California vs New York: Homeschool Laws Compared

New York is the more regulated of the two: it requires notice and a periodic assessment, while California requires notice but no testing or evaluation. They differ on 6 of the 9 rules compared: notice of intent, hours or days per year, required subjects, testing or evaluation, progress reports, and compulsory school ages.

Rules compared

9

Differences

6

Same in both

3

The rules, side by side

Rows where the two states differ are marked. Tap a state name for its full guide, deadlines, and sources.

Figures are the same verified compliance data shown on each state's page. Requirements change; confirm with your state before you rely on one.

Moving from California to New York

Once you are a New York resident you homeschool under New York's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. Notice still applies, but it goes to the local school district in New York rather than the state education department.
2. The annual target changes from 175 days a year in California to 900 hours (990 for grades 7-12) a year in New York.
3. New York's required list adds english, music, visual arts, and library skills and drops language arts and visual/performing arts compared with California's. Match New York's wording in your records.
4. New York requires parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation), annually. California had no assessment rule, so plan for it in your first year.
5. Reports go from once a year in California to four times a year in New York.
6. Compulsory school ages are 6-16 in New York against 6-18 in California, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.

Moving from New York to California

Once you are a California resident you homeschool under California's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. Notice still applies, but it goes to the state education department in California rather than the local school district.
2. The annual target changes from 900 hours (990 for grades 7-12) a year in New York to 175 days a year in California.
3. California's required list adds language arts and visual/performing arts and drops english, music, visual arts, and library skills compared with New York's. Match California's wording in your records.
4. California requires no testing or evaluation. Keep New York's past results with your records; colleges may still ask for them.
5. Reports go from four times a year in New York to once a year in California.
6. Compulsory school ages are 6-18 in California against 6-16 in New York, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.

What stays the same

California and New York match on the portfolio, ESA funding, and public school sports access. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither California nor New York takes homeschool records from another state, and there is no transfer process between them. You keep your own: the hours or attendance log, work samples, and any grades or transcripts. Those are what the new state, and later a college, may ask to see. Homeschool Fox keeps them in one account that moves with your family.

Keep comparing

• Arizona vs California 6 rules differ
• California vs Colorado 6 rules differ
• California vs Florida 8 rules differ
• California vs Georgia 6 rules differ
• California vs Idaho 5 rules differ
• California vs Illinois 5 rules differ
• California vs Nevada 4 rules differ
• California vs North Carolina 6 rules differ
• California vs Oregon 5 rules differ
• California vs Tennessee 6 rules differ
• California vs Texas 6 rules differ
• California vs Washington 6 rules differ
• Connecticut vs New York 6 rules differ
• Florida vs New York 6 rules differ
• Georgia vs New York 7 rules differ
• Massachusetts vs New York 4 rules differ
• New Jersey vs New York 5 rules differ
• New York vs North Carolina 7 rules differ
• New York vs Pennsylvania 7 rules differ
• New York vs South Carolina 8 rules differ
• New York vs Texas 7 rules differ
• New York vs Vermont 5 rules differ
• States That Require a Homeschool Notice of Intent All 36 states in one table
• States With Homeschool Hour and Day Requirements All 21 states in one table
• Required Homeschool Subjects by State All 34 states in one table
• States That Require Homeschool Testing or Evaluation All 19 states in one table
• States That Require Homeschool Progress Reports All 22 states in one table