We homescooled for 12 years in NYS and the regs were not particularly onerous.
Yes, it technically is among the highest regulated states but it’s mostly quarterly reports and year end testing. You do have to submit a notice of intent and education plan, but mine was just a list of textbooks we were using.
The schools could not tell you what to use or what to do, only if what you submitted followed the state regs.
You told them how it was going to be, not them telling you or you asking permission.
However, joining HSLDA is the very first thing I would suggest to someone who plans to homeschool.