When a family decides to pursue home instruction, the first step is to share required basic census information with the school district. This page explains the initial steps required by New York State law to homeschool. It also includes resources for families.
Step One: Notify the School District
The first step for families who choose to homeschool is to provide census information with the school district. Providing this information does not enroll a student in the school district. It simply begins the process so that families may go on to file a Notice of Intent to Home School.
Parents or guardians should contact with the school district when any of the following apply:
- A child of compulsory school age is moving into the district and will be homeschooled,
- A child currently enrolled in a district school will be withdrawn for home instruction, or
- For each subsequent school year of home schooling
Families must fill out the Homeschool Census Form.
Email MCS Registrar Laurie McGeary, or call 518-827-3600, ext. 2601 if you require any assistance.
Step Two: Submit Notice of Intent to Homeschool
Parents who will be homeschooling their child(ren) must send a Notice of Intent to Home School to Mollie Zucker, Program Manager, Capital Region BOCES.
Mollie Zucker
Email: homeschooling@neric.org
Phone: 518-464-3982
The Notice of Intent to Home School must be submitted by July 1 prior to the start of the upcoming school year. If a family decides to homeschool after July 1, the Notice of Intent should be submitted within 14 days of starting home instruction or within 14 days of withdrawing the child from school.
OneFlow
Capital Region BOCES uses the myOneFlow platform to receive and review all homeschooling documents, including the required Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP), quarterly reports and annual assessments.
This system is designed to make the submission process easier and more efficient, while also improving communication between families and the Capital Region BOCES Homeschool Office.
To get started:
- Visit: https://app.myoneflow.com/CapitalRegionBOCES/oneflow
- Scroll down and click “Parent Register Now.”
- Create your account (be sure to save your username and password).
- Enter your information and add your student.
- Submit your Letter of Intent directly in the system—it will be pre-filled and ready for you to sign and submit.
Once your letter of intent is submitted, you will be able to share Individualized Home Instruction Plans (IHIP), Quarterly Reports, and End of Year Assessments directly through the OneFlow portal.
You may complete the homeschool process through the portal or via email. If you have any questions regarding the portal, homeschool requirements, or documenting your homeschooling process, please direct them to the Capital Region BOCES Home School Team.
Special Education Support for Homeschooled Students
Under Education Law § 3602-c and the New York State Education Department, families who choose to homeschool may still receive special education support for their child. To receive these services, families must submit a request with the school district on or before June 1 for the upcoming school year. This advance notice allows the district to review the request and plan for appropriate services.
Special education services through an Individualized Education Services Plan (IESP) are not available if the required written notice is sent to the school district after the June 1 deadline.
If you plan to continue homeschooling in future years and want to keep receiving special education services, you must send written notice to the district by June 1 each year, before the new school year begins, even if services were provided during the prior school year.