Maryland Homeschool Laws & Requirements

Compulsory School Attendance Age

Maryland compulsory attendance generally applies from age 5 until age 18. A child who turns 5 after September 1 generally does not have to begin home instruction supervision for that school year unless the local superintendent chooses otherwise.

Notice Before Beginning

The parent or guardian must sign the state-prescribed home instruction statement and submit it to the local superintendent or designee at least 15 calendar days before beginning home instruction. After the program begins, the parent must verify continuation annually with the supervising entity and report changes in status.

Required Subjects

• English • Mathematics • Science • Social studies • Art • Music • Health • Physical education

Instruction must be regular and thorough and must cover the studies usually taught in public schools to children of the same age.

Instructional Days and Hours

Maryland does not prescribe a single homeschool day-count or hourly formula. The program must take place on a regular basis during the school year and be of sufficient duration to implement the instructional program.

Supervision and Portfolio Reviews

A family supervised by the local school system must permit review of the homeschool portfolio. Portfolio reviews normally occur twice each year, generally at the end of each semester, and no more than three reviews may occur in one school year. Reviews must occur at a mutually agreeable time and place.

Instead of local-school-system review, a family may choose supervision by a Maryland-registered nonpublic school, church-exempt nonpublic school, or qualifying church organization that is registered to supervise home instruction.

Portfolio and Records

The portfolio should contain enough material to demonstrate regular, thorough instruction. Examples include instructional materials, reading materials, writing samples, worksheets, workbooks, creative work, and tests. Families should also maintain grades, attendance, course records, transcripts, and graduation documentation.

Standardized Testing

Maryland does not require every home instruction student to take the public-school standardized tests. A homeschooled student may participate in the local public school's regularly scheduled standardized testing program if the parent arranges participation.

Parent Teacher Qualifications

Maryland does not require the parent, guardian, or other instructor providing home instruction to hold teacher certification.

Curriculum Freedom

Parents select the curriculum and instructional materials. The program does not have to align with Maryland's public-school college- and career-ready standards, but it must include the required subjects and provide regular, thorough instruction.

Graduation

A student completing an independent home instruction program does not receive the specific Maryland High School Diploma issued by public schools. However, Maryland states that a student enrolled in a nonpublic or church-exempt school may receive a diploma issued by that school's legal authority if the student meets that school's graduation requirements.

Alabama Church School Services for Maryland Families

Maryland families may use Alabama Church School for curriculum, academic records, attendance resources, report cards, transcripts, diplomas, and graduation documentation. However, Maryland supervision is a regulated role. ACS enrollment by itself should not be presented as replacing Maryland supervision unless ACS has separately completed Maryland's registration requirements to act as a supervising nonpublic or church organization. Families must still comply with Maryland's notice and supervision rules.