Home Instruction
Parents/guardians are permitted to educate their children at home in accordance with Education Law and 100.10 of the commissioner’s regulations. Children of compulsory education age must receive full-time instruction taught by a competent teacher that is substantially equivalent to that provided at their local public school. Compulsory age includes the school years from which the child turns 6 years of age on or before Dec. 1 through the school year in which the child turns 16 years of age. The school year spans July 1-June 30.
Homeschooling completion through grade 12 results in a letter of substantial equivalency from the superintendent that allows a post-secondary educational institution to award a post-secondary degree to a student. A high school diploma or a GED is not issued as a result of home instruction/home school program completion.
For additional information, you can view the NYS regulations for home instruction as well as our Board of Education Policy about home instruction.
The regulations provide detailed requirements for subjects/courses to be taught, required attendance and student evaluation. Specific provisions govern home instruction.
- Parent/guardian must notify the superintendent of schools or designee (Pupil Personnel Services) in writing each school year of their intention to educate their child at home.
- Parent/guardian must develop an individualized home instruction plan (IHIP).
- Parent/guardian must submit quarterly reports.
- Parent/guardian must file an annual assessment indicating the student’s progress.
- Home Instruction Information Form
- Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) templates
- Summary of Units Grades 1-12
- High School Unit Checklist
State law requires Albany parents whose children will attend a non-public school or will be home-schooled to submit to the district Special Education Department a request for Special Education Services by June 1 of the previous school year.
The purpose of this deadline is to enable districts to budget funds and make necessary arrangements to provide reasonable and economical transportation. This applies to students who will attend private or parochial school.
Annual requests can be sent to:
Director of Special Education
Getting started
Send your letter of intent and required forms to the Pupil Personnel Services Department at:
homeinstruction@albany.k12.ny.us
You can also mail or hand deliver your letter and required forms to:
Pupil Personnel Services
Harriet Gibbons Student Services Center
75 Watervliet Ave.
Albany, NY 12206
Have questions?
If you have additional questions, please contact our Pupil Personnel Services Department at (518) 475-6130.
