Homeschooling in New York: Complete 2026 Guide to IHIPs, Quarterly Reports, and Annual Assessments

New York is one of the most regulated US states for homeschoolers and one of the most clearly documented. The framework is set out in Commissioner's Regulations Part 100.10 (CR 100.10): a Letter of Intent by July 1, an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) by August 15, four Quarterly Reports through the year, and an Annual Assessment with the final report. None of this is insurmountable; tens of thousands of New York families homeschool successfully each year. But it is genuinely paperwork-heavy, and the deadlines matter.

This guide explains each requirement, walks through the annual cycle, and covers the college admission pathway. The structured legal reference is on the New York state requirements page.

How New York homeschool law works

New York's framework is in Commissioner's Regulations Part 100.10, issued by the Commissioner of Education under the authority of Education Law section 3204. The regulations have been in operation since 1988 and have been refined and tested through court decisions over four decades.

The key features:

1. No homeschool-specific statute. New York's framework is regulatory, not statutory. CR 100.10 is the operating document.
2. Local school district administration. The local district is the operational point of contact. The district receives your paperwork, reviews IHIPs, and accepts Quarterly Reports. The State Education Department (NYSED) supervises the framework but does not interact with families directly.
3. Required subjects by grade band. K-3, 4-6, and 7-12 each have specific subject requirements. The IHIP documents how each subject is addressed.
4. Annual cycle of paperwork. LOI, IHIP, four Quarterly Reports, Annual Assessment. The cycle repeats each school year.
5. Choice of evaluation method. Standardized test or written narrative evaluation, with rules about which option is permitted in which grade.

This produces New York's pattern: a real paperwork regime with substantive checkpoints throughout the year, but with full pedagogical freedom inside it. The state does not approve curriculum choices; it confirms that curriculum is being delivered to required subjects in a documented manner.

The annual timeline

New York's framework operates on a fixed annual calendar:

• By July 1: Letter of Intent (LOI) to the local school district. The LOI declares the family's intention to homeschool the child for the upcoming school year. Includes child's name, age, grade level, address.
• By August 15: Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP). The substantive document. Includes curriculum, materials, methods of evaluation, instructor names, and required subject coverage at the child's grade.
• Quarterly Report 1 (QR1): approximately mid-November. Describes progress in each subject during the first quarter.
• Quarterly Report 2 (QR2): approximately late January.
• Quarterly Report 3 (QR3): approximately mid-April.
• Quarterly Report 4 (QR4) + Annual Assessment: approximately mid-June. Final progress report plus the year-end evaluation (standardized test result or written narrative).

The deadlines are firm. Late filings can prompt district follow-up; chronic lateness can lead to a Letter of Substantial Compliance Concern, which is the precursor to formal action.

The Letter of Intent (LOI)

The LOI is the simplest piece. A short letter to the school district stating:

• Child's full name, age, date of birth, current grade level.
• Address.
• Declaration that the parent is providing home instruction for the upcoming school year.

There is no required form. Families can write their own letter or use the district's form if one is provided. Submit by July 1 to start the year on time. New families starting mid-year file the LOI within 14 days of beginning home instruction.

The district acknowledges receipt with a brief letter. The IHIP follow-up date is typically referenced in the acknowledgment.

The IHIP (the substantive document)

The IHIP is the document NYSED is most concerned about. Submit by August 15 (or within 4 weeks of LOI for mid-year starts). Required content:

• Child's name, age, grade level.
• List of syllabi, curriculum materials, or textbooks for each required subject. Specific titles work better than generic statements.
• Statement of methods of evaluation that will be used. Standardized test, narrative evaluation, portfolio review, or a combination.
• Names of qualified persons providing instruction. Typically the parent. No teaching credential is required; "parent" is sufficient.
• Implicit: how the required subjects for the child's grade band are being addressed.

The IHIP can be your own document or the district's form. Districts have varying preferences, but CR 100.10 specifies the required information; the form does not need to be the district's specific template.

The district reviews the IHIP within a few weeks. The district can accept the IHIP, request more information, or in rare cases reject it. Rejections are typically based on missing required subjects or unclear curriculum lists; the family responds with the requested clarification. Most IHIPs are accepted as submitted.

The four Quarterly Reports

Once per quarter during the school year, the parent submits a Quarterly Report to the district. Each QR describes:

• Hours of instruction in each required subject during that quarter.
• Percentage of curriculum completed in each subject (estimate is fine).
• Narrative description of progress in each subject.
• Materials or textbooks used.
• Any concerns or changes to the program.

QRs typically run 1-3 pages per child. They can be your own format or the district's; required information is the same.

The district reviews QRs to confirm that progress is occurring across all required subjects. The review is not a grade; it is a check that the IHIP is being implemented. Most QRs are accepted with no follow-up.

The Annual Assessment

The Annual Assessment is the year-end evaluation, due with QR4. The parent chooses:

Option A: Standardized test. From the NYSED-approved list:

• Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS).
• Stanford Achievement Test.
• California Achievement Test (CAT).
• Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS).
• Metropolitan Achievement Test.
• Other tests approved by NYSED.

The test is administered by an authorized examiner (a New York certified teacher, a homeschool peer with the appropriate authorization, or a testing center). Results are submitted with QR4.

Option B: Written narrative evaluation. Prepared by a qualified evaluator:

• A New York certified teacher.
• A licensed psychologist.
• A homeschool peer with appropriate qualifications.
• Another evaluator approved by the school district.

The narrative describes the child's progress in each required subject, with concrete examples and assessment of the year's work.

Which option for which grade. The standardized test is required for grades 4, 6, 8, and at least once in grades 9-12. The narrative is permitted in alternating grades for some districts (check the district's specific rules). For grades 1-3, the narrative is typically permitted as the standard option.

Required subjects by grade band

The required subjects under CR 100.10:

Grades K-3:

• Arithmetic, reading, spelling, writing, the English language.
• Geography, US history.
• Science, health education.
• Music, visual arts, physical education.
• Bilingual education and/or English as a second language where need is indicated.

Grades 4-6:

• All K-3 subjects.
• Patriotism and citizenship.
• Addiction prevention education.

Grades 7-12:

• English (4 years).
• Social studies (4 years, including American history, US government and economics).
• Mathematics (3 years).
• Science (3 years).
• Art and/or music.
• Health education.
• Physical education.
• A foreign language (1 year minimum).
• Plus: career development, technology education, and other electives as required.

The IHIP documents how each required subject is addressed. The Quarterly Reports document progress in each.

Withdrawing a child from a New York school

If your child is currently enrolled in a New York public school and you are starting homeschooling:

1. Submit the LOI to the district within 14 days of beginning home instruction (or by July 1 if planning for the upcoming year).
2. The district acknowledges receipt and provides the IHIP submission deadline.
3. Notify the school in writing of withdrawal, citing the LOI submission. The school removes the child from enrollment.
4. Submit the IHIP by the deadline (typically August 15 for new school years, or within 4 weeks of LOI for mid-year starts).

NYC Department of Education has its own administrative process; the same CR 100.10 substance applies, but the submission is to the Central Office of Home Schooling rather than to a local district.

What you can teach (in New York)

Required subject coverage is the substantive standard. Within that, full pedagogical freedom. Common approaches:

• Conventional textbook curriculum. Mapped to required subjects. Easiest for IHIP and QR documentation.
• Waldorf: the eight-year main lesson rotation covers most required subjects. Supplement with explicit Health/PE coverage and a Foreign Language program. New York has Waldorf homeschool networks in NYC, the Hudson Valley, and the Capital region.
• Charlotte Mason: living-books-based, with narration and short lessons. Maps cleanly to required subjects.
• Classical: trivium-based with Latin (the Foreign Language requirement), mathematics, and great books.
• Project-based and unschooling: legal but requires careful IHIP and QR translation. NYHEN publishes examples.
• Eclectic: the most common approach.

College admission for home-educated New York students

CUNY (the City University of New York), SUNY (the State University of New York), NYU, Columbia, Cornell, Fordham, NYIT, and the rest of the New York higher education system admit homeschool students.

Standard inputs:

• SAT or ACT scores. Most New York colleges still expect them.
• Parent-issued transcript with course names, grades, GPA, and graduation date.
• Application essay.
• Letters of recommendation from co-op teachers, dual-enrollment professors, employers, coaches, or community leaders.
• Sometimes the GED or HiSET as an alternative to a parent-issued diploma.

CUNY and SUNY publish specific guidelines for homeschool applicants. NYU, Columbia, and Cornell handle homeschool applicants through their standard alternative-track admission process. Many New York homeschool families take advantage of dual enrollment at SUNY or CUNY community colleges during high school years.

What to do to start homeschooling in New York

1. Read this article and the New York state requirements page. Confirm you understand the LOI, IHIP, QR, and Annual Assessment cycle.
2. Choose your educational approach and map it to the required subjects for your child's grade band.
3. Submit the LOI to your school district by July 1 (or within 14 days of starting mid-year).
4. Prepare the IHIP for submission by August 15 (or within 4 weeks of LOI for mid-year starts). Include curriculum lists, methods of evaluation, instructor names, and required subject coverage.
5. If your child is enrolled in a New York public school, withdraw after the LOI is submitted. The school removes the child from enrollment.
6. Set up your record system: a folder per child per quarter with hours logs, work samples, curriculum used, and books read. Quarterly Reports require this.
7. Mark all four Quarterly Report deadlines in your calendar.
8. Decide your Annual Assessment method by mid-year (standardized test or narrative). Schedule the test or evaluator early.
9. Connect with a local network: NYHEN (New York Home Educators Network), regional homeschool groups in NYC, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, the Capital region, Western New York, and the North Country. Waldorf-specific groups operate in several regions.

Related reading

• Homeschooling laws by US state: complete guide
• Easiest US states to homeschool in 2026
• Homeschooling in Pennsylvania
• How do I start Waldorf homeschooling?
• Is there a Waldorf homeschool curriculum?