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.
NY Homeschool Laws and Requirements
Many New York homeschool rules in place to make sure the school year is successful for both students and parents alike. You’ll need to meet the state education department’s requirements for the school year. This includes attendance, classroom hours, subjects, quarterly reports, annual assessment achievement tests, and more. Let’s take a look at some of these in more detail, so you have an idea of the New York State requirements.
Compulsory attendance – All students, no matter what school district, must attend school full time between the ages of six to sixteen years of age, whether homeschool or public school. They are minors and still of compulsory age.
Classroom hours – The length of instruction varies by age. Half-day kindergarten is a minimum of 2.5 hours. While a full-day kindergarten through sixth is a minimum of 5. and seventh through 12th is a minimum of 5.5.
The school year must consist of at least be 180 days (900 hours or 990 hours) of instruction, depending on grade level. The NY homeschool laws may have exceptions to the amount per day, but they needed to be provided.
Program Requirements
Program requirements vary by age, and below are some high-level requirements for homeschooling in New York, starting with pre-K and ending with high school.
Kindergarten
Pre-kindergarten through fourth grade must have instruction in the areas of English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and the arts, including dance, music, theatre, and visual arts.
Grade Five and Six
Instruction for grades five and six must include mathematics, including arithmetic, science, and technology; English language arts; social studies; languages other than English (where applicable); the arts, including visual arts, music, dance, and theatre; career development and occupational studies; and health education, physical education and family and consumer sciences.
Grade Seven and Eight
Students in grades seventh and eighth must have English language arts, social studies, science, math, technology education, home and career skills, physical education, health education, the arts, library and informational skills, second language, career development, and occupational studies.
Grade Nine to Twelve
High school students (ninth through 12th grade) need to complete English, social studies, science, math, visual arts and music, dance, theater, and health education, among other 12th-grade high school graduation requirements.
Quarterly Reports
Parents are required to submit quarterly reports to the school district superintendent each quarter on their homeschooling status, which is a written narrative that includes the number of instruction hours, an overview of the material covered in each subject, and a grade or other evaluations. This quarterly report form will help provide a written narrative of your student’s progress at homeschool. It will help to make sure that the student is progressing at an appropriate level for their age and grade year during homeschooling.
Annual Assessments
This is outlined in the IHIP, but parents also need to submit an annual assessment for their students as part of homeschooling. It must be either a commercially published norm-referenced achievement test or an alternative form of evaluation; however, they must meet the requirements outlined here for homeschool.
Immunization – You must provide immunization records for your child or children by New York public health law, even if they are in homeschool.
What’s next for New York State Homeschooling?
Now that you have decided to homeschool your child, there are many online resources available to help you. These resources will save you time, though the government will not always provide them. Within the homeschooling community, you will find great information on everything that you will need to make your school year successful, no matter how your child is learning.
Don’t forget to submit the required documentation within the proper notice period. Understanding it takes several business days before you receive a response from anyone. While there will be a community online that can help provide information and support, it is important to do your own research. You need to ensure you’re not missing anything. When you do all of this, you shall have a great year, with stellar grades, perfect test scores, and more!
Frequently Asked Questions
There is a lot of information out there, and you may still have questions about all sorts of things. One thing to keep in mind is that you are not alone. Everyone who has successfully homeschooled their kids has been where you are as you wait to submit your letter of intent. You are not alone, and let’s take a look at some questions and answers.
What are the requirements to homeschool in New York?
There are many requirements for homeschooling in New York, and in addition to those outlined above, you can find more information and the full list here.
How do I request permission to homeschool my child/children?
It is your legal right as a parent to instruct any students of compulsory school age at home. But before you do so, there are some steps you need to take before you can complete homeschooling with your child. First, parents need to provide written notice of intent to your school district superintendent. The school district shall then provide a copy of home instruction regulations. After that, parents must complete an individualized home instruction plan (IHIP). It is your responsibility as a parent to provide curriculum materials in all required subject areas for homeschooling grades in a year. The superintendent of your local school district will assess your curriculum. Besides, they make sure it is appropriate and in line with what is required by the New York state education department. These regulations help protect all grades 1 to high school!
Do you get paid to homeschool in New York?
No; however, you may be eligible for a tax credit at the end of the year. Be sure to check out New York homeschool law to see if you can claim your year-end taxes.
Is unschooling legal in New York?
Yes. You are required to submit a letter of intent, IHIPs, quarterly reports, and annual assessment tests for your kids to comply with NY homeschool laws. However, you may need to consult someone for legal advice should you have questions about homeschooling laws in New York State.
