New York Homeschool Laws and Requirements
What New York requires, in plain English — and a free way to track it without spreadsheets. Log activities, watch your pace, and generate records when you need them.
The short answer
New York has moderate homeschool requirements. Families must provide at least 900 hours of instruction per year, and you'll file notice with your local school district.
New York at a glance
Verified September 2026- Required hours
- 900 hrs/year, 990 in grades 7-12
- School days
- 180 days/year
- Required subjects
- 9 subjects
- Notice
- Required each year
- Testing / evaluation
- Parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation)
- Recordkeeping
- Required
Jump to the full New York requirements for plain-English detail on each of these.
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Calculate your homeschool pace
New York requires 900 hours/year. Enter how far you've come and we'll show you the daily pace to finish on time.
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What Homeschool Fox tracks for New York
The records New York asks you to keep, plus the rest of your year, in one place. No spreadsheets, no lost notebooks.
- Hours toward your 900-hour goal
- Required subjects
- Days attended
- The records New York asks you to keep
- Parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation)
- Daily activity logs
- Printable PDF reports
- Progress tracking
See it work
Log a homeschool day in seconds
Type or speak what you did in plain English. Homeschool Fox sorts it into subjects, adds up the time, and updates your New York progress automatically.
You write
Homeschool Fox logs
- Reading 45 min
- Math 30 min
- History / Social Studies 20 min
Today's total
1 hr 35 min
Your New York requirements, in plain English
Tap any item for the details.
Notice requirements
Required
Required hours
900 hrs/yr
Required subjects
9 subjects
Testing / evaluation
Required
Recordkeeping & portfolio
Records required
Withdrawing from public school
Letter + notice
Full guide
Homeschooling in New York: the complete guide
If you're homeschooling in New York, you're working inside a moderately regulated framework with enough structure to keep the state informed but plenty of room to build a family-shaped program. Compulsory attendance in New York covers children ages 6-16. The homeschool rules can start or stop at different ages, and the requirements below say when.
A New York homeschool year is defined by a single headline number: 900 hours of instruction spread over at least 180 school days. Whether those hours happen at the kitchen table, in a co-op, on a nature walk, or through a structured curriculum is entirely up to the family.
Notice filing is the gateway for New York homeschool families: a short document submitted to your local school district sets the record straight for the year ahead. Check what New York asks the notice to contain before you send it. The contents are set by the state rather than by local preference, and the withdrawal section below names the form New York expects.
Assessment in New York takes the form of parent's choice of assessment annually. It's more of a pulse-check on how learning is landing than a pass/fail exam.
The required subjects in New York (math, science, english, social studies, health, music, visual arts, physical education, and library skills (grades 7-8)) form the backbone of each year's plan, with real freedom in how deeply or creatively each is taught. Keeping New York homeschool records doesn't have to mean spreadsheets and reminder alarms. Homeschool Fox turns everyday logs into a printable record of the year.
Notice requirements
Notice is required
Yes, New York requires you to file notice of your intent to homeschool. You must notify your local school district. The notice is filed again each school year.
Need a head start? Use the free Notice of Intent generator to draft your New York filing, then check the withdrawal section below for the form or affidavit New York expects it on.
Deeper guides: how to write a notice of intent to homeschool covers the language admins look for, and when and where to file your notice of intent covers state-by-state deadlines and recipients.
Generate your notice of intentReporting calendar
New York homeschoolers file on this schedule. Put each date on your calendar. Missing one can put you out of compliance.
| Filing | Due |
|---|---|
| Notice of intent | July 1 (for next school year) |
| Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) | Within 4 weeks of receiving the district's IHIP form, or by August 15, whichever is later |
| Quarterly report 1 | The date you set in your IHIP |
| Quarterly report 2 | The date you set in your IHIP |
| Quarterly report 3 | The date you set in your IHIP |
| Quarterly report 4 | The date you set in your IHIP |
| Annual assessment | With the fourth quarterly report |
Homeschool Fox reminds you before each New York deadline and builds the reports you file. Start tracking free.
Withdrawing from public school
Send a letter of intent to your district superintendent. For a child currently enrolled, file by July 1 for the next school year, or as soon as you decide mid-year, and notify the school in writing so attendance reflects the change. Within about two weeks the district sends the IHIP form; you return your completed IHIP within four weeks. The IHIP plus the four quarterly reports keep you compliant. Keep copies of everything.
For the play-by-play, how to withdraw your child from public school walks through the conversation, the timing, and the paperwork. What to send the district when you pull your child covers exactly what the letter should and shouldn't say.
Assessment requirements
Assessment is required
- Type:
- Parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation)
- Frequency:
- Annually
Standardized testing for homeschoolers walks through which test to choose, where to register, and how to prep.
Portfolio & records
Portfolio not required
Under 8 NYCRR 100.10, families file an Individualized Home Instruction Plan at the start of the year and four quarterly reports covering hours, subjects, materials, and a grade or narrative. Keep a portfolio of work for any evaluator review under the narrative assessment option.
Required subjects
New York requires instruction in the following subjects.
Looking for curriculum?
Browse our curriculum directory to find the right fit for your family, then log the year in Homeschool Fox.
Tax credits & deductions
New York does not have a homeschool-specific tax credit or deduction — but New York families using the state's 529 plan need to understand a recapture rule that catches many homeschoolers off guard. New York does NOT conform to the federal 529 K-12 expansion. If you withdraw New York 529 funds for K-12 expenses, the state recaptures the New York income tax deduction you took on those contributions in prior years.
The practical impact: federal-level 529 K-12 use can still be tax-free, but the New York-side benefit you accumulated while saving (the $5,000 single / $10,000 married New York deduction per year) gets clawed back at withdrawal time. Run the numbers with a CPA before pulling 529 money for homeschool curriculum, supplemental classes, or other K-12 use. Saving for college only? No issue. Using the 529 as a homeschool sinking fund? Likely not the right vehicle in New York. Note: this affects 529 K-12 withdrawals specifically; 529 college withdrawals remain tax-free under New York rules.
Deeper guides: homeschool tax credits and deductions by state for 2026 covers every state with a credit, and are homeschool expenses tax-deductible — an honest breakdown covers the boundaries on what counts and which gimmicks to avoid.
Tax laws change. Check your New York Department of Revenue page (or talk to a CPA) before filing — the figures above reflect our last verified review (September 2026).
Additional notes
900 hours for grades 1-6, 990 for 7-12, across the substantial equivalent of 180 days. The hours and the days are both required, not alternatives. IHIP and quarterly reports required. Annual assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to notify anyone to homeschool in New York?
How many hours do I need to homeschool in New York?
Does New York require testing for homeschoolers?
Do I need to keep a portfolio in New York?
What subjects must I teach in New York?
Nearby states
View all statesHow New York compares
Nine rules side by side with the states families move between most, and what changes in each direction.
- New York vs California (5 rules differ)
- New York vs Connecticut (6 rules differ)
- New York vs Florida (6 rules differ)
- New York vs Georgia (6 rules differ)
- New York vs Massachusetts (4 rules differ)
- New York vs New Jersey (5 rules differ)
- New York vs North Carolina (7 rules differ)
- New York vs Pennsylvania (6 rules differ)
- New York vs South Carolina (8 rules differ)
- New York vs Texas (7 rules differ)
- New York vs Vermont (4 rules differ)
Want the cross-state comparison? Homeschool laws by state covers the legal regime in every state side by side.
Common mistakes in New York
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Treating the IHIP as a formality
New York wants an individualized home instruction plan (IHIP) for each child. It lists the materials for each required subject, who teaches, and the four dates you pick for quarterly reports. It is due four weeks after the district sends you the form, or by August 15, whichever is later. The district reviews it closely, and a vague one comes back for revision.
Free New York printables
Three ready-to-use PDFs for New York homeschoolers. No account needed.
Templates, not legal advice. Confirm the current rule with your state or district.
Get notified when New York changes its rules
We track New York's statute and department pages and email you when the requirements move. Free, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
New York last verified September 25, 2026.
Reviewed and sourced
Last verified: September 2026. We review New York's requirements against official sources and update this page when the rules change.
Our monitor last confirmed the source pages were live on Sep 28, 2026.
Sources
Homeschool Fox is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. We turn public homeschool requirements into practical tracking tools for families. Always confirm details with your state or a qualified advisor.
More New York guides
New York in context: one of 19 states that require hours or days · one of 16 states that require testing or evaluation · one of 36 states that require notice · one of 10 states that require progress reports · one of 31 states that name required subjects.
- How to Start Homeschooling in New York A step-by-step guide from withdrawal to your first logged day.
- Homeschooling High School in New York Credits, GPA, transcripts, and graduation.
- Record Keeping in New York What to document, how to organize it, and staying compliant.
- How to Withdraw From School in New York The steps, the letter, and timing to avoid truancy issues.
- Moving to New York What to file when you arrive and whether your records transfer.
- Public School Sports in New York Whether homeschoolers can play, what it takes, and who to ask.
- Homeschool Hours Required in New York The number, what counts toward it, and the pace to hit it.
- Required Subjects in New York The list, how much time each needs, and proving you taught them.
- New York Letter of Intent Who to file with, when it's due, and a free generator.
- New York Quarterly Reports What goes in it, when it's due, and who reviews it.
- Homeschool Testing in New York What the state asks for, when, and low-score rules.
- Homeschool Field Trips in New York City Places to go, how long a visit takes, and what it counts toward.
More on homeschooling in New York
Law changes, filing walkthroughs, and the questions New York families ask most.
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