New to Homeschooling?

Welcome!  You have questions, and OHA is here to help with answers!  


Should I Homeschool?

Homeschooling is a major lifestyle choice, and it's not right for every family.  First, think about resources.

Can you afford homeschooling?  Will you loose one parent's income, will you be able to purchase the curriculums your child needs, can you afford extracurriculars like co-ops. sports and lessons?

Do you have the time to homeschool? Will they have adult supervision through the day? Will they have an adult who is capable of assigning and checking their work daily?  Can you create a structure for your student through the day so they know what is expected  of them and when?

Also reflect on your educational philosophy and how it aligns with your child's learning style; what methods will best engage and motivate them?  Can you provide flexibility where they need it, and structure and consequences where needed?

Consider socialization as well—how will you facilitate interactions with peers?  From learning to share to finding a girlfriend, all people need a chance to connect with others.

 Of course, think about legal requirements.  Are you capable of sending required paperwork into the district regularly, and managing testing when required? 

Lastly, ponder the long-term implications of homeschooling on both your family dynamics and your child's future opportunities.  Homeschool is a whole family commitment that puts you and your student out of the mainstream of culture, and into the deep end of family togetherness.  

No one can tell you for certain if homeschooling is right for your family.  And the grass is always greener!  There are pros and cons to all forms of education, and what works for you right now might not work at all in a year or 2, so take a deep breath and choose what's the best fit for your family right now!


What is legally required to homeschool?



To homeschool legally in New York State in 2024-25, you must submit to your school district:

  • 1 letter of intent (LOI) 
  • 1 Individual Home Instruction Plan (IHIP) 
  • 4 Quarterly Reports
  • 1 Test results or narrative assesment

That's it!  Don't be overwhelmed by the paperwork, New York IS one of the most highly regulated states when it comes to homeschooling, but it is not burdensome, and you'll get into a rhythm of it soon enough.

You should read the actual NYS law, for your own education and peace of mind. 

What is a Letter of Intent?



A simple note, sent yearly (the district prefers an Aug 1 date), to the school district stating your intent to homeschool, starting in the school year in which they turn 6 before December 1. Multiple students can be combined in one note.  Here's a PDF template!

"parents of a student of compulsory school attendance age (6-16) shall annually provide written notice to the superintendent of schools of their school district of their intention to educate their child at home by July 1st of each school year, or within 14 day following the start of home instruction."


What is an IHIP?


10 days after you send your LOI, the district is required by law to acknowledge receipt.  4 weeks from that acknowledgment, your IHIP is due (school districts prefer an Aug 15th date). 

It's easy to put too much on your IHIP.  Meet the legal requirements, but there's no need to overshare.  If you commit to a curriculum on your IHIP and need a change, just note it in your next quarterly report.

PLEASE look at these sample IHIPs before you panic... Kinder and 3rd grade, Middle School, High school

Here's a video explanation of what to do!

Here's a plan of instruction you can cut and paste if you're not a curriculum person

The IHIP MUST include:

  • students name, age and grade level
  • dates you will submit your quarterlies
  • curriculum or learning objectives & resources for each SUBJECT

SUBJECTS must include:

ALL GRADES, EVERY YEAR:

  • patriotism and citizenship
  • health education regarding alcohol, drug and tobacco misuse
  • highway safety and traffic regulations, including bicycle safety
  • fire and arson prevention and safety

AT LEAST ONCE GRADES 1-8:

  • United States history
  • New York State history
  • Constitutions of the United States and New York State

GRADES 1-6:

  • Arithmetic
  • reading
  • spelling
  • writing
  • the English language
  • geography
  • United States history
  • science
  • health education
  • music
  • visual arts
  • physical education


GRADES 7+8

BOTH YEARS

  • English
  • history & geography
  • science
  • mathematics

ONE YEAR

  • art
  • music

"ON A REGULAR BASIS"

  • physical education
  • library skills
  •  practical arts
  • health education

GRADES 9 - 12:

  • 4 years-English

  • 3 years- Electives

  • 2 years-Mathematics, Science, Physical Education

  • 1 year- art or music, American History

  • 1/2 year-economics, Government, Health

What are Quarterly Reports?


On the dates you have chosen in your IHIP, send the district a report with 

  • the number of hours of instruction during said quarter
  • The same Subject information from your IHIP, stating you have covered 80% of the material
  • A grade for each subject (such as Satisfactory)

sample quarterlies are here, and here.

WHAT ABOUT THOSE HOURS OF INSTRUCTION?!?!  900?!?!  Yes, legally you are required to report 900 hours of instruction.  Simply divide that by your quarters, and put a + sign after it.  You are homeschooling.  Your children are learning ALL THE TIME.  Counting change at the grocery store? Yes.  Bedtime story? Yes.  

WHAT ABOUT GRADES?  You can choose to assign your childs work a grade, but you fulfill the legal requirements by stating "Johnny is progressing at a satisfactory level or above in (Math).  We have covered at least 80% of the planned material for this quarter."


Who is my contact in my district?


Oswego 

City of Oswego

[email protected]

and Suzanne Kells, secretary to the assistant superintendent

[email protected]

Fulton

Fulton City School District

Contacts: Renee Hendrickson / Trish Lund

Further Information: Fulton School District Homeschoolers Website

Mexico

Mexico School District

Citi Boces

Deb Chesbro

[email protected]

Central Square

Central Square School District

Citi Boces

Deb Chesbro

[email protected]

APW Distrtict

APW School District

Citi Boces

Deb Chesbro

[email protected]

Hannibal

Hannibal

Stephen Dunn

[email protected]

Red Creek

Joan Roden

Administrative Secretary at Red Creek Central School District

 [email protected]


Sandy Creek

Timothy Filiatrault

 Elementary Principal at Sandy Creek Central School District

[email protected]


Phoenix

Pulaski


Should I use the form my district provides?


Opinions differ.  There is no legal precedent for HOW to submit your paperwork to the district.  Many families hand deliver it and request a receipt.  Some use certified mail.  Most email for the convenience and a digital record.  Fulton and possibly other local districts have recently begun requesting new homeschool families use their online form.  They CANNOT legally require you to do so. That said, those who have tried it have found it thorough, simple and convenient.

What if my student has Special Needs?

What about socialization?


This is every grandparents' favorite question.  You have many choices! 

Join a local homeschool organization...

Oswego Homeschool Association, Oswego County LEAH, James Madison Academy, Educating Arrows

Join a sport...

Oswego Youth Soccer, Royals Homeschool (Basketball, Volleyball & Soccer) , Oswego Boxing Club, Lakers Swim Club

Community Theater

CNYarts Fulton, Players Theater Oswego

Other local programs that are known to be homeschooler friendly!

.. Fulton YMCA, CMOO, Oswego Public Library


What curriculum do I use?


Here's the big question!  This is not something that NY State dictates, you have more freedom than you will know what to do with here.

 How well do you know your student's learning style?  Will they do well with online classes?  Do you need off-line books?  Do you want an Open-&-Go curriculum that doesn't need much supervising?

What about Unschooling, what's that?  What if you try something and it doesn't work for you?  Or your student?  Do you want a religious curriculum, or do you not?

There has been a post-covid explosion of curriculum choices, for all needs and budgets.  The best thing is to find other homeschoolers and see what's working for them.  Join a homeschool Facebook group and ask questions!  

Beloved all inclusive curriculums include The Good and the Beautiful, Blossom and Root,  Easy Peasy, Study.com, Acellus/Powerhomeschool, Build your Library, Oak Meadow

When you break down by subject, there are just too many to mention...Happy hunting!

Here a a few review websites that can get you started, but trust me, in the hunt for the perfect curriculum, you'll never be finished!

https://cathyduffyreviews.com/

https://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/homeschool-curriculum-reviews/

https://www.rainbowresource.com/


When and how do I do Mandated Testing?

The NY State law regarding testing states "At the time of filing the fourth quarterly report as specified in the IHIP, the parent shall also file an annual assessment... The annual assessment shall include the results of a commercially published norm referenced achievement test...or...An alternative form of evaluation, such as a written narrative shall be permitted for grades one through three, and every other year for grades 4-8"

So, once a year, you must submit an "Annual Assesment"

for grades 1-4, most homeschoolers choose a written narrative, which is a chatty letter from the parent describing the students progress, challenges and certifying the student has made 'adequate academic progress".  

Here are a few lovely samples.  As with the IHIP, the tendency is to go overboard.  Keep it simple.

WHEN YOU MUST TEST

Most homeschoolers choose 4th to be the "other" of every other year 4-8, but starting in 5th grade at the latest, you MUST submit scores from an offical test, every other till 8th, and EVERY year in high school.

Oswego Homeschool Association administers the Iowa test every spring for members for a small fee, and provides you with scores to send directly to the school district.  We call it Bubble Week, and it is 3 mornings in a row, drop off, with potluck lunch after.  It is a group testing environment, and timed tests.  We recommend starting with a pratice year before you're require to submit, so students can LEARN HOW TO TEST, which is it's own skill set.

Other options for acceptable tests are:

Iowa Tests of Basic Skills

Stanford Achievement Test 

PASS Test

California Achievement Tests

TerraNova (free in Fulton)

How do I know if I'm doing enough?

Asking this question is a good sign!  Parents who are worrying about it usually are doing great!  It can be hard in the daily grind to feel like youve accomplished anything, especially when you have littler ones underfoot.  A good technique is to write down what you ACTUALLY did at the END of the day, and then once in a while go back and read all that, you'll be surprised.  Homeschool students have the gift of learning all the time, in many ways, at their own pace, which can be hard to quantify.  Every homeschool has a different structure, from 9-3 at a desk doing bookwork, to weekend long hauls when the working parent is home, to unschool days of supported exploration and student guided activites.  Students at home benefit from a high student-teacher ratio (sometimes 1-1!!) and an ablilty to advance at their own pace without waiting for a class to catch up.  Time spent on classroom control, busywork and administrative tasks are all eliminated.  As a frame of reference:

The average homeschooled K-2 grader might sit still for 30 minutes of intense "schoolwork" twice a day with a big wiggle break in between

The average homeschooled 3-6 grader might sit for an hour twice a day with a big break

The average homeschooled middle schooler might sit for a total of 3 hours, with breaks

The average homeschooled high schooler might sit for 4 hours a day

There is NO SUCH THING as an average homeschool student, your mileage WILL vary.  The rest of the hours of the homeschool day are filled with hobbies, field trips, outside time (counts as gym), family reading, and LIFE.  Chores become a massive part of the daily structure when a whole family is occupying the home all day, every day.  And all of that is learning, too.

Even in the loosest of unschool, unstructured famillies, there are some subjects that benefit from structured repetition.  Do some math and some reading every day.  Then follow your students lead, if they are excited about a subject, support their deep dive down the rabbit hole and help them make connections.  Got a Dinosaur freak?  Count dinosaurs, spell dinosaurs, read dinosaurs, science dinosaurs, history-timeline dinosaurs...Everyone learns better when they care about the subject.

What about teens? How do they graduate?

They don't.  Read that again.  Your homeschooled high schooler cannot have a regular or Regents high school diploma in New York State.  No accreditation of ANY program or curriculum is recognized by NYS.

There are only 3 ways to complete homeschooling in NYS, and none of them is a regular diploma. If a New York State recognized high school diploma, Regents or otherwise, is important to you, don't homeschool high school.

1. Complete all your paperwork (IHIPS etc) thru 4 years of high school and request a Letter of Substantial Equivalency from your superintendent

2. Get a GED (over age 16 with signed school district permission, over 19 without)

3. Complete 24 (specific) college credits, submit your college transcript to NYS, and receive an alternative diploma.

All 3 of these are accepted equally at most colleges and Universities, including all SUNY schools.  Many colleges also require "transcripts" and some even ask for 4 years of IHIPS and Quarterlies.

Advice for homeschooling teens is to listen to them (sounds like parenting, huh?)  You will get much more buy-in for academic pursuits in high school if you are a support to your students OWN goals.  Yes their goals will change, but everything they try out and then reject is one step closer to their best life path.  Find out who they want to become, and build a plan together to aim them there. If they want to start their own business, LET THEM.  Get them business classes. If they're really undecided, go ask a business if they want a free apprentice and create an internship.  If it's college, figure out what academic foundations they'll need to succeed, and then create a plan to get them ready.  If they are Ivy League bound, start building towards perfect SAT scores in middle school.

The college application process is arduous for everyone, but can be totally overwhelming for homeschoolers with no guidance counsellor who does it every day.  Reach out to a homeschooler that has been there, reach out to a college admissions department you're considering, get as much information as you can, because as the homeschool parent, you have to BECOME a guidance counsellor. 

What if I have more questions?

Contact [email protected] for general questions and to be put in touch with a homeschool mentor that can answer more

READ THE LAW at  actual NYS law and familiarize yourself with it

Join a local Facebook group Homeschool Parent Group (Oswego, NY)

Join a homeschool support group and start making connections.  Other homeschool families are your commuity, your colleagues and your best resource.