Homeschooling in
the State of New york

Important things to know as you consider homeschooling in the state of New York.

New York state law requires that children must attend school from the year that they turn six, before December first and to the end of the school year in which they turn sixteen years of age. Individual school districts have the right to raise the compulsory age of attendance from 16 to 17 with a majority vote. Students in the state of New York are required to be in school for 180 days or 900 hours per year for grades 1-6 and 990 hours for grades 7-12. In all grades, K-12, students are required to learn about patriotism and citizenship, substance abuse, traffic safety and fire safety. In grade 1-6, the mandatory subjects include: arithmetic, reading, spelling, writing, English, geography, United States history, science, health, music, visual arts, and physical education. In grades 7 and 8 the mandatory subjects include: English, history and geography, science, mathematics, physical education, health, art, music, practical arts, and library skills. Within these first 8 grades, Unites States and New York history and constitutions must also be taken. High school students, grades 9-12, are required to meet the following credit requirements: 4 credits English,4 credits of social studies – which include American history, government, and economics, 2 credits of math, 2 credits of science, 1 credit of art or music, .5 credit of health, 2 credits of physical education and 3 credits of elective.

There are several administrative steps required to enroll a child in a homeschooling program. The first step is to submit a notice of intent to the student’s homeschool by July 1. Next, it is necessary to complete an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP). In this plan it is mandatory to include the child’s age, name and grade level, a list of the syllabi, curriculum material, textbooks or other plans for instruction. Information about the person giving instruction and dates for submission of quarterly reports are necessary. Quarterly reports include the number of hours of instruction during a quarter, a description of the material covered in each subject and a grade or evaluation in each subject. An assessment is necessary for the last quarterly report that is in the form of a traditional achievement test or written narrative evaluation.

Homeschooling is not a job that should be taken on alone; there are many ways to obtain support. Doing research to find state support groups can allow access to a range of engaging activities and lesson plans to use with your child. New York has a wide range of support groups that are readily available. All-Inclusive Homeschoolers provides homeschoolers and parents with monthly events, trips and other activities. NYS Loving Education At Home (www.leah.org) is an organization that provides extensive resources to homeschooling parents and has the added benefit of having over 150 chapters and 3700 involved families. Finding and utilizing resources such as these can be the difference between a good and a great homeschooling experience.




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