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Homeschooling is a great way for parents to take an active role in their children’s education and personalize it to fit their children’s unique needs. At All About Learning Press, we’ve helped countless people succeed on this journey! However, homeschooling in New York can be intimidating for new homeschooling parents, so we’ve gathered a wealth of useful information and fantastic tips along the way.
Keep reading to discover everything you need to get started, and learn all about how AALP can make sure you and your student get the most out of the experience.
If you’re new to homeschooling, it can be hard to know where to start. Between creating a curriculum, choosing materials, and understanding rules and regulations, there’s a lot to think about. However, there are some administrative steps that need to be done at the correct time, so it can be helpful to think about those first.
In order to make sure your child is properly enrolled in homeschooling, you need to let your school district know that you plan to homeschool your child. This is done by submitting a Letter of Intent. After that, you will need to submit an overview of your teaching plan, which is called an Individualized Home Instruction Plan.
The steps for enrolling your child in homeschooling are the same whether you’re starting at the beginning of the school year or switching in the middle. First, you will need to notify the school that you intend to withdraw your child by submitting a Letter of Intent, and then you will need to submit your Individualized Home Instruction Plan.
Parents must submit a Letter of Intent to homeschool to the local school district superintendent by July 1st of each year or within 14 days of pulling a child out of school during the academic year. This letter should include your child’s name, age, grade level, and your intention to homeschool for that school year.
Within four weeks of the district receiving your Letter of Intent, you must submit an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) for each child you plan to homeschool. This document should outline:
In addition to the initial steps described above, there are some other New York homeschooling requirements you should understand before you start. Here are some important points to keep in mind:
We recommend bookmarking the New York State Education Department’s Home Instruction page, where you can find all the New York homeschool regulations and forms you’ll need. The HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association) is another great resource for learning about local laws and requirements.
New York has homeschooling requirements for attendance, reporting, curriculums, and more. We’ve summarized the key guidelines you’ll need to keep in mind below.
In New York State, children must begin formal education the school year they turn six. Formal education must continue until the end of the school year in which they turn 17 years old in New York City and 16 years old in the rest of New York State.
A common question for new homeschooling parents is how many days are required for homeschool in New York. Homeschoolers must provide:
Homeschoolers have to submit four quarterly reports throughout the school year. Reports are due in accordance with the local district’s school calendar. These reports should include:
At the end of the school year, an annual assessment must be submitted. The annual assessment must demonstrate the student’s progress and is especially important for continued homeschooling approval. This can be:
The subjects you need to cover in your New York homeschool curriculum vary by grade. Here’s a general overview:
Once you’ve taken care of the homeschooling requirements and registration, it’s time to start thinking about gathering the materials you’ll need. This is another area where homeschooling offers fantastic freedom and flexibility.
New York does not mandate a specific curriculum, meaning you have the freedom to create an educational program that best fits your child’s ability level, interests, and style of learning. There is a wide range of ready-made homeschooling programs available, from complete homeschool curriculum packages to subject-specific materials. These products are readily available online, at public libraries, and at many bookstores.
All About Learning Press creates programs perfect for homeschool students who are learning reading, spelling, and math. All About Reading, All About Spelling, and All About Math are designed around trusted, proven teaching methods that make learning easy, effective, and fun. All of our programs are broken up into clear, sequential levels, and our placement tests ensure that your children get the right materials for their ability levels.
New York does not pay parents to homeschool their children. Homeschooling is a privately funded educational choice, meaning families are responsible for the cost of:
However, some students may be eligible for special education services or support if they have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) on file, though this varies by district. To learn more, visit the New York State Education Department’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) page.
Starting homeschooling for the first time can be scary, but you can do this! Here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind:
AALP also has an amazing collection of articles and resources for you to take advantage of. Here are some great articles to check out:
Does New York have education savings accounts?
No, New York currently does not offer education savings accounts or financial reimbursement for homeschooling expenses.
Do parents need qualifications to homeschool?
No teaching certificate or formal qualifications are required. However, parents must demonstrate they can provide instruction according to the IHIP requirements.
Can I homeschool someone else’s child in New York?
Technically yes, but the child’s parent or legal guardian remains legally responsible for compliance with all New York homeschool regulations, including submitting paperwork. It’s advised to consult legal counsel or your district if you plan to homeschool someone else’s child.
Where can I find more information or support?
Ariana
says:Thank you for putting all this info in one easy to read spot!
Robin E. Williams
says: Customer ServiceYou’re welcome, Ariana! I’m glad this was helpful!