Assessment Requirements in New York

What’s required

New York requires homeschooled students to complete a standardized test or teacher evaluation. This is required annually.

Results must be submitted to superintendent of the local school district (submitted with fourth quarterly report).

Minimum score

Your child’s test results need to meet a specific threshold. Here’s what the state requires:

Don’t panic if this sounds intimidating. Most homeschooled students meet or exceed these benchmarks, and if your child falls short, there are clear next steps (see below).

What happens if your child doesn’t meet the minimum

First things first: this is not a crisis. States build in a structured process to help your family get back on track. Here’s how it works in New York:

• Process: Student placed on probation for up to two school years; remediation plan submitted with IHIP
• Timeline: Standardized test required at end of probationary year regardless of normal alternating schedule; probation removed when student progresses to level specified in remediation plan
• If scores still don’t improve: Superintendent may require enrollment in public or private school; parent may appeal to board of education, then to Commissioner of Education

The important thing to remember is that you have time and options. Many families use a low score as a chance to adjust their approach, try new curricula, or get targeted help in specific subjects.

Approved tests

The following tests are accepted in your state:

• Iowa Assessments (ITBS)
• Stanford Achievement Test (SAT-10)
• CAT
• PIAT
• Woodcock-Johnson
• Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS/TerraNova)
• Metropolitan Achievement Test (MAT)

Many of these can be administered at home or through a local testing service. Your homeschool co-op or state organization may also coordinate group testing dates.

Alternatives to standardized testing

If standardized tests aren’t a good fit for your child, your state offers these alternatives:

• written narrative evaluation by NYS-certified teacher (in years when testing is not mandatory). Grades 1-3: alternative evaluation permitted every year. Grades 4-8: alternative evaluation permitted every other year (standardized test required in alternate years). Grades 9-12: standardized test required every year (no alternative).

These options can be especially helpful for students who experience test anxiety or whose learning style doesn’t translate well to multiple-choice exams.

Get your personalized plan

Every family’s situation is a little different. Our free wizard builds a step-by-step compliance plan tailored to your family, including exactly which assessments you need and when they’re due.