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Feb. 27 | Bills waiting to be scheduled for a hearing
S 199 and its companion bill A 2326 were introduced on January 7, 2025, by Senator Monica Martinez and Assemblywomen Carrie Woerner respectively. Both bills are currently pending before their respective Education Committees, with no hearings currently scheduled.
These bills were introduced in response to ongoing concerns regarding inconsistent treatment of homeschool graduates seeking Letters of Substantial Equivalency across New York State.
If you live in the district of a co-sponsor of S 199 or A 2326, please contact your Senator or Assemblymember and thank them for supporting this bill. More importantly, encourage them to work with leadership to schedule a hearing for the bill so it can proceed to a vote.
- Here is the list of Senators who have cosponsored S 199.
- Not sure who your Senator is? Check here.
- Here is the list of Assemblymembers who have cosponsored A 2326.
- Not sure who your Assemblymember is? Check here.
Personal stories matter. If your family has experienced difficulty, delay, or inconsistent treatment when seeking a Letter of Substantial Equivalency, share that experience!
Summary of S 199 / A 2326
There is currently no legal framework governing how homeschool graduates obtain a Letter of Substantial Equivalency (LOE). Instead, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) has issued Substantial Equivalency Guidance through memorandum.
While that guidance outlines how homeschool graduates may qualify for an LOE, it is not codified in regulation. As a result, implementation varies across districts and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) regions.
This has left many homeschool graduates vulnerable to:
- Differing interpretations of the guidance
- Additional requirements not grounded in Section 100.10
- Administrative delays
- Uneven treatment depending on geographic location
- Denial of an LOE altogether even when the student has fully completed a lawful homeschool program in compliance with Section 100.10
Homeschool families who fully satisfy the requirements of Section 100.10 should receive uniform recognition of substantial equivalency. Instead, the current system permits inconsistency.
S 199 and A 2326 will bring clarity and statewide uniformity to the LOE process so that homeschool graduates are treated consistently across New York.
This legislation is important because:
- It promotes uniform application of the law statewide
- It protects access to employment opportunities
- It safeguards eligibility for higher education and licensed private career schools
- It affirms that lawful home instruction under Section 100.10 is entitled to equal recognition
Homeschool graduates who meet New York’s legal standards should not face unpredictable or uneven barriers when pursuing their future plans.