Homeschool laws in New York (2026)
A plain-English overview of what New York requires of homeschool families — plus the automatic tracking Rosie’sHQ handles so you never have to build a portfolio the night before an evaluation.
New York at a glance
Verified statuteWhat the law says: 8 NYCRR § 100.10 requires 900 hrs (grades 1-6) and 990 hrs (grades 7-12); ~180 days.
Source: nysed.gov
Required subjects
New York law names the following subjects as required parts of your homeschool curriculum:
- Mathematics
- Reading / Literature
- Writing / Spelling
- US History / Civics
- Science
- Health / Physical Education
- New York History
- Patriotism & Citizenship
- Music
- Visual Arts
How Rosie’sHQ helps New York families
- Daily attendance in one tapLog a school day in a single tap and Rosie'sHQ counts it against New York’s 180-day mandate for you.
- Automatic hour talliesEvery lesson you log rolls up into per-subject and per-year hour totals — no spreadsheet required.
- One-click portfolio PDFTurn your logged lessons, assessments, and worksheets into an audit-ready portfolio PDF the moment an evaluator asks.
- Notice of Intent generatorGenerate a New York-specific Notice of Intent PDF pre-filled with your child’s information — ready to sign and mail.
Recommended homeschool checklist for New York
Everything a New York homeschool family should do across a typical school year, grouped so you can tick items off as you go. Every step is tailored to New York’s actual rules — low-regulation states get a shorter list; states with mandatory portfolios or standardized tests get the full sequence.
1Before the school year begins in New York
- File your New York Notice of Intent (or equivalent)
Complete the New York-specific homeschool notification form before instruction starts. Rosie’sHQ generates a pre-filled, print-ready PDF that names each child, their grade level, and the required subjects. The relevant statute is 8 NYCRR § 100.10.
- Line up curriculum for every required subject in New York
New York law names 10 subjects that must appear in your homeschool: Mathematics, Reading / Literature, Writing / Spelling, US History / Civics, Science, Health / Physical Education, plus 4 additional required subjects. Pick a curriculum, workbook, or living-books plan for each one, then create the subject in Rosie’sHQ so daily lessons automatically roll up under the mandated category.
- Set your target hours and days in Rosie’sHQ
Under New York rules, elementary students need at least 900 instructional hours per year (990 for secondary grades). Open Settings, set New York as your state, and the compliance dashboard will show a live progress bar toward that target every time you log a lesson.
2Every school day
- Log attendance in one tap
Use Rosie’sHQ’s Quick-Log to mark the school day “present” in a single tap. The system will roll it into your New York year-to-date attendance count and warn you if you’re falling behind the 180-day mandate.
- Record each subject you teach today
For every subject you cover, log the minutes spent. Rosie’sHQ tallies them against the 900-hour New York target automatically — no spreadsheet required. Attach worksheet photos, PDFs, or audio recordings straight from the log so evaluators can see the work later.
3Every month or quarter
- Review your New York compliance dashboard
Open the Compliance tab and confirm you are on pace for the 900-hour New York target. The dashboard flags any required subject that has zero logged minutes so nothing slips through the cracks.
- Keep the portfolio building automatically
New York requires an annual portfolio review. Rather than scrambling in June, let Rosie’sHQ build it month by month: every worksheet, photo, and log you attach today lands in the New York year-end portfolio PDF automatically. Preview it any time from the Compliance tab.
- Plan for New York standardized testing
New York requires an approved standardized test at certain grade levels. Rosie’sHQ tracks assessment results next to your lesson logs so you have one place for scores, evaluator letters, and the underlying learning evidence. Order your test kit at least 60 days before the intended sit date.
4At the end of the school year
- Generate the year-end PDF the state expects
New York requires a portfolio review. Click “Export Portfolio” in Rosie’sHQ and you get a single, professionally formatted PDF containing the cover page, statute reference, per-subject hours, log index, and worksheet appendix — ready to hand to any New York evaluator.
- Keep records for the state-recommended retention period
Store the year-end PDF plus any raw logs for at least 3 years after graduation. New York districts and colleges occasionally request historical records; Rosie’sHQ preserves your archive so you never have to reconstruct a year from memory.
Frequently asked questions
How many days and hours must New York homeschoolers log per year?+
New York law currently requires 180 instructional days per year and 900 hours (elementary) and 990 hours (secondary). 8 NYCRR § 100.10 requires 900 hrs (grades 1-6) and 990 hrs (grades 7-12); ~180 days. Rosie'sHQ tracks your daily attendance and lesson hours automatically and warns you if you’re falling behind.
What subjects must be taught to New York homeschoolers?+
New York law names the following subjects: Mathematics, Reading / Literature, Writing / Spelling, US History / Civics, Science, Health / Physical Education, New York History, Patriotism & Citizenship, Music, Visual Arts. Rosie'sHQ maps every subject you set up to the state’s required list and flags gaps on your compliance dashboard.
Do New York homeschoolers need to submit a portfolio or test scores?+
New York requires an annual portfolio of the student’s work and a standardized test result. Rosie'sHQ builds an audit-ready portfolio PDF from your logged lessons and assessments in one click.
How does Rosie'sHQ help New York homeschool families stay compliant?+
Rosie'sHQ logs daily attendance, tallies instructional hours by subject, generates a Notice of Intent, produces a year-end portfolio PDF, and stores every worksheet or assessment your child completes so an evaluator or state official can be answered in minutes rather than hours.