How to Homeschool in Maryland (2026 Guide)

Last reviewed:

At a Glance

Regulation Level Moderate
Notice Required Yes
Testing Required No
Record Keeping Required Yes

The short version

Maryland calls homeschooling “home instruction.” It is a legal alternative to public school attendance, governed by a single, concise set of state regulations — COMAR 13A.10.01 — that local school districts cannot add to. Before you begin, you file a notice with your local school system at least 15 days in advance. From there, you teach eight required subjects, maintain a portfolio of your child’s work, and submit that portfolio for review twice a year — either to the local school system or to an approved supervising entity (commonly called an umbrella school). No standardized test scores are required. No teaching credential is required. The rules are the same regardless of which county you live in, because the state explicitly prohibits districts from imposing requirements beyond what COMAR specifies.

Maryland’s compulsory attendance law is Education Article, § 7-301 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. It requires every child who resides in Maryland and is age 5 or older and under 18 to attend public school regularly during the entire school year — unless the child “is receiving regular, thorough instruction during the school year in the studies usually taught in the public schools to children of the same age,” or “has completed” a home instruction program as determined by the parent and verified by the local school system or supervising entity.

Home instruction satisfies the first exemption. The detailed procedures are codified in the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR), Title 13A, Subtitle 10, Chapter 01 — referred to throughout this guide simply as COMAR 13A.10.01. This five-section regulation covers the written agreement, instruction requirements, portfolio maintenance, voluntary testing, consequences for noncompliance, placement upon re-enrollment, and supervision by nonpublic entities.

A key protection for families appears in COMAR 13A.10.01.01F: a local school system may not impose additional requirements for home instruction programs beyond those found in these regulations. If a district’s form or coordinator asks for something not found in COMAR — an education plan, a curriculum pre-approval, or observations of instruction — that request is not legally required, and any field on the form not prescribed by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) must be marked “optional.”

Primary MSDE resource: Home Instruction in Maryland — Maryland State Department of Education

Notice of intent

Before beginning a home instruction program, a parent or guardian must submit a written notice of consent to the local school superintendent (or the superintendent’s designee) using a form prescribed by MSDE. [COMAR 13A.10.01.01B(1)]

Key requirements:

  • The form must be submitted at least 15 calendar days before home instruction begins. [COMAR 13A.10.01.01B(1)(b)]
  • The form indicates your consent to the requirements in COMAR 13A.10.01.01C (instruction program), .01D (portfolio), and .01E (portfolio review).
  • Contact your local school system’s home instruction office for the correct form. Every Maryland school system maintains such an office.
  • After the program begins, you must annually verify its continuation with the local school system or supervising entity before the start of each new school year. [COMAR 13A.10.01.01B(2)]
  • If any change in your child’s home instruction status occurs during the school year — such as a change in supervising entity or a return to public school — you must notify the relevant party promptly. [COMAR 13A.10.01.01B(3)]

A parent who withdraws a child from public school but fails to file the notice form can be held responsible for unexcused absences in the interim. File the notice before the child’s last day of attendance if possible.

Supervision choice on the notice form: When you submit the notice, you also choose how your program will be supervised (see the Portfolio and supervision section below). You may change your supervision choice at any time by notifying your school system or supervising entity.

Required subjects

Maryland home instruction programs must include instruction in the following eight subject areas. [COMAR 13A.10.01.01C(1)(b)]

  • English (reading, writing, and language arts)
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Social studies
  • Art
  • Music
  • Health
  • Physical education

These subjects need not be covered more frequently than they would be in the public schools for a child of the same age. You are not required to follow any specific curriculum, pacing guide, or textbook series, and your program does not need to be aligned with Maryland’s College- and Career-Ready Standards. [MSDE Home Instruction FAQ] The state provides no curriculum and does not review or approve instructional materials in advance.

You may teach inside or outside the home, and you may arrange for another person — a tutor, a co-op instructor, or a specialist — to deliver instruction in individual subjects, as long as you remain ultimately responsible for compliance with COMAR. [COMAR 13A.10.01.01C] Part-time or full-time enrollment in courses offered by accredited or unaccredited colleges is also expressly permitted, and a college transcript may substitute for the portfolio for those courses. [COMAR 13A.10.01.01C(2); .01D(2)]

Co-op note: A co-op arrangement — where a group of families pools teaching responsibilities — may supplement a home instruction program. However, a co-op that provides regular daily instruction to an organized group of students from multiple families on a sustained basis may be considered an unapproved nonpublic school under COMAR 13A.09.09. If you organize or participate in a co-op, keep instruction supplemental rather than primary.

Portfolio and supervision

Every home instruction program in Maryland must be supervised. You have two options. [COMAR 13A.10.01.01E; .01.05]

Option A — Supervision by the local school system

You maintain a portfolio of educational materials that demonstrates regular, thorough instruction in the required subjects. [COMAR 13A.10.01.01D] The portfolio should include:

  • Instructional materials you have used
  • Reading materials
  • Examples of your child’s writing
  • Worksheets and workbooks
  • Creative materials
  • Tests or assessments you have administered

This is not an exhaustive list — you may include any materials that demonstrate regular, thorough instruction.

A representative of the local school system may review the portfolio up to three times per school year, at the conclusion of each semester, at a time and place mutually agreeable to both parties. In practice most districts schedule two reviews per year — one per semester. [COMAR 13A.10.01.01D(3); .01E(1)–(3)] The local school system cannot require observations of instruction in your home; reviews are limited to the portfolio and a discussion of the instructional program.

If the reviewer finds that a child is not receiving regular, thorough instruction, the superintendent must notify you in writing of any deficiencies. You then have 30 calendar days from the date of written notice to provide evidence that the deficiency has been or is being corrected. If no satisfactory correction plan is provided, or if the deficiency is not corrected, the child must be promptly enrolled in a public or nonpublic school. [COMAR 13A.10.01.03B]

Option B — Supervision by a nonpublic school or institution (umbrella)

Instead of direct portfolio reviews by the local school system, you may place your child’s program under the supervision of a qualified nonpublic entity. [COMAR 13A.10.01.05] Qualified supervising entities are:

  1. A nonpublic school holding a Certificate of Approval from the State Board of Education
  2. A church-exempt nonpublic school (a school operated by a bona fide church organization that is exempt from the approval requirement)
  3. An institution offering an educational program operated by a bona fide church organization, registered with MSDE

The MSDE maintains a current list of entities registered to supervise home instruction, available on the MSDE website. Under this option, you work directly with the supervising entity — which sets its own internal requirements for enrollment conferences, lesson materials, and progress reports — and the entity handles annual verification with the local school system on your behalf. Portfolio reviews by the local school system are not required under this option.

Before any nonpublic school or institution begins supervising home instruction, it must register with the MSDE Nonpublic School Approval Branch: (410) 767-0407.

Standardized testing

Standardized testing is not required for Maryland home-instructed students. [COMAR 13A.10.01.02]

However, upon the request of a parent or guardian, a home-instructed child may participate in the regularly scheduled standardized testing programs administered at the public school the child is eligible to attend. It is the parent’s responsibility to contact that school in advance to learn the testing schedule and make arrangements before the testing date. Participation is voluntary.

Many families choose to use a nationally normed assessment — such as the Iowa Assessments, Stanford Achievement Test, or California Achievement Test — privately to track progress and build documentation for college applications. This is entirely optional and not reported to the school district.

Record keeping

Although COMAR does not use the word “records” in a broad sense, maintaining organized documentation is central to compliance under Option A. The portfolio requirement is mandatory for families choosing direct supervision by the local school system, and a well-maintained portfolio protects you in the event of a deficiency finding.

Practical record-keeping suggestions:

  • Keep dated samples of your child’s work in each required subject throughout the school year.
  • Maintain a list or log of reading materials and curriculum used.
  • Save tests, worksheets, and any assessments you administer.
  • Organize the portfolio by subject so that a reviewer can quickly identify coverage in each of the eight areas.
  • Even under Option B (umbrella supervision), your supervising entity will typically have its own record requirements — confirm those when you enroll.

There is no required number of instructional days or hours specified in COMAR 13A.10.01, only that instruction “take place on a regular basis during the school year and be of sufficient duration to implement the instruction program.” [COMAR 13A.10.01.01C(1)(c)]

Scholarships and financial programs

Maryland does not currently have a state-funded Education Savings Account (ESA), voucher, or scholarship program that provides direct public funding to homeschooling families.

The BOOST Scholarship (Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today) is Maryland’s primary school-choice grant program, but it is limited to students attending participating nonpublic schools. Home-instructed students are not eligible for BOOST.

A 2026 House bill (HB 1204) that would have established an ESA program was withdrawn by its sponsor in March 2026 before advancing. As of the date this guide was reviewed, no ESA legislation has been enacted in Maryland.

Federal and state tax-advantaged options available to Maryland homeschool families:

  • 529 College Savings Plan (Maryland College Investment Plan or Maryland College Enrollment Plan): Under federal law expanded in 2025, qualified K–12 educational expenses that can be paid from a 529 account now include curriculum materials, books, online educational materials, standardized testing fees, and tutoring by licensed teachers or subject-matter experts, up to $20,000 per student per year beginning in 2026. Maryland’s state 529 plans offer a state income tax deduction of up to $2,500 per beneficiary per year for contributions, with a 10-year carryforward provision. Consult a tax professional to confirm your specific situation.
  • Coverdell Education Savings Account (federal): Up to $2,000 per child per year, with tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals for qualified K–12 educational expenses.

Dual enrollment: Maryland homeschool students in high school may enroll part-time or full-time in courses at accredited or unaccredited colleges under COMAR 13A.10.01.01C(2). Several Maryland community colleges have established procedures for homeschool applicants. Tuition and fees vary by institution; some county programs cover costs for qualifying students under Maryland’s Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. Contact individual colleges for current enrollment requirements.

Withdrawing from public school

If your child is currently enrolled in a public school, contact the school to formally withdraw before you begin home instruction. There is no state-prescribed withdrawal form. Notify the school in writing with your child’s name, grade, and date of withdrawal, and your intent to provide a home instruction program.

After withdrawal, submit your MSDE-prescribed notice form to the local superintendent at least 15 days before instruction begins. Do not delay the withdrawal — a child removed from enrollment without a filed notice can accumulate unexcused absences.

Re-enrolling in public school: When a home-instructed student applies for admission to a public school, the local superintendent determines placement by evaluation. The evaluation may include standardized tests, examinations, and an interview with the child, regardless of the grade the student seeks to enter or how long the home instruction program ran. A well-documented portfolio can provide context during this process, though placement decisions rest with the superintendent. [COMAR 13A.10.01.04]

High school diploma: Completing a home instruction program does not result in a Maryland High School Diploma, which can only be issued by public schools after a student satisfies the requirements of COMAR 13A.03.02.09B. Families have several paths for credential recognition: (1) transfer to a public school and meet graduation requirements there; (2) enroll in and graduate from an approved nonpublic school, which may issue its own diploma; or (3) obtain a Maryland High School Diploma by examination by passing the GED. Students who are 16 or older and are participating in or have completed a home instruction program may register for the GED. For GED information, contact the Maryland Department of Labor at (410) 767-0538.

Students with disabilities: Home-instructed students with disabilities retain some eligibility for public school services depending on the local school system’s policies. Contact your local special education office for information about services that may be available. A change from public school to home instruction does not automatically eliminate all special education rights — discuss your child’s specific situation with the district.

Support and community

The Maryland State Department of Education does not maintain a directory of homeschool support groups. For state-level questions, contact:

  • MSDE Student Services Branch — (410) 767-3364 — for questions about portfolio reviews, standardized testing, special education, and transfers
  • MSDE Nonpublic School Approval Branch — (410) 767-0407 — for questions about entities registered to supervise home instruction or for registration of a new supervising entity
  • Your local school system’s home instruction office — every Maryland school system has one; this is the primary point of contact for your day-to-day compliance questions

Two organizations that many Maryland families find useful:

  • Maryland Association of Christian Home Educators (MACHE) — macheconvention.com — organizes an annual curriculum convention and maintains resources for member families
  • Maryland Home Education Association (MHEA) — a secular, inclusive statewide support organization

Many Maryland families also connect through county-level and regional co-ops, park days, and online groups. Because MSDE does not track these groups, your local home instruction coordinator may be able to point you toward active networks in your area.