New York is one of the most regulated states for homeschooling in the country. Here is everything you need to know about complying with Section 100.10 of the Commissioner's Regulations - explained in plain English.
New York has some of the strictest homeschool laws in the United States. There is only one compliance pathway - no alternatives, no umbrella schools, no exemptions. Every homeschool family must file a Letter of Intent, submit an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP), file four quarterly reports, and provide an annual assessment. Missing any step can trigger a probation process and potential truancy proceedings.
Homeschooling in New York is governed by Section 100.10 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education. The law applies to all children between the ages of 6 and 17. Children who turn 6 on or before December 1 of a given year are considered compulsory age for that school year.
New York's school year runs from July 1 through June 30. All notifications, plans, reports, and assessments follow this annual cycle. The state expects parents to maintain close communication with their local school district throughout the year.
While the requirements are extensive, thousands of New York families homeschool successfully every year. The key is understanding the four-step annual cycle: notification, planning, reporting, and assessment.
New York's homeschool compliance follows a strict annual cycle with four major milestones. Here is each step in order.
July 1 each year for returning homeschoolers. New homeschoolers must file within 14 days of beginning instruction or withdrawing from school.
The Letter of Intent (LOI) is your formal notification to the school district that you intend to homeschool your child. This must be filed every year - it is not a one-time form.
Your LOI must include:
How to submit: Outside of NYC, send your LOI via certified mail to your local school district superintendent. This gives you proof of delivery and a timestamp. Within NYC, email your LOI to LetterofIntent@schools.nyc.gov.
After receiving your LOI, the school district must respond within 10 business days. They will send you a copy of the regulations (Section 100.10) and a blank IHIP form. If you do not receive a response within 10 business days, follow up in writing.
August 15 or within 4 weeks of receiving the IHIP form from the district - whichever is later.
The IHIP is the most detailed document you will file. Think of it as your curriculum plan for the year. It tells the school district exactly what you plan to teach, how you plan to teach it, and when you will report on progress.
Your IHIP must include:
You do not need to purchase a pre-packaged curriculum. You can use a combination of textbooks, library resources, online courses, field trips, and hands-on learning. Just describe what you plan to use for each subject clearly enough that the district can understand your approach.
The school district will review your IHIP and respond. If they find it incomplete, they must notify you and give you 15 days to make corrections. If they do not respond within a reasonable timeframe, your IHIP is considered accepted.
New York requires four quarterly reports each school year, submitted on the dates you specified in your IHIP. Each report covers a quarter of the school year.
Each quarterly report must include:
If your child has covered less than 80% of the planned material for a given quarter (as outlined in your IHIP), you must include a written explanation of why and how you plan to catch up. This is not necessarily a problem - the district just wants to understand the situation.
Quarterly reports are typically due on dates you set in your IHIP. A common schedule is:
You choose the specific dates - just make sure they are roughly evenly spaced and that Q4 is completed before the June 30 annual assessment deadline.
Due by June 30 each year. Submitted along with (or shortly after) the fourth quarterly report.
The annual assessment is the final requirement each year. It proves that your child has made adequate academic progress. The type of assessment depends on your child's grade level:
For younger children, you have the option of submitting a written narrative evaluation every year. The narrative must be prepared by a certified teacher, a peer review panel, or another qualified person. A standardized test is also accepted but is not required at this level.
Students in grades 4 through 8 must take a standardized test every other year (grades 4, 6, and 8). On the alternate years (grades 5 and 7), you may submit a written narrative evaluation instead.
High school students must take a standardized test every single year. No narrative option is available for grades 9-12.
To demonstrate adequate progress, your child's test score must meet one of these two standards:
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New York mandates specific subjects at each grade level. You must cover all required subjects for your child's grade and describe them in your IHIP. Here is what the state requires.
Middle school subjects are measured in units (a unit typically represents one year of instruction in a subject):
High school requirements are the most specific. The following unit counts represent minimums over four years:
In addition to the grade-specific subjects above, New York requires that every homeschooled student, at every grade level, receive instruction in:
These "special topics" do not need to be separate courses. You can integrate them into social studies, health, or civics units. Just make sure they are mentioned in your IHIP and referenced in your quarterly reports.
New York has both a minimum number of school days and a minimum number of instructional hours. You must meet both requirements.
| Grade Level | Days / Year | Hours / Year | Hours / Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 1-6 | 180 days | 900 hours | 225 hours |
| Grades 7-12 | 180 days | 990 hours | 247.5 hours |
For grades 1-6, 900 hours across 180 days averages to 5 hours per day. For grades 7-12, 990 hours across 180 days averages to 5.5 hours per day. Instructional hours include direct teaching, guided practice, independent study, field trips, and supervised educational activities.
Keep a daily attendance log showing the date and the number of hours of instruction. You will need to report quarterly hours in each quarterly report, and your total hours should meet or exceed the minimum by year-end. Blue Folder's attendance calendar tracks hours automatically and flags you if you fall behind pace. Try it free →
New York requires homeschool families to maintain comprehensive records and retain them for a minimum of 7 years. The following records must be kept:
The 7-year retention requirement ensures records are available through your child's school career and beyond. If you ever need to re-enroll your child in public school, transfer to a private school, or provide transcripts for college applications, these records serve as your proof of education.
If you live in any of the five boroughs of New York City (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, Staten Island), your process is different from the rest of the state. All correspondence goes through the NYC Department of Education, not a local superintendent.
New York City has its own centralized system for managing homeschool compliance. The requirements are identical - LOI, IHIP, quarterly reports, and annual assessment - but the submission method is different.
After submitting your LOI, the NYC DOE will respond with instructions, the IHIP form, and the specific email addresses for submitting your quarterly reports and annual assessment. Save all email confirmations as proof of submission.
NYC response times can be slower than suburban districts due to volume. If you have not received a response within 10 business days, send a polite follow-up email and keep a copy. Always retain confirmation receipts or read receipts for your records.
| Deadline | What to File | Details |
|---|---|---|
| July 1 | Letter of Intent (LOI) | Annual notification to the school district. New homeschoolers: within 14 days of starting. |
| August 15 | IHIP | Individualized Home Instruction Plan. Or within 4 weeks of receiving the form, whichever is later. |
| Per IHIP | Quarterly Report 1 | Hours, material covered, grades/narratives for Q1 subjects. Common date: November 15. |
| Per IHIP | Quarterly Report 2 | Hours, material covered, grades/narratives for Q2 subjects. Common date: January 15. |
| Per IHIP | Quarterly Report 3 | Hours, material covered, grades/narratives for Q3 subjects. Common date: March 15. |
| June 30 | Q4 Report + Annual Assessment | Fourth quarterly report and standardized test scores (or narrative for eligible grades). |
Missing a deadline can trigger the district to place your homeschool on probation. If issues are not resolved, the district may require your child to attend public school. Set calendar reminders well in advance of each deadline.
If you fail to file required documents on time, or if your child's annual assessment shows inadequate progress, the school district may place your homeschool program on probation. Here is how the process works:
Probation is rare and almost always avoidable. The most common triggers are (1) forgetting to file the LOI on time and (2) not submitting quarterly reports. Stay on top of your deadlines and respond promptly to any district correspondence. If you receive a notice of deficiency, respond immediately - districts are generally willing to work with cooperative families.
Homeschooling in New York is governed by Section 100.10 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, also known as the "Home Instruction" regulations. This is not a statute passed by the legislature - it is an administrative regulation adopted by the Board of Regents and administered by the New York State Education Department (NYSED).
Key legal points:
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Track New York ComplianceDisclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Homeschool requirements can change. Always verify current requirements with the New York State Education Department or your local school district. Last reviewed: February 2026.