Homeschooling is an educational model in which parents take charge of their child's education instead of sending them to a traditional public or private school. In this model, the parent or guardian is responsible for choosing the subjects to be taught, the curriculum and teaching methods, planning the schedule, and teaching or facilitating instruction. In New York, parents must be “competent” to homeschool their children. The school district must provide a copy of the homeschooling regulations and an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) form for the family to complete.
It is also up to each school to decide if their standardized tests and assessments are acceptable or if they will require additional placement tests upon enrollment. Moving Beyond the Page is a homeschool curriculum that meets the requirements for homeschooling in New York State. Within the homeschooling community, you can find great information on everything you need to make your school year successful, no matter how your child learns. There are many requirements for homeschooling in New York, and in addition to those described above, you can find more information and the full list here.
Program requirements vary by age, and below are some high-level requirements for homeschooling in New York, starting with preschool and ending with high school. If the school district considers that the progress of a homeschooled student is inadequate, the homeschooling program will be released on probation. One of the first things parents should know is how to get started if their student will start homeschooling in kindergarten or will move from public school to homeschooling. Everyone who has successfully homeschooled their children has been where you are while you wait to send your letter of intent.
It is your responsibility as a parent to provide curriculum materials in all subject areas required for homeschooling qualifications in a year. New York homeschooling law also requires all high school students studying at home to take specific courses to complete their education. It must be a commercially published performance test with reference to standards or an alternative form of evaluation; however, it must meet the requirements described here for homeschooling.
