New York vs Pennsylvania: Homeschool Laws Compared

New York and Pennsylvania sit in the same tier: both require notice and a periodic assessment. They still differ on 7 of the 9 rules compared: hours or days per year, required subjects, testing or evaluation, the portfolio, progress reports, compulsory school ages, and public school sports access.

Rules compared

9

Differences

7

Same in both

2

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 York to Pennsylvania

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

1. The annual target changes from 900 hours (990 for grades 7-12) a year in New York to 900 hours (990 for grades 7-12) over 180 days a year in Pennsylvania.
2. Pennsylvania's required list adds geography, history, civics, safety, and art and drops social studies, visual arts, and library skills compared with New York's. Match Pennsylvania's wording in your records.
3. The assessment rule changes from parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation), annually in New York to professional evaluation, annually in Pennsylvania.
4. Keep a portfolio of dated work samples: Pennsylvania requires one and New York did not.
5. Reports go from four times a year in New York to once a year in Pennsylvania.
6. Compulsory school ages are 6-18 in Pennsylvania against 6-16 in New York, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
7. Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In Pennsylvania the answer is yes; in New York it was no.

Moving from Pennsylvania to New York

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

1. The annual target changes from 900 hours (990 for grades 7-12) over 180 days a year in Pennsylvania to 900 hours (990 for grades 7-12) a year in New York.
2. New York's required list adds social studies, visual arts, and library skills and drops geography, history, civics, safety, and art compared with Pennsylvania's. Match New York's wording in your records.
3. The assessment rule changes from professional evaluation, annually in Pennsylvania to parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation), annually in New York.
4. New York does not require a portfolio. Bring Pennsylvania's with you anyway; it is your proof of progress if a question ever comes up.
5. Reports go from once a year in Pennsylvania to four times a year in New York.
6. Compulsory school ages are 6-16 in New York against 6-18 in Pennsylvania, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
7. Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In New York the answer is no; in Pennsylvania it was yes.

What stays the same

New York and Pennsylvania match on notice of intent and ESA funding. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither New York nor Pennsylvania 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
• Delaware vs Pennsylvania 7 rules differ
• Florida vs New York 6 rules differ
• Florida vs Pennsylvania 5 rules differ
• Georgia vs New York 7 rules differ
• Maryland vs Pennsylvania 5 rules differ
• Massachusetts vs New York 4 rules differ
• New Jersey vs New York 5 rules differ
• New Jersey vs Pennsylvania 7 rules differ
• New York vs North Carolina 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
• Ohio vs Pennsylvania 5 rules differ
• Pennsylvania vs West Virginia 7 rules differ
• 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 a Homeschool Portfolio All 6 states in one table
• States That Require Homeschool Progress Reports All 22 states in one table