Warm natural-light photo of an organized educational planner, attendance log sheet, and brass fountain pen resting on a solid wooden table
Warm natural-light photo of an organized educational planner, attendance log sheet, and brass fountain pen resting on a solid wooden table
NYS Compliance Guide

Homeschool Attendance Policy in NYS

Navigating annual hourly thresholds, mandatory record logs, and district reporting standards for home instruction across New York State.

Attendance Requirements

Required Hours & Days by Grade

New York State mandates a baseline of 180 instructional days per school year, with specific cumulative hour requirements determined by grade level.

Elementary Level
Secondary Level
Flexibility

Grades 1–6 Requirements

Grades 7–12 Requirements

Flexible Scheduling

Students in grades 1 through 6 must complete the substantial equivalent of 180 days and 900 hours of instruction per school year.

Students in grades 7 through 12 must complete the substantial equivalent of 180 days and 990 hours of instruction per school year.

Homeschool families have flexibility in scheduling instruction. Instructional hours may be completed at different times throughout the week, including evenings and weekends, as long as the required instructional time is met.

Warm candid photo of a parent reviewing educational records and lesson logs at a quiet wooden table with stacked books
Warm candid photo of a parent reviewing educational records and lesson logs at a quiet wooden table with stacked books
Documentation & Compliance

Maintaining Attendance Records

Parents are required to maintain attendance records for each homeschooled student throughout the school year. These records help document that the required days and hours of instruction have been completed.

Attendance records are generally kept by the parent and do not need to be routinely submitted to the school district. However, they must be made available to the school district upon request.

Instruction Outside the Home

Homeschooling Outside the Home

Homeschool instruction does not always have to take place in the family's primary residence. If instruction is provided at another location, New York State regulations require that the building has not been determined to be in violation of the local building code.