Homeschooling in New York
Are you thinking about starting to homeschool? Do you live in the Empire State? Then this overview page for homeschooling in NY is for you.
Time4Learning understands that you have a lot of questions about getting started homeschooling in your state. What do I need to do to start homeschooling my child? Where can I find local support? What kinds of curriculum are available to me?
We want you to feel confident in your choice to take your child’s education into your own hands, but we know that there are so many things to consider about how to homeschool your child in New York . Below, you will find information that will guide you in the areas you are likely most curious about, including:
- How to Start Homeschooling in NY
- New York Homeschool Laws
- New York Homeschool Associations
- New York Homeschool Groups and Co-ops
- Homeschool Field Trips in New York
- New York Homeschooling by City
- New York Standardized Tests and Test Prep
- Why Time4Learning is the Leading Homeschool Curriculum in New York
- How to Build the Best Homeschool Curriculum for PreK-12
This information should by no means be interpreted as legal advice. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under.
How to Start Homeschooling in NY
Once you’ve made your decision to homeschool in NY, these are the four steps you should follow:
- File your notice of intention to homeschool with your local school district within 14 days of pulling your child from their current school (or anytime, if your child isn’t currently enrolled in a school.)
- Once you’ve received your confirmation and Individualized Home Instruction Plan form, you have four weeks to complete and submit your information.
- Choose your curriculum. (In New York, homeschool curriculum choice is up to the parents.)
- Begin enjoying learning together!
New York Homeschooling Laws
How does homeschooling work in New York? Simple. Homeschoolers and public school students alike are required to receive instruction from ages 6-16. The New York Department of Education governs the subjects to be taught in your homeschool (although, you can teach additional subjects as well).
While the steps to homeschooling in the Empire State are simple, this is a highly regulated state and the DOE has clear guidelines on how to properly homeschool in NY. Learn more about the New York Homeschooling Laws here.
New York Homeschool Associations
Almost every state has at least one statewide organization designed to support home educators, and, currently, there are two New York state homeschooling associations. While every statewide homeschool association will have different goals, they will all certainly have in common the desire to provide support, guidance, and information to homeschoolers in their state. Homeschool associations are valuable for any stage of homeschooling, but they can be especially helpful to families just getting started. More info: New York Homeschool Associations
New York Homeschool Groups and Co-ops
Once you’ve made the decision to homeschool in NY, you will likely want to connect with other homeschoolers in your state. Our New York homeschool parent forum is a great place to start, so don’t be afraid to ask questions of other Time4Learning users who live in the Empire State. With the growth in popularity of homeschooling, though, you may also discover one or more local support groups in your town or region. Find out more: New York Homeschool Groups and Co-ops
Homeschool Field Trips in New York
If you are thinking that homeschool means staying in and studying all the time, think again! In fact, because of their flexible schedule, homeschoolers usually have many more opportunities than traditional schoolers to get out and explore their community and their world. Homeschooling in such a vibrant state as NY means you have driveable access to many destinations that you can visit together as a family, and almost any outing can be turned into a learning activity. In addition to field trip options, your state and local homeschool associations and support groups will probably plan workshops, service opportunities, athletic events, and more throughout the year. Plus, don’t forget to explore all the enrichment classes offered to students in your area. Please make sure to contact each site before you plan your visit, as COVID-19 may have impacted their hours of operations. Learn more: Homeschool Field Trips in New York
New York Homeschooling by City
Homeschooling in New York State is exciting because of all the outings available throughout the city. Check out the opportunities for homeschoolers near these metropolitan areas of the Empire state:New York Standardized Tests and Test Prep
Starting in fourth grade, New York homeschoolers are required to take nationally approved achievement tests every other year. These serve as the year-end assessments required for those years. Then, in 9th grade, homeschoolers will begin taking the achievement tests annually. Examples of approved tests include the Iowa Basics Skills Test, the California Achievement Test, the PASS test, and the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills. Visit our New York State Standardized Test Prep page for more information on preparing for your achievement testing.
Why Time4Learning is the Leading Homeschool Curriculum in New York
While New York has regulations on what subjects you need to cover, they have no guidelines regarding what curriculum to use. When it comes to home school programs, NY families can feel insecure at first about which learning materials to choose. Since NY law requires families to not only keep a log of educational activities but to participate in annual evaluations in specific years, you’ll want to make sure that your curriculum choices will adequately prepare you for these requirements. Here’s why Time4Learning has become a leading NYS homeschool curriculum option:
- Time4Learning includes an automated reporting system which tracks test and lesson scores, time spent on each activity (for attendance), completed lesson summaries and more.
- The program is self-paced, which means each student has access to individualized learning paths that ensure skill mastery.
- Concepts are presented using humor, animated lessons, instructional videos, printable worksheets and fun assessments.
How to Build the Best Homeschool Curriculum for PreK-12
Homeschool curriculum choices have expanded over the last decade. Parents have much more to choose from than typical textbooks, workbooks, and other traditional schooling methods. Online courses, interactive videos, personal computers, laptops, and tablet devices provide exciting and engaging materials for children to experience. But all of these new methods often confuse parents, especially those who are new homeschoolers. Eventually, parents come to realize that mixing different tools and activities usually keeps their children stimulated and eager to learn. For more information, review How to Build the Best Homeschool Curriculum for PreK-12.
New York Unit Study Supplement
Help your homeschooler learn interesting history and geography facts about New York in the Time4Learning unit study supplement.
Online Curriculum for Homeschool, Afterschool and Summer Use
In addition to being an award-winning choice for homeschool families, Time4Learning also offers an online after school program to help build your child’s skills. View our lesson demos and discover why thousands of New York families are already using it!
Give your student the chance to get back on track or explore exciting electives and get ahead for the next school year with Time4Learning’s online summer school. Our educational materials will engage and challenge your child to succeed.
Welcome to Homeschooling Guide
Download this FREE resource where experienced homeschoolers share their stories for how to begin homeschooling, understanding your child academically, planning your days, and much more.
