New York State Required Courses for Homeschooling

Required Courses

Instruction in the following subjects
are required:

Grades 1-6
Arithmetic
Reading
Spelling
Writing
English language
Geography
US history
Science
Health education
Music
Visual Arts
Physical Education
Bilingual education and/or English as a second
language, as needed

Grades 7 and 8
English (2 units)
History and Geography (2 units)
Science (2 units)
Mathematics (2 units)
Physical education (on a regular basis)
Health education (on a regular basis)
Art (one-half unit)
Music (one-half unit)
Practical Arts (on a regular basis)
Library skills (on a regular basis)

The following courses should be taught at least
once during the first eight grades: United States
history; New York State history; Constitutions of
the United States and New York State.

Grades 9-12

English (4 units)
Social Studies (4 units, which will include 1 unit American History, one-half unit government, one-half unit economics)
Science (2 units)
Mathematics (2 units)
Physical education (2 units)
Health education (one-half unit)
Art and/or Music (1 unit)
Electives (3 units)

Note: 1 unit is equal to one full year of classes, every day;
one-half unit is every day for one semester (half the
school year); physical education is only 2 units total, but
is taken every year for all 4 years of high school:
3 times per week for one-half the year; 2 times per week
for the other half of the year.

The following subjects are also required
to be covered in grades K-12:
1) patriotism and citizenship
2) health education regarding alcohol, drug and tobacco misuse
3) highway safety and traffic regulations, including bicycle safety
4) fire and arson prevention and safety