New York has one of the most procedurally detailed homeschool regulations in the country. Families file an annual letter of intent and Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP), submit quarterly reports, and complete an annual assessment.
Legal framework
Home instruction is governed by 8 NYCRR §100.10 (Commissioner's Regulations). The New York State Education Department publishes the current regulation, with implementation handled by the local school district.
Notification & registration
Parents file an annual letter of intent with the local superintendent by July 1, then an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) covering each required subject. Four quarterly progress reports follow during the year, plus an end-of-year assessment.
Recordkeeping
The IHIP and quarterly reports document instruction in the required subject areas. Annual assessments are by standardized test in specified grades, alternating with a written narrative evaluation in the other years. Records are kept by the family and the district.
Graduation requirements
New York's home instruction regulation does not authorize the local district to issue a high school diploma to a home-instructed student, and the state does not prescribe specific graduation requirements for home instruction. The parent determines completion and issues the diploma. Many New York families align the transcript with Regents requirements as a reference.
Who issues the diploma
The parent operating the home instruction program issues the diploma in the name of the family's program. New York public school districts do not issue diplomas to home-instructed students.
College & military recognition
SUNY, CUNY, and the New York state universities and community colleges admit home-instructed graduates with a transcript and standardized test scores where required, and SUNY publishes specific guidance on home-school applicants. Homeschool graduates qualify for Tier 1 military enlistment under current DoD policy.
Official source
For current statutory text, forms, and procedural updates, the authoritative source is the New York State Education Department. Homeschool laws change, so confirm specific requirements directly with the state before relying on them.