Maryland Homeschool Documents & Templates

What to file

simple notice

Send to

local school superintendent or designated office

Deadline

at least 15 days before the start of home instruction

How often

one time

Free-form letter accepted?

Yes. You can write your own letter instead of using an official form.

Notification must include child's name, age, and grade level; parent's name and address; and acknowledgment that instruction will cover required subjects.

COMAR 13A.10.01.01(B) (notification to local superintendent at least 15 days before instruction begins)

First-time vs. renewal

Status

Not required, but recommended to prevent truancy concerns

Send to

current school and local school system homeschool office

Submit notification of intent to homeschool and written notice of withdrawal concurrently. No mandatory waiting period; instruction may begin upon proper notification. Some local school systems may request a conference but parents are not required to obtain approval before beginning.

Md. Code, Education Article, Section 7-301 (compulsory attendance; home instruction as alternative)

Deadline

Before beginning of each school year (annual verification)

Primary reporting mechanism is the portfolio review. No separate annual reports or test scores filed with the state. Reviewer provides feedback after each review; end-of-year determination of satisfactory progress.

COMAR 13A.10.01.01(D) (portfolio review as primary reporting mechanism)

• ✓Student portfolio

Records may be reviewed by the district.

Portfolio must include: work samples in each required subject, evidence of materials/resources used, a log of instructional activities and topics covered, and other documentation demonstrating regular, thorough instruction. Must be available for the school system reviewer at scheduled intervals.

COMAR 13A.10.01.01(D) (portfolio with work samples, materials evidence, and instructional log)

This page covers Home Instruction Supervised by the Local School System. Maryland offers 2 different ways to homeschool, and each may require different documents:

• •
  Home Instruction Supervised by the Local School System(this page): You notify your local school superintendent at least 15 days before starting and teach eight required subjects including art, music, and PE. A school-system reviewer inspects your portfolio up to three times per year (typically at each semester's end) to verify regular, thorough instruction. No standardized testing required — the portfolio review is the primary accountability mechanism.
• •
  Umbrella Program or Church-Exempt School: You enroll in an umbrella program or church-exempt school that handles oversight instead of the local school system. No state-mandated portfolio reviews, no required subject list from the state, and no direct reporting to the school district. Best for families affiliated with a church organization or who want to avoid the three-times-per-year portfolio review of the standard pathway.

Our wizard helps you choose the right one and generates the correct documents. Compare all pathways for Maryland