New York Homeschool Transcript Guide

1 NY Home Instruction Law: IHIP, Quarterly Reports, and Annual Assessments

New York home instruction is governed by N.Y. Educ. Law § 3204 and the implementing regulations at 8 NYCRR Part 100.10. New York has some of the most structured homeschool requirements in the country, and understanding the three main compliance obligations is essential before you can produce a complete and credible transcript.

1. Annual IHIP (Individualized Home Instruction Plan). Each year, parents must file an IHIP with their local school district by July 1 (or within 14 days of beginning instruction if starting mid-year). The IHIP must list the subjects to be covered, the curricula or materials to be used, and the number of instructional hours planned for each subject. The district reviews and may request revisions within 10 business days.

2. Quarterly Progress Reports. Parents must submit four quarterly reports to the district showing the student’s progress in each subject. These reports are the backbone of your academic record, they document what was taught and how the student progressed across the year. Keep copies of every report you submit; they serve as contemporaneous evidence that supports the grades on your transcript.

3. Annual Assessment. Every homeschooled student must undergo an annual assessment. For grades 1–8, the assessment may be a standardized test or a written portfolio evaluation by a certified teacher. For grades 9–12, approved options include a Regents exam, another standardized test (such as the SAT, ACT, or Iowa Tests), or an alternative assessment agreed upon by the parent and district. Satisfactory progress on the annual assessment is required to continue homeschooling the following year.

2 New York Regents Diploma: 22 Required Units

New York uses the Regents Diploma as the standard high school graduation credential. Home-instructed students who complete the equivalent of 22 units (credits) in the required subject areas are considered to have met the Regents Diploma pathway. The table below shows the required units and any important notes for each area:

3 What Colleges Require from NY Homeschoolers

New York colleges and universities, and colleges in other states that receive NY homeschool applications, generally look for the same core elements regardless of your homeschool structure. A well-prepared transcript demonstrates academic rigor, consistency, and organized record-keeping.

• Complete course list organized by year

  Group by grade level (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th) with course name, subject area, and credit value clearly labeled
• Credit totals per subject area

  Show cumulative credits in each of the 9 Regents subject areas alongside overall total credits earned
• Weighted and unweighted GPA

  Include the full grading scale (A = 93–100 = 4.0; Honors +0.5; AP/PSEO +1.0) and both GPA figures, clearly labeled
• Standardized test scores

  SAT, ACT, PSAT, AP, or Regents exam scores; these corroborate the grades on your transcript and carry extra weight for homeschoolers
• Extracurricular activities and leadership

  Co-ops, sports, volunteer hours, awards, and work experience; hours and date ranges strengthen the record
• Parent signature as issuing authority

  Sign as the instructing parent and homeschool administrator; include the homeschool name and contact information

4 Common NY Home Instruction Mistakes to Avoid

These are the four mistakes New York homeschool families make most often when managing compliance and building a transcript:

• 1
  Missing quarterly report submissions

  New York requires four quarterly reports per year. Families who fall behind often scramble to reconstruct progress from memory at the end of the year. Keep running notes each month and file each quarterly report on time, missed submissions can trigger district intervention.
• 2
  Not splitting Gov’t and Economics within Social Studies

  The 4-credit Social Studies requirement includes Global History I (1 credit), Global History II (1 credit), US History (1 credit), Government (0.5 credit), and Economics (0.5 credit). Listing only “Social Studies” without distinguishing these courses leaves your transcript incomplete and may cause admissions reviewers to flag it.
• 3
  Treating PE as a one-time requirement

  New York requires 2 full credits of Physical Education, but this is not 2 standalone courses you can finish early. PE must be completed each year of high school (a minimum amount per year). Plan 0.5 credits of PE each year across all four years rather than front-loading it.
• 4
  Completing only 1 unit of LOTE and missing the Advanced Regents threshold

  One unit of a Language Other Than English meets the Regents Diploma minimum. However, 3 units are required for the Advanced Regents designation, a credential that can strengthen college applications significantly. If your student is college-bound, plan for 3 years of the same language from the start of high school.

How DiplomaPath Helps NY Home Instruction Families

DiplomaPath is built for the detailed record-keeping that New York home instruction demands. The app tracks all 22 Regents units with real-time progress bars per subject area, calculates weighted GPA automatically for Honors, AP, and PSEO courses, and logs quarterly progress notes you can reference at report time. When your student is ready to apply, export a print-ready PDF transcript, formatted to include course list, credit totals, GPA, grading scale, activities, and test scores on one professional document.