New York homeschool requirements by grade
What 8 NYCRR §100.10 (the Commissioner's home instruction regulation) asks of parents, with the section for each rule. Text as amended July 28, 2021, checked October 19, 2026.
The steps, in order
| What | When | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Notice of intent | By July 1, or within 14 days of starting partway through the year | §100.10(b) |
| District sends §100.10 and an IHIP form | Within 10 business days of the notice | §100.10(c)(1) |
| IHIP | Within 4 weeks of getting the form, or by August 15, whichever is later | §100.10(c)(2) |
| District's answer on the IHIP | Within 10 business days, or by August 31, whichever is later | §100.10(c)(3) |
| Revised IHIP, if needed | Within 15 days of the district's notice, or by September 15, whichever is later | §100.10(c)(4) |
| Quarterly reports | On the dates set in the IHIP | §100.10(g) |
| Annual assessment | With the fourth quarterly report | §100.10(h) |
Required subjects
Grades 1 to 6, every year
Arithmetic, reading, spelling, writing, the English language, geography, United States history, science, health education, music, visual arts and physical education, plus bilingual education or English as a second language where the need is indicated. §100.10(e)(2)(i)
Grades 7 and 8, counted over both years
| Subject | Over grades 7 and 8 |
|---|---|
| English | 2 units |
| History and geography | 2 units |
| Science | 2 units |
| Mathematics | 2 units |
| Art | ½ unit |
| Music | ½ unit |
| Physical education, health education, practical arts, library skills | On a regular basis |
§100.10(e)(2)(ii). A unit is 6,480 minutes (108 hours) of instruction in a school year, §100.10(e)(1).
Grades 9 to 12, counted over all four years
| Subject | Over grades 9 to 12 |
|---|---|
| English | 4 units |
| Social studies, including 1 unit of American history, ½ unit of participation in government and ½ unit of economics | 4 units |
| Mathematics | 2 units |
| Science | 2 units |
| Art and/or music | 1 unit |
| Health education | ½ unit |
| Physical education | 2 units |
| Electives | 3 units |
§100.10(e)(2)(iv)
At least once, and during K-12
United States history, New York State history and the Constitutions of the United States and New York State must be taught at least once in the first eight grades (§100.10(e)(2)(iii)). During grades K-12, Education Law §§801, 804, 806 and 808 add patriotism and citizenship; health education on alcohol, drug and tobacco misuse; highway safety and traffic rules, including bicycle safety; and fire and arson prevention and safety (§100.10(e)(2)(v)). NYSED's Q&A adds that health education must cover AIDS at least once in grades K-6, once in 7-8 and once in 9-12.
Kindergarten has no list. A child must receive instruction from the September of the school year in which they turn six on or before December 1, until the end of the school year in which they turn 16; boards may keep unemployed minors to 17, and NYC uses 17 (Education Law §3205; NYSED Q&A).
Hours and attendance
The substantial equivalent of 180 days of instruction: 900 hours a year in grades 1-6 and 990 hours in grades 7-12. Absences follow the district's policy for its own students. Parents keep attendance records and show them to the district on request. §100.10(f)
What the IHIP must contain
The child's name, age and grade level; the syllabi, curriculum materials, textbooks or plan of instruction for each required subject; the quarterly report dates, "spaced in even and logical periods"; and the names of the people providing instruction. §100.10(d) NYSED says a district may not require more than §100.10(d) lists.
What each quarterly report must contain
The hours of instruction that quarter; a description of the material covered in each IHIP subject; either a grade in each subject or a written narrative evaluating the child's progress; and a written explanation for any subject where less than 80% of the material the IHIP planned for that quarter was covered. Reports are due on the dates the parent set in the IHIP. §100.10(g)
Annual assessment
| Grades | Allowed |
|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | A standardized test or a written narrative, any year |
| 4 to 8 | A standardized test, or a written narrative no more than every other school year |
| 9 to 12 | A standardized test (the narrative option covers grades 1-8 only) |
Tests on the list: Iowa Test of Basic Skills, California Achievement Test, Stanford Achievement Test, the CTBS (NYC lists it as the TerraNova CTBS today), Metropolitan Achievement Test, a State Education Department test, or another test the Department approves. A score is adequate if the composite is above the 33rd percentile on national norms, or it shows one academic year of growth over a test from the prior year. §100.10(h)(1)
The narrative is written by a New York State-certified teacher, a home instruction peer group review panel, or another person, chosen by the parent with the superintendent's consent, who has interviewed the child and reviewed a portfolio of work; it certifies adequate progress or not. §100.10(h)(2) The assessment is filed with the fourth quarterly report. §100.10(h)
Probation
If the annual assessment falls short, the program goes on probation for up to two school years and the parent submits a remediation plan. Home visits, with three days' written notice, are allowed only during probation. §100.10(i); NYSED Q&A
New York City
In NYC the notice of intent goes to letterofintent@schools.nyc.gov, within 14 days of starting to homeschool. NYC Public Schools asks for the NYC student ID if you have one, one PDF per email to homeschool@schools.nyc.gov, and subject lines starting "IHIP" or "QR". Its IHIP forms ask for the IHIP within 28 days of starting to homeschool. It suggests reports on November 15, January 31, April 15 and June 30. NYC Home Schooling page
Not legal advice. The district superintendent decides whether paperwork complies. Read the full text of §100.10 and NYSED's Q&A.