Homeschool Law Map
General information only — not legal advice. Laws change; confirm with your state or territory education agency or an attorney.

New York homeschool laws

High regulation State Rank 55 of 56 (1 = easiest)

Confidence: Medium · Last verified:

27.5
Freedom score / 100
This is general information, not legal advice. Requirements shown are for the scored pathway: Home instruction (only route). Other pathways may have different rules.

Current regulations

Notification & registration Requirement exists

Letter of intent by July 1 (or within 14 days of starting); Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) by Aug 15 (or 4 weeks after receiving district form) listing curriculum/syllabi, reporting dates, instructor. NYC families file with NYC DOE Home Schooling Team.

Parent / instructor qualifications None in scored pathway

'Competent' instruction; no specific credential.

Required subjects Requirement exists

Annual: patriotism/citizenship, health (drugs/alcohol/tobacco), highway safety, fire safety. Plus detailed subject lists by grade band (1-6, 7-8, 9-12 credit requirements).

Testing & assessment Requirement exists

Annual assessment grades 1-12: grades 1-3 narrative or test; grades 4-8 standardized test every other year (narrative in off years); grades 9-12 standardized test every year (above 33rd percentile or one year's growth). Results go to district with quarterly reports.

Records, days & reporting Requirement exists

180 days; 900 hours (grades 1-6) / 990 hours (7-12); attendance records on request; quarterly reports (hours, material covered, grade/narrative).

Oversight Requirement exists

District superintendent (reviews IHIP, quarterly reports, assessments); NYC DOE Home Schooling Team.

Immunization & other requirements None in scored pathway

None stated.

Legal pathways

Scored pathway: Home instruction (only route). The score uses the least-burdensome parent-led pathway defined in law (see methodology).

Who to notify & where to start

Letter of intent by July 1 (or within 14 days of starting); Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) by Aug 15 (or 4 weeks after receiving district form) listing curriculum/syllabi, reporting dates, instructor. NYC families file with NYC DOE Home Schooling Team.

Official agency / statute links:

Recent changes

HSLDA lists NY S4037/A323 and S199/A2326 among 2026 bills (outcomes not verified).

Also see Law watch.

How the score breaks down

Notification, registration & approval 15 / 20
Parent/instructor qualifications 0 / 10
Required subjects & curriculum mandates 10 / 10
Testing, assessment & evaluation 25 / 25
Records, reporting & official oversight 15 / 15
Mandated instruction time 7.5 / 10
Other burdens (immunization paperwork, ID docs, background checks, local discretion) 0 / 10

Regulation burden 72.5 / 100 → freedom score 27.5. Bars show burden points per criterion (longer = more burdensome). HSLDA's own map tier for comparison: High (summary dated 2025-08-06).

Sources

Primary / official

Secondary

Last verified . Spot an error or an update? See how to report a correction or email support@homeschoollawmap.com.

Helpful resources for New York families

Types of services families in this jurisdiction commonly look for, based on the requirements above. These are categories, not endorsements.

Standardized testing services

Nationally normed achievement tests that families can order for home administration or take at a testing site.

Why shown: New York's scored pathway includes a testing or assessment requirement.

Partner links coming soon.

Portfolio and evaluation services

Certified teachers or evaluators who review a student portfolio or write an annual progress evaluation.

Why shown: New York's scored pathway lists a portfolio, evaluation, or similar review as an option or requirement.

Partner links coming soon.

Curriculum and course providers

Complete curricula, single-subject courses, and online programs, including options organized around required subjects.

Why shown: New York lists required subjects or curriculum expectations.

Partner links coming soon.

Record-keeping and planning tools

Attendance logs, lesson planners, transcript and portfolio organizers for keeping the records your jurisdiction may ask for.

Why shown: New York asks for notices, records, attendance, or instruction time in the scored pathway.

Partner links coming soon.

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