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Home Education Checklist

Each Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) Shall Contain:

  • Child’s Name
  • Age
  • Grade Level
  • A List of the Syllabi
  • Curriculum Materials
  • Textbook or plan of instruction to be used in each of the required subjects
  • Dates of submission to the school district of the parents’ quarterly reports. These reports shall be spaced in even and logical periods
  • The names of the individuals providing instruction
  • A statement that the child will be meeting the compulsory educational requirements of Education Law, section 3205 through full-time study at a degree-granting institution, meaning enrollment for at least 12 semester hours in a semester or its equivalent, if that is the case. ln this situation, the IHIP shall identify the degree-granting institution and the subjects to be covered by that study.

Required Courses – Grades 1 through 6:

  • Arithmetic
  • Reading
  • Spelling
  • Writing
  • The English Language
  • Geography
  • United States History
  • Science
  • Health Education
  • Music
  • Visual Arts
  • Physical Education
  • Bilingual education and/or English as a second language where the need is indicated.

Required Courses – Grades 7 and 8:

  • English (two units)
  • History and Geography (two units)
  • Science (two units)
  • Mathematics (two units)
  • Physical Education (on a regular basis)
  • Health Education (on a regular basis)
  • Art (one-half basis)
  • Practical Arts (on a regular basis)
    • Note: For purposes of this subdivision, a unit means 6,480 minutes of instruction per school year.
    • Note: The units required herein are cumulative requirements for both grades 7 and 8.

The Following Courses Shall be Taught at least Once During the First 8 Grades:

  • United States History
  • New York State History
  • The Constitution of the State of New York

Required Courses – Grades 9 through 12:

  • English (four units)
  • Social Studies (four units), which includes one unit of American history, one-half unit in participation in government, and one-half unit of economics
  • Mathematics (two units)
  • Science (two units)
  • Art and/or Music (one unit)
  • Health Education (one-half unit)
  • Physical Education (two units)
  • Three units of electives
  • Note: For purposes of this subdivision, a unit means 6,480 minutes of instruction per school year.
  • Note: The units required herein are cumulative requirements for grades 9 through 12.

Education Law, Section 801, 804, 806, and 808, Also Require the Following Subjects to be Covered During Grades K through 12:

  • Patriotism and Citizenship
  • Health education regarding alcohol, drug, and tobacco misuse
  • Highway safety and traffic regulations, including bicycle safety
  • Fire and arson prevention and safety

Attendance Requirements – Each Child Shall Attend Upon Instruction As Follows:

  • The substantial equivalent of 180 days of instruction shall be provided each school year
  • The cumulative hours of instruction for grades 1 through 6 shall be 900 hours per year. The cumulative hours of instruction for grades 7 through 12 shall be 990 hours per -year
  • Absences shall be permitted on the same basis as provided in the policy of the school district for its own students.
  • Records of attendance shall be maintained by the parent and shall be made available to the school district upon request.
  • Instruction provided at a site other than the primary residence of the parents shall be provided in a building which has not been determined to be in violation of the local building code.

Quarterly Reports

On or before the dates specified by the parent in the IHIP, a quarterly report for each child shall be furnished by the parent to the school district. The quarterly report shall contain the following:

  • Commercially published norm-referenced achievement tests
  • The test shall be selected by the parent from one of the following: the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, the California Achievement Test, the Stanford Achievement Test, the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills, the Metropolitan Achievement Test, a State Education Department test, or another test approved by the State Education Department
  • The test shall be administered in accordance with one of the following options, to be selected by the parents:
    • at the public school, by its professional staff;
    • at a registered nonpublic school, by its professional staff, provided that the consent of the chief school officer of the nonpublic school is obtained;
    • at a nonregistered nonpublic school, by its professional staff, provided that the consent of the superintendent of schools of the school district and of the chief school officer of the nonpublic school is obtained; or
    • at the parents· home or at any other reasonable location, by a New York State-certified teacher or by another qualified person, provided that the superintendent has consented to having said certified teacher or other person administer the test.
  • The test shall be scored by the persons administering the test or by other persons who are mutually agreeable to the parents and the superintendent of schools.
  • The test shall be provided by the school district upon request by the parent, provided that the cost of any testing facilities, transportation, and/or personnel for testing conducted at a location other than the public school shall be borne by the parent.
  • If a score on a test is determined to be inadequate, the program shall be placed on probation pursuant to subdivision (i) of this section. A student’s score shall be deemed adequate if:
    • the student has a composite score above the 33rd percentile on national norms; or
    • the student’s score reflects one academic year of growth as compared to a test administered during or subsequent to the prior school year.
  • (2) Alternative evaluation methods. An alternative form of evaluation shall be permitted to be chosen by the parent only as follows:
    • (i) for grades one through three, a written narrative prepared by a person specified in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph;
    • (ii) for grades four through eight, a written narrative prepared by a person specified in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph. This alternative form of evaluation may be used no more often than every other school year
      for these grades;
    • (iii) for the purposes of this paragraph, the person who prepares the written narrative shall be a New York State-certified teacher, a home instruction peer group review panel, or another person, who has interviewed the child and reviewed a portfolio of the child’s work. Such person shall certify either that the child has made adequate academic progress or that the child has failed to make adequate progress. In the event that such child has failed to make adequate progress, the home instruction program shall be placed on probation pursuant to subdivision (i) of this section. The certified teacher, peer review panel, or other person shall be chosen by the parent with the consent of the superintendent. Any resulting cost shall be borne by the parent.

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