California vs New York: Homeschool Laws Compared
Side-by-side comparison of homeschool regulations. See what changes if you're moving between these states.
At a Glance
| Requirement | California | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation level | Moderate regulation | High regulation |
| Notification | Varies by pathway | Detailed plan required — superintendent of the local school district By July 1 annually, or within 14 days of commencing home instruction mid-year |
| Testing | Varies by pathway | Required (Composite score above the 33rd percentile on national norms, OR one academic year of growth compared to a test administered during or after the prior school year) |
| Required subjects | 10 subjects (by grade) | 12 subjects |
| Instructional time | No requirement | 180 days/yr, 900 hrs/yr |
| Instructor qualification | Varies by pathway | No requirement |
| Recordkeeping | attendance | attendance, grades |
| Annual renewal | Required by October 1 through October 15 annually | Required by July 1 annually (notice of intent); IHIP within four weeks of receiving the district's IHIP materials or by August 15, whichever is later |
Moving Between These States
Moving from California to New York
Grace period: 14 days from commencing home instruction in the district (8 NYCRR §100.10)
What changes:
- ~Notification: California (Varies by pathway) → New York (Detailed plan required — superintendent of the local school district By July 1 annually, or within 14 days of commencing home instruction mid-year)
- +New York requires testing (Required (Composite score above the 33rd percentile on national norms, OR one academic year of growth compared to a test administered during or after the prior school year)). California does not
- ~Required subjects: California (10 subjects (by grade)) → New York (12 subjects)
- +New York requires instructional time (180 days/yr, 900 hrs/yr). California does not
- ~Recordkeeping: California (attendance) → New York (attendance, grades)
Transition checklist
Before you leave California:
- ▢No formal withdrawal required in California
- ▢Gather records: curriculum materials, work samples, test scores
When you arrive in New York:
- ▢File Letter of Intent with local superintendent within 14 days of commencing instruction. Submit IHIP within 4 weeks of receiving the form from the district.
Within 14 days of starting:
- ▢File within 14 days of starting (8 NYCRR §100.10)
- ▢District has 10 business days to respond with IHIP form. Complete IHIP due within 4 weeks of receiving form.
Moving from New York to California
Grace period: No explicit grace period. The CDE's Private School Affidavit filing system is open August 1 through June 30. (Ed. Code §33190; §48222)
What changes:
- ~Notification: New York (Detailed plan required — superintendent of the local school district By July 1 annually, or within 14 days of commencing home instruction mid-year) → California (Varies by pathway)
- -Good news: California has no testing requirement
- ~Required subjects: New York (12 subjects) → California (10 subjects (by grade))
- -Good news: California has no instructional time requirement
- ~Recordkeeping: New York (attendance, grades) → California (attendance)
Transition checklist
Before you leave New York:
- ▢No formal withdrawal required in New York
- ▢Gather records: curriculum materials, work samples, test scores
- ▢Complete any pending assessments before you leave
When you arrive in California:
- ▢File a Private School Affidavit through the CDE online system when your home-based private school starts. The system is open August 1 through June 30.
Before you start teaching:
- ▢File BEFORE you start teaching (Ed. Code §33190; §48222)
- ▢The statutory filing period is October 1 through 15, and the CDE's online system stays open August 1 through June 30 so new schools and home schools can file when they start. Schools established in July wait until the system opens in August.
Military families
Neither California nor New York has military-specific homeschool provisions. MIC3 (Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children) does not apply to homeschoolers — it covers public schools only. Your School Liaison Officer can help with the transition.
Planning a move?
Enter your move date to get a timeline with specific deadlines.
Common questions
What are the differences between homeschooling in California and New York?
California and New York have different homeschool regulations covering notification requirements, testing, required subjects, instructor qualifications, and recordkeeping. See the comparison table above for the exact differences.
What do I need to do to move my homeschool from California to New York?
When moving from California to New York, you must comply with New York's homeschool laws from scratch. See the transition checklist above for step-by-step guidance.
Data sourced from state statutes and administrative codes. Comparison based on default homeschool pathway for each state. This is compliance guidance, not legal advice. Terms · How we verify