Maryland Homeschool State Laws

LEGAL SUMMARY

Homeschool Law – Maryland law, Education Article, §7-301, Annotated Code of Maryland, Compulsory Attendance, and COMAR 13A.10.10.01 states that each child who resides in Maryland and is 5 years old or older and under 18 shall attend a public school regularly during the entire school year unless the child is otherwise receiving regular, thorough schooling during the school year in the studies usually taught in the public school to children of the same age. A child is exempt from the compulsory attendance law if he or she “has completed” a home instruction program as determined by the parent or guardian and verified by the local school system or supervising entity.

Maryland recognizes nonpublic schools and homeschooling as options to public school enrollment for students to receive regular, thorough instruction.

The home instruction regulations are found in the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 13A.10.01. The purpose of these regulations is to establish a procedure to be used by the superintendent of each local school system to determine if a child participating in a home instruction program is receiving regular, thorough instruction during the school year in the studies usually taught in the public schools to children of the same age.

Home instruction regulations can be found online at: http://www.dsd.state.md.us/COMAR/ComarHome.html.

In the State of Maryland, a local school system may not impose additional requirements for home instruction programs other than those in the home instruction regulations.

Number of Classroom Hours Required – The Maryland home instruction regulation only requires that the home instruction program take place on a regular basis during the school year and be of sufficient duration to implement the instruction program.

Parental Responsibilities – A parent or guardian who chooses to provide a home instruction program for his or her child is responsible for selecting the curriculum and/or instructional materials to be used. The home instruction regulation outlines certain aspects of the program that must be present, but also reserves for the parent or guardian a certain amount of flexibility to create a program that meets the needs of the child. The home instruction program is not required to be aligned with Maryland’s College- and Career-Ready Standards. The home instruction program shall include instruction in English, mathematics, science, social studies, art, music, health, and physical education

A parent or guardian who chooses to provide a home instruction program for his or her child must submit to portfolio reviews by the local school system or be supervised by one of the following entities: 1) a nonpublic school that holds a Certificate of Approval from the Maryland State Department of Education; 2) a church-exempt nonpublic school; or 3) an institution (education ministry) offering an educational program operated by a bona fide church organization.

Home school parents/teachers must contact the Maryland State Department of Education for registration procedures. Registration procedures include the completion of an official registration form that can be obtained by calling the Nonpublic School Approval Branch of the Maryland State Department of Education. (http://marylandpublicschools.org/about/Documents/DSFSS/SSSP/HomeInstruct/HomeInstructionFAQ.pdf)

Maryland home instruction regulations do not require the parent, guardian, or other instructors to have teacher certification in order to deliver home instruction.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

NOTE: To be awarded a high school diploma in Maryland, a student must earn a minimum of 21 credits, 18 of them in the subjects below.

SUBJECT AREA	# OF CREDITS
English	4
Fine Arts	1
Mathematics	3
Physical Education	.5
Health Education	.5
Science	3
Social Studies	3
Technology Education	1
World Language OR Advance Technology Education	2
TOTAL:	18

See COMAR 13A.03.02.03B AND COMAR 13A.03.02.03C. Students must also complete an Environmental Literacy Program. See Additional requirements: http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Documents/Testing/GraduationsRequirements2018.pdf

Updated January 2020