Estimated reading time: 12 min | Downloadable template included
Every fall, thousands of New York homeschooling families face the same ritual: downloading the CV-CMA form from the SUNY website, staring at it for two hours, and either:
- (a) Giving up and copying someone else’s plan, or
- (b) Filling it out wrong and getting a notice from the school district
Neither outcome serves anyone — especially not your child.
The IHIP (Individualized Home Instruction Plan) doesn’t have to be this painful. It’s not a test. It’s not a trap. And when you understand what the district is actually looking for, it becomes a powerful framework for designing a year your child will genuinely thrive in.
This guide breaks down exactly what belongs in a NY IHIP, what mistakes to avoid, and gives you a free downloadable template at the bottom that handles the format so you can focus on the substance.
What Is an IHIP (And Why NY Makes It Sound Scarier Than It Is)
New York is one of the most regulated states for homeschooling — but “regulated” isn’t the same as “difficult.” The IHIP is simply a document telling your school district:
- Who your child is
- What you’ll teach them
- What materials you’ll use
- How you’ll measure progress
That’s it. The state wants to know you’re actually educating your child, not just leaving them on a tablet all day. Fair enough.
The legal framework comes from Education Law §1707(4) and the accompanying regulations in 8 NYCRR §100.10. The form families use is called the CV-CMA (Composite Valuation and Course of Study Meeting Attendance) — though most people just call it the IHIP form.
Your district has 10 business days to review your IHIP after you submit it. If they don’t respond, you’re automatically approved.
The 6 Sections of a Winning NY IHIP
Section 1: Child’s Information
The easy part. Name, age/birthdate, grade level, address. Make sure the grade level matches where your child would be in public school if they attended.
Common mistake: Not updating the grade level each year.
Section 2: Your Educational Philosophy (This Is Where Most People Get It Wrong)
This is the section that freaks people out — but it shouldn’t be. The district wants to know why you homeschool and what approach you’ll take.
You don’t need to write a dissertation. A few clear paragraphs covering:
- Why homeschooling is the right fit for your child
- Your general educational philosophy (e.g., “child-led,” “classical,” “Charlotte Mason,” “unit study,” “Socratic”)
- Any special considerations (gifted, twice-exceptional, neurodivergent, etc.)
The mistake most people make: Copying generic language from somewhere else. Write in your actual voice. If you’re eclectic and uncertain, say that. If you’re structured and curriculum-driven, say that too.
What actually works: One paragraph about your child as a learner — strengths, challenges, what excites them — then one paragraph about the year’s big goals. Districts love this because it shows the plan is actually individualized.
Section 3: The Subjects (All 7 Required in NY)
New York requires you to cover these seven subjects:
| Subject | What This Means |
|---|---|
| 1. Mathematics | Any math curriculum counts |
| 2. Science | Including lab sciences at the secondary level |
| 3. English Language Arts | Reading, writing, spelling, grammar, literature |
| 4. History & Geography | Social studies, including citizenship |
| 5. Health & Safety | Including opioid education (yes, really) |
| 6. Physical Education | Movement, sports, or structured physical activity |
| 7. The Arts | Visual arts, music, theater, or creative expression |
Common mistake: Listing subjects but not describing what will be covered. “Science” isn’t enough — say “Life science with a focus on ecosystems, human biology, and monthly nature journaling.”
Section 4: Curriculum Resources (Be Specific)
Districts want to see that you have actual materials, not just good intentions. For each subject, list the curriculum or program you’ll use, why you chose it, and how it fits your child’s learning style.
You don’t need expensive curricula. Tying it back to your stated philosophy matters more. “We’ll use Singapore Math Primary Mathematics because its concrete-to-pictorial-to-abstract progression matches our philosophy of building deep conceptual understanding” is stronger than just writing “Singapore Math.”
For AI-curious families: This is where you can note tools like Khan Academy, Duolingo, or AI-assisted learning without listing them as your primary curriculum. The key: you need a core curriculum. AI tools are accelerants, not replacements.
Section 5: How You’ll Measure Progress
New York requires quarterly reports (or semiannual, depending on your district’s preference). Your IHIP should describe how you’ll assess whether your child is making progress — via portfolio method, standardized tests, narrative evaluations, or work samples.
The portfolio method is the most common and flexible: you keep organized samples of your child’s work and present them to your superintendent at the end of each quarter.
Standardized testing is required if your district requires it (some do, especially at grades 4, 6, and 8).
Section 6: The “3-Parent Conference” Requirement (NY Specific)
New York requires that at least one parent/guardian attend an “annual instructional review meeting” — a check-in with your superintendent or homeschool coordinator to review the child’s progress. Your IHIP submission should note that you understand this requirement and intend to comply.
The 5 Mistakes That Get IHIPs Rejected
1. Missing the October 15 filing deadline
Your IHIP must be submitted within the first 30 days of the school year OR by October 15, whichever comes later. Submitting earlier is always better — it shows good faith.
2. Vague curriculum descriptions
“Using a homeschool curriculum” is not a plan. “Using The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts Level 3” with a sentence on why is a plan.
3. Forgetting health/safety (including opioid education)
NY requires this specifically. Many families skip it. Don’t.
4. Submitting without a subject list
Listing only the subjects without explaining what will be covered in each one is the #1 reason for IHIP revision requests. Be thorough.
5. Not keeping copies
Always submit your IHIP by certified mail (or email with read receipt), and keep a copy for your records.
What’s NOT Required (But Everyone Thinks It Is)
- You don’t need a teaching degree.
- You don’t need to match public school exactly. Your child doesn’t need to be on the same schedule or cover the same topics at the same time.
- You don’t need approval before you start. You’re only rejected if the district objects within 10 days — which almost never happens.
- You don’t need to use the SUNY form exactly. You can submit a narrative IHIP in your own format as long as it contains all the required information.
The Socratic Framework for Building Your IHIP
Here’s how to think about it from Auxesis’s perspective: an IHIP is essentially a Socratic document. Before you write it, ask yourself:
- Who is this child as a learner? (What do they love? Struggle with? How do they engage best?)
- What does a meaningful year look like for them?
- How will I know if it’s working?
Answer those three questions honestly, and the IHIP almost writes itself.
The Free Template
Download the NY IHIP Planning Template →
The template includes:
- Pre-formatted CV-CMA fields with guidance for each section
- A fillable 7-subject curriculum planning table
- Assessment method checklist (portfolio, standardized testing, narrative, work samples)
- Quarterly report templates (Q1 + Q2)
- The Opioid Education requirement wording
Ready to File? Here’s Your 5-Step Action Plan
Week 1: Download the template, fill in your child’s information, write 1 paragraph on your educational philosophy.
Week 2: List all 7 subjects with specific content descriptions. List curriculum resources with 1-sentence rationale each.
Week 3: Describe your assessment method. Note the 3-parent conference requirement. Review against the 5 mistakes checklist.
Week 4: Submit by certified mail or email with read receipt. File your copy. Schedule your Q1 portfolio review date.
Conclusion: The IHIP Is a Gift, Not a Burden
When you stop thinking of the IHIP as a bureaucratic hurdle and start thinking of it as a planning framework, something shifts. It’s your chance to be intentional — to articulate what you want this school year to be, for this specific child, with these specific goals.
That kind of clarity doesn’t just satisfy a school district. It gives you something to measure yourself against, to course-correct with, and ultimately to feel proud of at the end of the year.
Your child doesn’t get a do-over of third grade. The IHIP is how you make it count.
This guide is part of the Free NY Homeschool Compliance Kit from Auxesis Learning. For more homeschool AI resources, Socratic tutoring tools, and curriculum planning frameworks, explore the Auxesis Skills Library.