New York homeschool requirements
Last checked October 2026. This is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. Your school district has the final say.
What you file, and when
A notice of intent to your district superintendent by July 1 each year, or within 14 days of starting mid-year. The district sends you the IHIP form (Individualized Home Instruction Plan). You return it within 4 weeks or by August 15, whichever is later. It lists your child's grade, the materials for each subject, your quarterly report dates and who is teaching.
Subjects
Grades 1 to 6: arithmetic, reading, spelling, writing, English, geography, US history, science, health, music, visual arts and physical education. Grades 7 and 8 and high school have their own lists in the regulation, 8 NYCRR 100.10.
Hours
900 hours a year in grades 1 to 6, and 990 hours in grades 7 to 12.
Quarterly reports
On the dates in your IHIP, you send a report with the hours of instruction, the material covered in each subject, a grade or short narrative for each subject, and an explanation if less than 80% of the planned material was covered.
The annual assessment
Filed with the fourth quarterly report: a standardized test, or in some grades a written narrative by a qualified person.
Where Gallop fits
A per-subject record of what your child covered, with dates, can help you write the "material covered" part of each quarterly report.
Gallop's Records report prints, for each child and any date range, the days and minutes they worked, the subjects covered, each skill mastered with its date, and sample questions your child answered correctly. Minutes count time in Gallop only, not all of your teaching. Most parents add it to their own records rather than using it as their only record.
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FAQ
Will the district accept Gallop's report as my quarterly report?
No, you write and file the quarterly report yourself. Gallop's report helps you fill in what was covered.
Do I still file an IHIP if I use an online program?
Yes. New York says families file an IHIP even when they use an online or correspondence program.
Can I try it first?
Yes. Try 7 sample questions, or start the 7-day free trial. No card needed.
Sources
- 8 NYCRR 100.10: https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-york/8-NYCRR-100.10
- NYSED, Home Instruction Questions and Answers: https://www.nysed.gov/nonpublic-schools/home-instruction-questions-and-answers