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 | Required — California Department of Education (CDE), Superintendent of Public Instruction Between October 1 and October 15 (filing window) | Detailed plan required — superintendent of the local school district By July 1 annually, or within 14 days of commencing home instruction mid-year |
| Testing | Not required | Required (Composite score above the 33rd percentile on national norms, OR one academic year of growth compared to a prior year's test) |
| Required subjects | 10 subjects (by grade) | 12 subjects |
| Instructional time | No requirement | 900 hrs/yr |
| Instructor qualification | No requirement | No requirement |
| Recordkeeping | attendance | attendance, grades |
| Annual renewal | Required by October 1-15 | Required by July 1 annually (LOI and subsequently IHIP) |
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 (Required — California Department of Education (CDE), Superintendent of Public Instruction Between October 1 and October 15 (filing window)) → 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 prior year's test)). California does not
- ~Required subjects: California (10 subjects (by grade)) → New York (12 subjects)
- +New York requires instructional time (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 — PSA system open Aug 1–Jun 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 (Required — California Department of Education (CDE), Superintendent of Public Instruction Between October 1 and October 15 (filing window))
- -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 Private School Affidavit (PSA) via CDE online system as soon as possible. System open Aug 1–Jun 30.
Before you start teaching:
- ▢File BEFORE you start teaching (Ed. Code §33190; §48222)
- ▢Statutory window is Oct 1–15 but CDE accepts filings year-round for new schools. File immediately upon withdrawal from prior school.
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