How to Start Homeschooling in Maryland

Yes. Homeschooling in Maryland is completely legal. It has been for decades.

Maryland authorizes home instruction through its compulsory attendance law, Md. Code, Education Article, Section 7-301. The detailed regulations live in COMAR 13A.10.01. Maryland does not have a standalone homeschool statute. Instead, home instruction is a recognized alternative to public or private school attendance.

Maryland is a moderate-regulation state. You have more structure than Texas, which asks almost nothing. But you have far less paperwork than New York, which requires quarterly reports. The main accountability tool is the portfolio review. No standardized testing required. That is a genuine relief for families who worry about high-stakes exams.

Here is something important to know from day one. Your notification is not an application. The school system does not approve or deny it. Some district staff may act like you need permission. You do not. You are informing them. That is all. Understanding this one fact removes most of the stress of getting started with homeschooling in Maryland.

Maryland requires education for children ages 5 through 18 under Md. Code, Education Article, Section 7-301.

The key date is September 1. If your child turns 5 on or before September 1 of the school year, they must begin that year. The obligation continues until age 18 or high school graduation, whichever comes first.

Maryland starts compulsory education earlier than many states. Some begin at 6 or 7. Maryland starts at 5. If you have a child approaching that cutoff, get your notification letter ready before the school year begins. Give yourself plenty of lead time.

Ready to start? Most families choose the school-system-supervised pathway under COMAR 13A.10.01. Here is how to homeschool in Maryland, step by step.

Step 1: Write your notification letter. There is no state form. Write a simple letter with these items: your child's name, age, and grade level; your name and address; and a statement that you will cover the eight required subjects. Keep it short and clear. That is the whole letter.

Step 2: Send it at least 15 days early. Mail or deliver your letter to your local school superintendent or the designated homeschool office. COMAR 13A.10.01.03 requires at least 15 days of notice before you begin instruction. Do not start teaching until those 15 days pass. Get the timing right.

Step 3: Withdraw from school (if enrolled). Send a written notice of withdrawal to your child's current school and the local homeschool office. File the withdrawal and homeschool notification at the same time. This is critical. Withdrawing without concurrent homeschool notification can trigger truancy proceedings. There is no waiting period. You do not need approval.

Step 4: Start your portfolio on day one. Collect work samples in each of the eight required subjects. Keep a log of instructional activities and topics covered. Save evidence of the materials and resources you use. Your portfolio is the heart of Maryland's accountability system. Start it the same day you start teaching.

Step 5: Mark three review dates on your calendar now. A reviewer assigned by your local school system will examine your portfolio at least three times during the school year, roughly every three to four months (COMAR 13A.10.01.05). The reviewer checks for evidence of regular, thorough instruction. This is a verification visit, not a grading session. They confirm learning is happening. They do not judge your curriculum or score your child.

Step 6: Choose your curriculum and begin. Maryland gives you total freedom over textbooks, materials, and teaching methods. No curriculum approval required. Pick what works for your family and start teaching.

Your notification letter is the only document you file with the school system. No state form exists. Maryland accepts a free-form letter.

Here is exactly what to include: your child's name, age, and grade level; your name and home address; and a statement that you will provide instruction in the eight required subjects. Send it to the local school superintendent or designated homeschool office at least 15 days before you begin (COMAR 13A.10.01.03).

You file this notification once when you first start. Each year after that, submit an annual verification of your intent to continue. This is a simple renewal, not a new consent form. Put a reminder on your calendar before each school year so you never miss it.

One thing that catches families off guard: some local school systems request a conference when you first file. You can attend if you want. But you are not required to get approval before you start teaching. That is one of the most common misconceptions about Maryland homeschool requirements. Your notification informs the district. It does not ask for permission.

Under COMAR 13A.10.01.04, provide "regular, thorough instruction" in these eight subjects:

1. English (reading, writing, and spelling)
2. Mathematics
3. Science
4. Social Studies
5. Art
6. Music
7. Health
8. Physical Education

Put this list on your wall. Maryland includes art, music, health, and PE as required subjects. These are not optional extras. Your portfolio reviewer will look for evidence of instruction in every one of these eight areas. Plan for all of them from the start.

Now the encouraging part. The law does not dictate how you teach any of these. No required textbooks. No approved curriculum list. No state standards to follow. Nature walks count for science. Cooking projects count for math. Museum trips count for social studies. Dance class counts for PE. The Maryland homeschool requirements tell you what to cover. How you cover it is entirely your call.

Here is something that surprises many families new to homeschooling in Maryland. No standardized testing is required under the school-system-supervised pathway. All assessment happens through portfolio reviews.

Your local school system assigns a reviewer who examines your portfolio at least three times per year, roughly every three to four months (COMAR 13A.10.01.05). The reviewer looks for evidence of regular, thorough instruction in all eight required subjects.

Build your portfolio with these items: work samples in each subject area, a log of instructional activities and topics covered, and evidence of the materials and resources you use. Think of it as an organized scrapbook of your school year, sorted by subject.

After each review, the reviewer gives feedback. At year's end, they make a final determination of satisfactory progress. If instruction is found lacking, the school system may require corrective action. But the review is designed as a supportive check-in. The reviewer is your partner in compliance, not your adversary. Approach the relationship that way and the process goes much more smoothly. Most families find it manageable once they know what to expect.

Maryland gives you two legal pathways. Pick the one that fits your family best.

Pathway 1: Home Instruction Supervised by the Local School System (COMAR 13A.10.01). This is the most common pathway and the one this guide covers. Notify the superintendent. Teach eight subjects. Have your portfolio reviewed three times a year. No standardized testing. Most secular homeschool families in Maryland choose this route.

Pathway 2: Umbrella Program or Church-Exempt School (COMAR 13A.09.09). Enroll in an umbrella program or church-exempt school that handles oversight instead of the school district. No direct reporting to the school system. No state-mandated portfolio reviews. Subject requirements and assessments are set by the umbrella program, not the state. This pathway works well for families affiliated with a church organization or those who want less direct government oversight.

Know this about the umbrella pathway before you choose it. A "bona fide church organization" must operate under a recognized church. You cannot self-declare church-exempt status. Some secular umbrella programs exist, but they are less common. Programs vary widely. Some require frequent portfolio submissions and standardized testing. Others are almost entirely hands-off. Research your options carefully. Talk to other families in the program. Verify it is properly recognized before you enroll.

Here is what every family should know about homeschooling in Maryland.

No teaching credentials required. No certificate. No college degree. No minimum education level. You provide or direct the instruction. That is the only qualification COMAR 13A.10.01 requires.

No guaranteed access to school sports. Maryland does not have a statewide law granting homeschoolers access to public school extracurricular activities. There is no "equal access" or "Tim Tebow" law here. Each of Maryland's 24 local school systems (23 counties plus Baltimore City) decides independently. Contact your district to ask what is available in your area.

No right to take public school classes part-time. Maryland law does not guarantee homeschooled students access to individual courses at their local public school. Some counties accommodate this on a case-by-case basis. Others do not. Ask your district directly.

IEP services do not carry over. Homeschooled children are not entitled to an IEP. But your district must evaluate your child under federal Child Find obligations if you suspect a disability. Some districts work with homeschool families to provide limited services like speech therapy. Availability varies by county. Contact your local special education office and ask specifically what services they offer to homeschooled students.

You issue your own diploma. Maryland does not offer a state homeschool diploma. You create your child's diploma and transcript yourself. No state template exists. Keep your portfolio organized throughout high school. Colleges accept parent-issued transcripts alongside SAT or ACT scores.

No state financial help. Maryland has no ESA, voucher, or scholarship program for homeschool families.

County variations matter. Maryland's 24 school systems may implement the COMAR regulations differently. What one reviewer expects in a portfolio may differ from the next county over. Talk to your local homeschool office early. Ask what format they prefer. Build a relationship with your assigned reviewer. They are there to verify that instruction is regular and thorough, not to critique your teaching style.

Avoid these common mistakes. Starting before the 15-day notice period passes. Withdrawing from school without filing your homeschool notification at the same time. Letting portfolio documentation slide and scrambling before a review. Assuming your child can join public school sports without confirming with the county. Getting confrontational with your portfolio reviewer instead of treating them as a partner. File on time, document consistently, and communicate with your school system. Do those three things and Maryland homeschool requirements will feel straightforward.