Homeschooling in NYC: Support Groups and Classes
Support groups offer help to first-time and on-going homeschoolers to: understand the homeschooling regulations, do the necessary paperwork, find group activities for parents and kids, do year-end assessments, find classes, tutors and teaching assistance, and get recommendations for books and local resources.
If you don't have a support group, do an online search with your city or county + state + homeschooling, using any search engine and also Facebook.
Join a group on FB and ask those members about other local groups. Meet-Up may also help you to find local homeschool groups.
New York State
NYHEN ( New York Home Educators' Network) is a state-wide organization of homeschoolers offering homeschool support.
State-wide Organizations in NY
New York State Homeschoolers (Facebook) - Free group with over 10,000 members, sharing advice across the state.
LEAH (Loving Education at Home). Christian homeschool support in New York State.
New York City Organizations
NYC has a thriving community of homeschoolers, with homeschool groups and activities in many neighborhoods.
New York - Citywide
NYCHEA: New York City Home Educators Alliance is the original homeschool support group, and the oldest such group in NYC, entirely volunteer-run by hoemschooling pagents, with annual dues (currently $45). They offers monthly fairs for kids, meetings for parents, a newsletter, and more. This a secular organizationhas over 400 families and is known for their events, including the annual Not-Back-to-School Picnic in September, attracting homeschooling families from all five boroughs and beyond..
NYC Secular Homeschoolers (Facebook group) - FREE to join, homeschool support group, with over 1,000 member families from the NYC area. Check the events section of this group for homeschooled events all over NYC.
NYC Department of Education (DoE) Homeschooling Information, government site with DoE paperwork forms availabel for free download in many languages.
Manhattan
Different Directions, a homeschool learning center located on West 57th St., offers classes for homeschoolers, family get-togethers, teen activities and internships, and more, founded by homeschooling parents.
Project SOME for Teens (Springboard) - educational offerings and support for homeschooled teens, located on Nassau St. in lower Manhattan, large selection of college preparatory classes.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn Apple Academy is a homeschool learning and resource center in Park Slope, with student-centered classes for ages 5-19. They offer teen field trip days, weekend gatheringss for tweens and teens, family events, and more.
Cottonwood, in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, is an Agile Learning Center with a child-led approach, classes and activities for age 5 and up, as well as afterschool and summer camp.
Brooklyn Homeschoolers (Facebook group) - Free to join with 1,000 member families.
The Park Slope Playgroup has been meeting since Sept 2014. For ages 9-12 (the age range may be greater), this is a group with homeschoolers, non-homeschoolers, and alternative school kids, organized by a homeschooling parent.
Queens
Queens NY Homeschoolers (Facebook group) - Free to join with over 1500 member families.
Bronx
Bronx Unschooling Homeschooling NYC (Facebook group), free to join.
Staten Island
Staten Island Homeschoolers (Facebook group) free to join.
Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Ulster, Sullivan, Rockland and Orange Counties
Westchester Homeschoolers (Facebook group) Free to join, over 2,000 members.
Westchester Homeschoolers Living Naturally, (Facebook group) Free to join, over 1,000 members.
Long Island
LIGHT (Long Islanders Growing at Home Together), homeschool support group offering information, group activities and classes, and connection.
Long Island Homeschooling Mamas - Facebook group, free to join, over 1,000 members, offering homeschool support, information and connection.
Long Island Homeschool Social Events, Classes and Field Trips - Facebook group, free to join, over 1,800 members.
Long Island Homeschool Extracurricular Activities - Facebook group free to join, over 3,000 members.
Connecticut
CHN - Connecticut Homeschooling Network - hosts an annual homeschooling conference in Meriden in mid-June. Here are links to CHN FB Groups listed by County.
New Jersey
Bergen County Home Educators - Facebook group with over 1,000 members, free to join.
North Jersey Homeschoolers Association, an organization of Christian homeshooling families offering classes and resources.
Essex County, NJ Homeschoolers, Facebook group with over 1,500 members, free to join.
Homeschoolers Explore NJ, Facebook group with over 3,500 members, free to join.
New Jersey Homeschool, Facebook group offering homeschooler support, free to join.
NJ Homeschool Resources: support, advice, curriculum for NJ homeschooleres, Facebook group, free to join.
South Jersey Homeschool Association and co-op, offering classes for homeschoolers preK-12.
Classes Created for Homeschoolers
Every year NYC homeschool support groups and learning resource centers advertise new classes for homeschoolers, and many also offer "afterschool" activities and summer camps. Most arts schools (music, dance, visual art, etc.) and sports centers will create a class for a group on request. Here are some offerings created just for homeschoolers, or with classes that serve everyone and are popular with homeschoolers.
Manhattan:
Wendy Raver, Hunter College history professor and homeschooling mom, teaches history in NYC museums and special sites, creating special courses for homeschooled teens and tweens. Wendy is also instrumental in creating teen events including an annual prom and homeschool graduation ceremony. Classes and events are posted on her blog.
Robofun, STEM education for preK-grade 8, founded by a homeschooling mom and popular with homescholers. Teen internships. Classes can be created for homeschool groups.
The Art Farm - Science and art! A petting zoo in Manhattan on E. 91st St.! Classes for ages 14 mos. to 10 years. They have created special classes for homeschoolers.
Art Classes with Pam White, located in Harlem (upper Manhattan), serving ages 5 and up (including teens), very popular with homeschoolers.
Bookmaking and Art Classes with Stephanie Krause, homeschooling mom and popular art teacher offers classes via Zoom, in museums, and on location.
The NY HIstorical Society on the upper west side has programs for teens. (They used to offer classes for homeshoolers, which are not currenly available.)
Sports Centers - In the past, Asphalt Green and Chelsea Piers have created for homeschoolers on request (not currently available).
Hills Learning has offered language classes for homeschoolers in midtown Manhattan.
Broooklyn:
Extreme Kids offers support and activities for neurodivergent kids of all ages, with clubs and family events. Tiered pricing. Currently no classes especially for homeschoolers.
Koko NYC offers inventor and make-it workshops and events in Brooklyn, for preK-teens. Homeschoolers have created special classes on request. Tiered tuition.
Irondale, theater group in Fort Greene, offers youth programs for tweens and teens recommended by homeschool teens.
Bronx and Westchester:
Scribble Art Workshops - art classes, workshops, and art play groups, serving ages 1.5-9, with private classes for older kids. Located in Riverdale (Bronx) and Dobbs Ferry. They have created classes for homeschoolers on request.
The Pied Piper Children’s Theater is a community theater located in Inwood (northern Manhattan, near Rivedale in the Bronx), and the cast and crew might be 50% homeschoolers, kids and adults. They have auditions and performances for children, teens and families.
Online classes for homeschoolers:
Learning Beyond the Book - classes for homeschoolers created by a homeschool cooperative on the west coast, with live Zoom courses for all ages.
Outschool - Live online classes created for homeschoolers of all ages, online tutoring also available.