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Withdrawing from public school

How to Withdraw From School in New York

Pulling your child out of public school in New York to homeschool is usually a short, one-time process. Here are the steps, the letter you send, and how to time it so the district doesn't flag your child as truant.

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How withdrawal works in New York

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.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Confirm your child is currently enrolled

    This guide is for moving a currently enrolled student to homeschooling. If your child has never attended public school in New York (a kindergartner you're starting at home, for example), there's usually nothing to withdraw from. A quick call to the school confirms their status.

  2. 2

    Send a written withdrawal letter to the school

    To withdraw your child from public school in New York, send a written withdrawal letter to the principal or registrar, then file a notice of intent with your local school district so the transition is on record before instruction begins. Rather than hand-writing the withdrawal letter, Homeschool Fox produces a pre-formatted PDF ready to send to the district.

    Download the free New York withdrawal letter
  3. 3

    File your notice of intent

    Yes, New York requires you to file notice of your intent to homeschool. You must notify your local school district.

  4. 4

    Keep dated copies for your records

    Save a copy of the withdrawal letter and anything you file, noting the date you sent it. If the district ever asks about attendance, dated proof that you withdrew on time is what closes the question.

  5. 5

    Set up your homeschool

    With the withdrawal handled, the rest is starting your homeschool: planning subjects, setting an hours or days target, and keeping records. Your next stop is the how-to-start guide for New York.

    Read the New York how-to-start guide

Free New York printables

Two ready-to-use PDFs for New York homeschoolers. No account needed.

New York hour log Printable daily log, prefilled with the state's hour and day target. Withdrawal letter template A fillable letter to withdraw from public school, with New York guidance.

Templates, not legal advice. Confirm the current rule with your state or district.

What Homeschool Fox tracks for New York

Everything New York expects you to keep, in one place — no spreadsheets, no lost notebooks.

  • Hours toward your 900-hour goal
  • Required subjects & core hours
  • Daily activity logs
  • Attendance records
  • Notes & portfolio records
  • Printable PDF reports
  • High school transcripts
  • State-specific progress tracking
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More New York guides

Withdrawn? Start your New York homeschool

Set up your New York dashboard, log your first activity, and watch your hours and records build automatically.

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