Did you know that the amount of homeschooled children in New York has increased by 65% since 2019? Parents in the Empire State are taking advantage of all of the benefits that come with home education, like the ability to tailor your child’s education to their specific learning needs, the freedom to learn whenever and wherever works best for them – and of course, spending more time together as a family homeschooling in New York!
Each state has their own laws and requirements when it comes to home education, so it’s important to do your research. You’ll soon be able to enjoy all of the rewards of homeschooling – you’ll just need to get familiar with the laws first!
Start Homeschooling in New York
The first step you’ll need to take to start homeschooling in New York is to file a written notice of intent. This must be done with your local school district superintendent within 14 days of withdrawing your child from school.
They will respond within 10 business days and provide you with a list of regulations for homeschooling, as well as an individualized home instruction plan (IHIP) form to complete. Once you’ve received these forms, you will have four weeks to complete and submit them.
If you will be starting to homeschool from Kindergarten, be sure to get this paperwork in on time. In New York, children must attend school or comply with the homeschool laws starting in the school year in which they turn 6 on or before December 1.
With the formalities out of the way, you can start enjoying all the freedom that homeschooling provides. In New York, you have the ability to choose any homeschool curriculum, methods, and approaches you’d like! Miacademy’s K-8 program and MiaPrep’s 9-12 program are used by many homeschool families in New York. Our flexible, accredited curriculum is perfect for keeping your student excited about learning!
Recordkeeping for Homeschoolers in New York
Recordkeeping can be tricky to figure out for first-time homeschoolers, but luckily for parents in New York, the requirements are fairly straightforward. The only records parents who wish to homeschool in New York must keep are attendance records.
While other types of recordkeeping are not required, they are generally recommended. Records such as portfolios, report cards, and a record of extracurricular activities can be useful for tracking progress and for transitioning back to traditional school if desired. These records are also helpful for filling out college applications for older students.
With Miacademy and MiaPrep, recordkeeping is a breeze. You can create, save, and print detailed reports about your student’s progress in just a few clicks, right from the parent portal!
Standardized Testing for Homeschoolers
An important requirement to keep in mind when homeschooling in New York is standardized testing.
- Grades 1-3: Standardized testing or an alternative form of evaluation, like a written narrative about their progress, is required yearly.
- Grades 4-8: Standardized testing is required at least every other year. An alternative form of evaluation may be used on the off years.
- Grades 9-12: Standardized testing is required yearly.
It’s also important to note that homeschooled students don’t need to take the same standardized tests as their peers in traditional schools. A “standardized test” is just a test with a standardized set of questions, administration protocol, and grading procedures. During the school years when testing is required, homeschooling parents in New York are able to choose which standardized test they would like their child to take.
Homeschoolers in New York may participate in the PSAT and SAT by contacting public or nonpublic schools. Use 993399 as the “school number” for homeschooled students on the test forms.
New York Homeschool Graduation Requirements
If you’d like to homeschool your high schooler, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the course requirements to graduate. New York has particular graduation requirements for homeschoolers, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still benefit from the freedom that comes with homeschooling!
When choosing a curriculum, look for one that includes these courses, or plan to supplement your main curriculum with the following:
- 4 units of high school English instruction
- 4 units of social studies, including 1 unit of American history, ½ a unit of government and ½ a unit of economics
- 2 units of science
- 1 unit of art and/or music instruction
- ½ a unit of health education instruction
- 2 units of physical education instruction
- 3 units of high school electives
Is your teen looking to stay in state for university? Most colleges will accept homeschool transcripts – however, colleges in New York will not. If your student is interested in applying to colleges in New York, they may…
- Request a “Letter of Substantial Equivalency” from your school district
- Obtain a high school equivalency diploma known as the “TASC”
- Take a specific sequence of 24 credit classes at a community college
As with all college applications, it is also recommended that your student includes at least one letter of recommendation, SAT and/or ACT scores, and documentation of any extracurriculars!
Resources to Make Homeschooling in New York Easier
Getting familiar with New York’s homeschool laws is the first step in your journey. For more information or for forms like a blank notice of intent to homeschool, be sure to check the websites of both your state and local departments of education.
Here are a few useful links to help you get started with homeschooling in New York:
New York State Education Department – Home Instruction
NYC Department of Education – Home Schooling
Still have questions about New York homeschool laws or how Miacademy and MiaPrep can fit into your homeschool requirements? Reach out to our amazing customer service team at any time!
FAQ:
Is it hard to homeschool in New York?
It isn’t hard to homeschool in New York at all! New York is very homeschool-friendly. In fact, it is one of the most popular states for homeschooling in the nation!
How much does homeschooling cost in New York?
The cost to homeschool in New York varies. Most of the costs come from curricula, educational materials, and learning experiences like field trips and extracurriculars.
The annual rate for our K-8 program, Miacademy, is $288. The rate for our high school program, MiaPrep, is $360. We run lots of sales throughout the year and also offer discounts for family plans and lifetime subscriptions. As you can see, homeschooling in New York with Miacademy can be very cost-effective!
Do homeschooled students take standardized tests in New York?
Homeschooled students in New York are evaluated through standardized tests but not necessarily the same ones used in public schools. Parents can also opt for alternative assessments during some school years, like written narratives of their achievements and progress.
Can homeschooled students play sports in New York?
No, homeschooled students cannot play public school sports in New York.
Last updated: 11/05/2022. All information on this site is provided with no guarantee of accuracy. Miaplaza is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or outdated information or for the results yielded through use of this information.
