LEAP | Homeschool Partnership Programs in Staten Island, New York

How To Homeschool Your Child in New York State

Homeschooling in New York

Introduction

“HomeSchooling” is synonymous with flexibility. Our Homeschool Connections program emerged out of a need to give “voice” to “choice”. Today, we are seeing our world doing things differently and the possibilities of homeschooling not only offer emotional, cognitive, social and spiritual freedoms, it most importantly provides our students with opportunities for innovation, ingenuity and communication skills rarely taught in schools.

How to get your child started on their homeschool journey?

To begin, you must download a Letter of Intent to letterofintent@schools.nyc.gov.

Within 10 business days of receipt of the Letter of Intent, you will be notified by your local school district of your request.

(Due Date: July 1, 2024)

Upon receipt of your request, an IHIP form (Individualized Home Instruction Plan) will be mailed to your home. You will need to fill out the form outlining the educational plan for your child.

(Due Date: August 15, 2024)

Famous people you didn't know where home-schooled!

Venus & Serena Williams (Tennis Players)
Justin Bieber (Musician)
Tim Tebow (NFL Quarterback, Motivational Speaker)
Benjamin Franklin (Inventor)
Andrew Carnegie (Business Entrepreneur)
Frank Lloyd Wright (Architect)
Claude Monet (Artist)
Arran Fernandez (Mathematician, Young Prodigy)
Sage Kotsenburg (Olympic Snowboarder)
Hans Christian Andersen (Famous Writer)

Contents of the IHIP should include

Your child’s name, age and grade level
IEP Services
Curriculum materials, textbooks as well as your academic plan of instruction
IHIP Curriculum goals should be SKILL SPECIFIC NOT GRADE SPECIFIC
All instruction should be geared to the level appropriate to your child’s needs and previous levels of achievement.

4 dates of quarterly reporting

November 15, 2024: Submit Quarterly Report #1
January 31, 2025: Submit Quarterly Report #2
· April 15, 2025: Submit Quarterly Report #3
· June 30, 2025: Submit Quarterly Report #4, (along with the annual assessment)

Homeschooled Students with IEPs

Convert the IEP into an IESP through the Committee on Special Education services:

The IESP is to be conducted in the same manner and has the same content as the former IEP if your child was previously enrolled in a school.
Special Education services MUST be provided to homeschooled children on an equitable basis as compared to special education programs and services provided to other students with disabilities attending a public or non-public school within the district.

Annual Assessment

It must be sent along with the 4th Quarter Report. The annual assessment can include but is not limited to, standardized tests, commercially published tests, written narratives, and/or portfolios.

The following are examples of tests that can be used: Iowa Test, California Test, Standard Achievement Test, Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills, Metropolitan Achievement Test, State Education Department Test.

Test Shall Be Administered By:

Public School
Registered Non-Public School
At Home-Certified Teacher
At Home-Parent; with the exception of state examinations

Parents Responsibility & Instructional Committment

900 Hours of Instruction in ELA, MATH, SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, ART & MUSIC for students in grades 1-6 is required.
990 Hours of Instruction in ELA, MATH, SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, ART & MUSIC for students in grades 7-12 is required.
Time & Frequency of Instructional Schedule:
- Required 180 days of instruction
- Absences permitted on the same basis as district policy
- Maintain ALL records of attendance

HSC Program Highlights

Self-Directed Learning Experiences
Personalized Learning
Self-Paced Curriculum
Welcome, Clean and State of the Art Learning Environment
Technology enriched learning cycles
Frequent Skills Check
Problem-Based Learning Skills
Communication and Creative Learning Outlets
Future Workplace: creative & collaborative learning opportunities

HSC offers amazing opportunities for children to learn at their development at pace and rate. Our primary focus is to foster 21st century thinking skills prioritizing the individuality of each and every child we meet. The results are that our students grow to be problem solvers, innovators and designers in a workforce that will require our children to take active, and self-directed roles using their talents and skills to guide them on their journey towards success.

How can our Homeschool Connections Program Help?

Our HSC program offers support and guidance in the initial stages for parents seeking to receive academic support in core areas of cognitive, social, and emotional development. Our services are highly specialized and are designed to meet the needs of children who are exceptionally gifted, academically challenged, and or typically developing. Parents of home-schooled children enjoy our program's use of the Orton Gillingham approach, multisensory mathematical approach, as well as our STEAM programming and Digital Media classes. We are not a substitute for a school-based program; rather, we are here to enhance the educational experience for your child.

HSC offers fantastic opportunities for children to learn at their development pace and rate. Our primary focus is to foster 21st-century thinking skills, prioritizing the individuality of every child we meet. Our students grow to be problem solvers, innovators, and designers in a workforce requiring our children to take active self-directed roles using their talents and skills to guide them on their journey towards success.

According to the National HomeSchool Education Research Institute, "students coming from a homeschool teaching experience graduate college at a higher rate than their peers (66.7% compared to 57.5%) and earn higher grade point averages along the way.”

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE CORE PROGRAM?

Our Core Partnership Program is a three-day per week program that engages students in small group blended learning labs designed to enhance their academic potential. Initial testing is done to determine your child’s individual needs so as to build fundamental success with reading, writing, and mathematics. We work to develop core reading skills inclusive of spelling, reading fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, writing, mathematical thinking, problem-solving, and study, as well as ‘organizational’ skills and motivational strategies.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS?

Homeschool Connections is dedicated to providing every child with a comprehensive suite of educational services designed to unleash their full potential and celebrate their unique talents. Our programs transcend traditional boundaries, fostering creativity, intelligence, and a collaborative spirit among our students.

WE DESIGN IMMERSIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES.

Learning through play involves a multisensory experience. Research shows that from birth, we learn through exploration and discovery. Through our homeschool cooperative program, we honor the process of learning in a structured, child-centered environment.