How to Start Homeschooling in New York: A Step-by-Step Guide

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My family began homeschooling in 1993, and I finished homeschooling my twelve children in 2026.

Over those 33 years, many parents asked me how to start homeschooling in New York. It can feel overwhelming because New York has more reporting requirements than many other states, but you can do this one step at a time.

The most important place to begin is with the current New York State requirements.

Please note: I am an experienced homeschooling mother, not an attorney. Requirements can change. Always check the New York State Education Department’s Home Instruction page and communicate with your local school district for current information.

Step 1: Send a Letter of Intent

The first step is to notify the superintendent of your local school district that you intend to homeschool your child.

New York requires parents to submit the Letter of Intent by July 1, or within 14 days of beginning home instruction if you start homeschooling during the school year.

Your letter does not need to be complicated. Include:

• The parent or guardian’s name
• The student’s name
• The student’s age
• The student’s grade level
• A clear statement that you intend to provide home instruction
• Your address and contact information
• The date
• Your signature

Keep a copy for your records.

You may want to send important homeschool documents using certified mail, email with confirmation, or another method that provides proof of delivery.

Step 2: Receive the Homeschooling Regulations and IHIP Form

After receiving your Letter of Intent, the school district should send you a copy of the home-instruction regulations and a form for the Individualized Home Instruction Plan, commonly called an IHIP.

Read the regulations carefully. New York’s requirements vary by grade level, especially for required subjects and annual assessments.

Step 3: Prepare and Submit an IHIP

An IHIP is an Individualized Home Instruction Plan. You must prepare a separate IHIP for each homeschooled child.

The IHIP is due by August 15 or within four weeks after receiving the IHIP form from the school district, whichever date is later.

Your IHIP should include:

• Your child’s name, age, and grade level
• A list of the syllabi, curriculum materials, textbooks, or plan of instruction you intend to use
• The dates you plan to submit your four quarterly reports
• The name of the person or people providing instruction
• Any additional information required by the current regulations

An IHIP is a plan for the year. You do not have to list every individual worksheet, assignment, or lesson.

You may change curriculum or resources during the year. Keep clear records of significant changes and notify the district when required.

Step 4: Meet the Attendance and Instructional-Hour Requirements

New York home-instruction programs must provide instruction for the substantial equivalent of 180 days each school year.

The minimum instructional hours are:

• Grades 1–6: 900 hours per year
• Grades 7–12: 990 hours per year

Keep an attendance record and track your instructional hours throughout the year.

Homeschooling does not have to look exactly like a public-school classroom. Instruction can include textbooks, online lessons, experiments, educational videos, field trips, independent reading, projects, discussions, and practical learning activities.

However, you need reliable records showing that you met the required days, hours, subjects, and reporting requirements.

Step 5: Teach the Required Subjects

New York specifies subjects that must be taught at different grade levels.

Grades 1–6

Required instruction generally includes:

• Arithmetic
• Reading
• Spelling
• Writing
• English
• Geography
• United States history
• Science
• Health education
• Music
• Visual arts
• Physical education

New York also requires instruction in certain health, safety, citizenship, and other topics.

Grades 7–8

Required subjects generally include:

• English
• History and geography
• Science
• Mathematics
• Physical education
• Health education
• Art
• Music
• Practical arts
• Library skills

Grades 9–12

High-school requirements include specified units of instruction in areas such as:

• English
• Social studies
• Mathematics
• Science
• Art or music
• Health education
• Physical education
• Electives

Do not rely on a general blog post alone when planning your child’s required subjects. Review the current New York home-instruction laws and regulations for the details that apply to your child’s grade.

Step 6: Submit Four Quarterly Reports

You must submit four quarterly reports for each homeschooled child.

Choose the four reporting dates when you prepare the IHIP and keep them on your calendar.

Each quarterly report should include:

• The number of instructional hours completed during the quarter
• A description of the material covered in each subject
• A grade or written narrative evaluating your child’s progress
• An explanation if less than 80 percent of the planned material was completed

Your quarterly report does not need to describe every lesson in detail. It should clearly show what your child studied and whether satisfactory progress was made.

Step 7: Complete the Annual Assessment

New York requires an annual assessment at the end of the school year.

Depending on your child’s grade and the applicable regulations, the assessment may be:

• An approved nationally normed standardized achievement test
• A New York State assessment
• A written narrative evaluation when permitted

The testing and narrative-evaluation options change according to grade level. Written narrative evaluations are permitted more broadly in the early grades, while standardized testing becomes required more frequently as students get older.

Before choosing an assessment, review the current grade-specific rules in the New York State Education Department’s Home Instruction Questions and Answers.

Submit the annual assessment with your final quarterly report unless your district provides different instructions consistent with the regulations.

Keep Organized Homeschool Records

Create a folder or binder for each school year and keep copies of:

• Your Letter of Intent
• Proof that the district received it
• Your IHIP
• Any district correspondence
• Attendance records
• Instructional-hour records
• Quarterly reports
• Annual assessment results
• Curriculum lists
• Samples of your child’s work
• High-school course and credit records

Good records make quarterly reporting easier and protect you if questions arise later.

If your child is in high school, keep especially detailed records of courses, credits, grades, reading lists, and assessments. Homeschooling parents should also research current requirements related to college admission, financial aid, employment, and proof of high-school completion.

Choose Curriculum That Fits Your Family

Once you understand the legal requirements, you can choose the curriculum and resources that work best for your child.

You do not need to recreate public school at home or purchase the most expensive curriculum available.

Consider:

• Your child’s age and grade
• Learning strengths and challenges
• Your teaching style
• Whether you prefer books, online lessons, or a combination
• How much independent work your child can manage
• Your family’s schedule
• Your curriculum budget
• New York’s required subjects

You may use one complete curriculum, combine resources from several companies, create unit studies, use library materials, or design your own plan.

Read my guide to choosing the best homeschool curriculum for help narrowing your options.

Give Yourself Time to Learn

Starting homeschooling can feel intimidating.

Take a deep breath.

You do not need to have every lesson, book, field trip, and activity planned before you begin. Start with the legal requirements, create a workable plan, and adjust as you learn what helps your child thrive.

One of the greatest benefits of homeschooling is the ability to meet your child where they are. A curriculum that works beautifully for one child may frustrate another. Changing your approach does not mean you failed. It means you are paying attention.

After homeschooling twelve children for more than three decades, I can tell you that every child learns differently—and flexibility matters.

Start Homeschooling in New York One Step at a Time

Here is your starting checklist:

1. Read the current New York home-instruction regulations.
2. Send your Letter of Intent.
3. Prepare an IHIP for each child.
4. Plan the required subjects, days, and hours.
5. Choose your quarterly-report dates.
6. Select curriculum and learning resources.
7. Keep organized records.
8. Complete the required annual assessment.

New York has detailed homeschool requirements, but you do not have to understand the entire school year in one day.

Complete the first step, then move to the next.

You can do this.