What is the IHIP in New York homeschool?

IHIP stands for Individualized Home Instruction Plan. It is a written plan submitted to your school district describing the subjects you will teach, the materials you will use, and the schedule you intend to follow. It must be filed within 14 days of beginning instruction each year.

What subjects are required for homeschool in New York?

New York requires instruction in 10 subjects for K–6 (arithmetic, reading, spelling, writing, English, geography, US history, science, health, and music/art/PE) and 14 subjects for grades 7–12.

Does New York require quarterly reports for homeschooling?

Yes. New York requires quarterly reports showing the number of hours of instruction completed and subjects covered. Annual assessments (standardized test or portfolio) are also required in certain grades.

Homeschool in New York (NY) — Laws, Requirements & Curriculum

New York Homeschool Requirements at a Glance

File an IHIP — Individualized Home Instruction Plan — with your local school district within 14 days of starting instruction each school year.
Notify your district — written notice of intent to homeschool must be filed each year.
Instruction hours — minimum 900 hours/year for K–6 and 990 hours/year for grades 7–12.
Quarterly reports — submit four reports per year listing instructional hours and subjects covered.
Annual assessment — required in grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and every year in high school. Can be a standardized test OR a portfolio review.
No teacher certification required — parents do not need a teaching license to homeschool in New York.
No prior notice needed to start — you can begin homeschooling at any time of year, but must notify your district promptly.

Required Subjects in New York

Grades K–6 (10 subjects)

Arithmetic
Reading
Spelling
Writing
English language arts
Geography
United States history
Science
Health education
Music, visual arts, or physical education

Grades 7–12 (14 subjects)

All K–6 subjects plus: mathematics (specific courses), social studies (state and local history, world history), languages other than English, career development, and additional health requirements. Contact your district for the full 7–12 list.

What Goes in Your IHIP?

Your IHIP must include:

The child's name, age, and grade level
A list of subjects to be taught
A description of the curriculum or materials for each subject
The planned start and end date of instruction
The name of the person providing instruction

For the "curriculum/materials" section, you can list Lumi Academy as your digital curriculum platform for Math, Reading/ELA, Science, and Social Studies. Many NY families include it alongside other materials (workbooks, library books, field trips, etc.).

How Lumi Academy Supports NY Homeschoolers

Lumi Academy covers all the subjects New York requires for K–8 — Math, Reading/ELA, Science, and Social Studies — with hundreds of voice-guided lessons at every grade level. For your IHIP, Lumi counts as your primary curriculum for four of the ten required subject areas.

Quarterly reports are easier with Lumi too — the parent dashboard tracks which lessons your child completed, giving you a ready-made record of instruction hours and subject coverage to draw from when filing.

Try Lumi Free for 48 Hours →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is homeschooling legal in New York?

Yes. Homeschooling is legal in New York under Section 100.10 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education. New York is one of the more regulated states, but tens of thousands of families homeschool here successfully.

What is an IHIP and how do I file one?

IHIP stands for Individualized Home Instruction Plan. It's a written document you submit to your school district describing what and how you'll teach your child. Most districts have their own IHIP form — contact your local district's pupil services or curriculum office to get the form, then return it within 14 days of starting homeschool each year.

What are quarterly reports and how do I complete them?

Quarterly reports are short updates submitted to your district four times per year, showing that you've met the minimum hours of instruction and covered the required subjects. They don't need to be elaborate — most families submit a simple log of hours by subject. Lumi's parent dashboard makes this easy by showing completed lessons by subject.

What assessment options are available in New York?

For grades requiring annual assessment (4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and high school), you can use a nationally normed standardized test (such as the Iowa Test, CAT, or Stanford Achievement Test) administered by a qualified evaluator, or you can submit a portfolio of your child's work reviewed by a certified teacher. Many NY homeschool families prefer the portfolio option for its flexibility.

Can I start homeschooling in the middle of the school year?

Yes — New York law allows you to withdraw your child from school and begin homeschooling at any point in the year. You must notify your district and file your IHIP within 14 days of beginning instruction. If your child is already enrolled in public school, you'll also need to formally withdraw them.

Homeschooling in New York