New Jersey vs New York: Homeschool Laws Compared

New York is the more regulated of the two: it requires notice and a periodic assessment, while New Jersey requires no notice to homeschool. They differ on 5 of the 9 rules compared: notice of intent, hours or days per year, required subjects, testing or evaluation, and public school sports access.

Rules compared

9

Differences

5

Same in both

4

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 New Jersey to New York

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

1. File a notice of intent with the local school district once you are a New York resident. New Jersey did not ask for one, so this is new paperwork.
2. Start logging from your first day: New York counts 900 hours (990 for grades 7-12) a year, and New Jersey set no minimum.
3. New York names 9 required subjects (math, science, english, social studies, health, music, visual arts, physical education, library skills). Tag activities to them so a gap shows before the year ends.
4. New York requires parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation), annually. New Jersey had no assessment rule, so plan for it in your first year.
5. Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In New York the answer is no; in New Jersey it was district decides.

Moving from New York to New Jersey

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

1. There is no notice to file in New Jersey. Before you leave, send New York's district a short withdrawal note so its attendance record closes.
2. New Jersey sets no hour or day minimum. Keep the log anyway; it is what you show if anyone asks, and what you build a transcript from.
3. New Jersey names no required subjects. New York's list is still a sensible course plan; it stops being a legal one.
4. New Jersey requires no testing or evaluation. Keep New York's past results with your records; colleges may still ask for them.
5. Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In New Jersey the answer is district decides; in New York it was no.

What stays the same

New Jersey and New York match on the portfolio, progress reports, compulsory school ages, and ESA funding. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither New Jersey 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

• California vs New York 6 rules differ
• Connecticut vs New York 6 rules differ
• Florida vs New Jersey 5 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 North Carolina 4 rules differ
• New Jersey vs Pennsylvania 7 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