibility for filing paperwork and making sure requirements are met. 

Yes, there is a letter of intent for homeschooling in New York that must be filed by July 1 (or within 14 days of beginning home instruction). Further, you must file an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) each year for each child you are homeschooling. And there are quarterly reports that must be filed throughout the school year. 

The Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) form that is submitted annually to the state includes this information:

1. the child's name, age, and grade 
2. a list curriculum, materials, textbooks, or plan of instruction for each of the required academic subjects
3. the dates for submission of quarterly reports 
4. the names of the individuals providing instruction

So to homeschool in New York, you’ll definitely need curriculum and resources that adequately cover these academic topics at the indicated grade levels: 

Homeschool New York has an excellent one-page summary of these required courses at each level. Although the state outlines topics to cover, homeschoolers are not required to do the same activities or follow the same course content as public school students.

In a nutshell, New York homeschooling requirements involve five obligations:

1. filing a notice of intent
2. creating an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP)
3. obtaining curriculum to meet the mandated subjects
4. providing 180 days of instruction each school year
5. filing quarterly reports
6. filing an annual assessment that includes results of a standardized test

Due to the regulations in New York, you’ll want to become adept at recordkeeping as a homeschooler. To see examples visit Kathy Ceceri’s homeschool paperwork examples here. 

Get yourself a binder and a homeschool planner like the one published by Sonlight. It was designed by homeschoolers who know exactly what kinds of records you’ll want to keep throughout the year. And with a three-ring binder, it’s easy to add in the specific New York forms and letters you’ll want for proof if there are ever any questions: 

• Keep copies of all forms you file, always notating filing/sending dates.
• Keep the confirmation of your letter of intent. This proves you’re homeschooling legally with your district’s knowledge.
• Your school district is obligated to notify you that your IHIP is in compliance. This notice is another document of important proof. 
• Keep track of your school days (and hours if high school level). Remember that field trips, co-ops, and extracurriculars count as instruction!

To further cover yourself legally, consider joining the Home School Legal Defense Association, a nonprofit organization that supports the constitutional right of parents to homeschool.  

Jennie L. in Ballston Lake, NY finds her HSLDA membership beneficial:

I would recommend being a member of the HSLDA. I had one of their lawyers call my school district when they were insisting we submit info which was not required. Many times whoever is in charge of the homeschool reporting in the district is not aware of the actual requirements and will ask for more, thinking they have a right to it. I recommend being thoroughly acquainted with the real requirements and graciously pushing back when more is asked in order to help protect homeschooling freedoms in the state.” 

HSLDA offers a membership discount for Sonlight customers. Look for this code to appear immediately after your curriculum purchase. If you’re a current customer who has purchased within the last 12 months, reach out to customer service if you didn’t make a record of the discount code. 

To homeschool in New York, yes, you must have a curriculum that is clearly outlined in your annual Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP). Although you have to file the IHIP for each child, you can in many cases use the same curriculum for multiple children. Teaching two or more children together saves you money on curriculum and time in your daily routine!

For frictionless curriculum shopping that will include everything you need to fulfill New York homeschool requirements, use the SmoothCourse™ curriculum builder tool.

New York education laws specify that homeschool families must include an annual assessment along with their fourth quarterly report. This end-of-year reporting must include “the results of a commercially published norm-referenced achievement test or an alternative method.”

Homeschoolers in New York are not required to take state assessments, but they may use a state test to meet their annual testing requirement (as long as the test is one that evaluates individual student achievement). 

Contact your local school district to find out how your homeschooler can take an assessment at a public school for free. If you opt for a different test than what is provided in the public school, you’ll need to arrange and pay for that yourself.

The first step to become a homeschooler in New York is to submit written notice to the superintendent of schools in your school district. The district must respond to a parent’s letter of intent regardless of when it is filed. It cannot be rejected simply because it’s mid-school year. But it’s smoother if you do this filing in the summer, on or before July 1.  

Within 10 business days, the district will provide a copy of the homeschooling regulations and a way to submit the Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP). The IHIP must be submitted by August 15 or within four weeks of receiving the form (whichever is later). 

Then the school district has 10 business days (or by Aug. 31) to confirm that the IHIP is compliant (or that it is deficient). This confirmation is an important document you’ll want to add to your homeschooling records. After you’ve completed these two simple steps, you’ve enrolled in homeschooling in New York. 

Now it’s time to start thinking like a homeschooler. Follow this guide to getting started for tips that work in New York or any state. 

Six is the age of mandatory schooling. Here’s more detail from the NYSED:

The law now requires children who turn six on or before December 1 to receive instruction from the start of the school year in September of that year. Children who turn six after December 1 must begin to receive instruction no later than the first day of school the following September.”

Because the age of compulsory schooling is six, yes, you can skip kindergarten in New York and start with first grade at age six. 

However, many five-year-olds benefit from a gentle dabbling into more formal schooling. So you are free to teach kindergarten at home as a homeschooler. And the upside is that there’s no regulation at this stage or at younger levels like preschool or pre-K. You can do preschool, pre-K, or kindergarten at home without notifying the state or filing any paperwork.

Choose an age-appropriate curriculum that nurtures your youngster’s natural curiosity and instills a love of reading. Here are three choices to consider before compulsory schooling at age 6:

1. Preschool Package: Fiction, Fairy Tales, and Fun for ages 3-4
2. Pre-Kindergarten Package: Exploring God's World for ages 4-5
3. Exploring American History: History / Bible / Literature K  for ages 5-7

In New York, any parent can choose to homeschool by submitting these documents each year: a letter of intent, an IHIP (Individualized Home Instruction Plan) for each child, quarterly reports, and an end-of-year evaluation. 

Homeschool parents are responsible for choosing a curriculum which covers the required academic subjects, but the specific materials and teaching methods are up to them. Further, homeschoolers have to document 180 days of instruction each school year. 

Parents don’t get paid to homeschool or receive any funds to support their venture. All costs fall to the families to cover. But there is an active state homeschool organization (Homeschool New York: Loving Education at Home) and many smaller local groups that provide networking and practical tips to support your choice. You are far from alone as a homeschooler in New York!

The annual expense to homeschool ranges from $500 to $2500. (This figure is per child per school year.)

To dive more deeply into the cost of homeschooling in New York, visit this extensive guide How Much Does Homeschooling Cost? And as you count the cost and rewards of homeschooling, read these additional perspectives:

• Is Sonlight Worth It?
• Sonlight’s Money Back Guarantee
• Sonlight Payment Plans

No, New York does not provide any state funding for homeschooling, nor are there any grants or vouchers for homeschooling. Basically all funding for homeschooling in New York comes from the individual homeschool families themselves. 

If you can get your hands on free materials that adequately cover the required topics for the mandated 180 days each school year, then theoretically, yes, you can homeschool in New York for free.

But most families find that free homeschooling in New York creates other costs, namely in the time and attention it takes to scour the internet for freebies and plan a DIY curriculum that satisfies state requirements. And then there’s the uncertainty that the program is truly adequate. 

It’s best to rely on tried and true homeschool programs that you pay for (and can trust are complete) versus trying to homeschool for free. With an established homeschool curriculum, your annual IHIP filing is easy. For example, if you’re using Sonlight, you simply list the books in your program and print out the  scope and sequence. With that documentation, it’s crystal clear that your program is robust and more than enough to meet New York homeschool requirements. 

New York does not provide families with any kind of money or credits for homeschooling. All financial costs are the responsibility of the family choosing to homeschool.

No, there is no tax deduction, tax credit, or other tax benefit to homeschooling in New York on either your state or federal tax returns.

Yes, you still have to pay state taxes even if you are a homeschooler. Homeschooling doesn’t give you a pass from paying the state and local taxes that support public schools.