1. Does Maryland law permit a student of mandatory school age to be home schooled instead of attending a public or a nonpublic school?

Yes. Annotated Code of Maryland, Education Article, §7-301, Compulsory Attendance, states that each child who resides in Maryland and who is 5 years old or older and under 16 shall attend a public school regularly during the entire school year unless the child is otherwise receiving regular, thorough instruction during the school year in the studies usually taught in the public school to children of the same age. Maryland recognizes nonpublic schools and home instruction as alternatives to public school enrollment as a means of meeting the compulsory school attendance law.

2. Are there regulations that govern home instruction in Maryland?

Yes. COMAR 13A.10.01, Home Instruction, are the regulations that govern home instruction in Maryland. The purpose of COMAR 13A.10.01 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.

3. What must a parent do before beginning home instruction?

At least 15 days before the beginning of a home instruction program, a parent or guardian who chooses to teach a child at home must sign a written statement on a form prescribed by the State Department of Education. The parent should contact their local school system for a copy of the consent form and COMAR 13A.10.01.

4. Does the local school system or the Maryland State Department of Education provide a curriculum to parents to use for home schooling?

No. A parent who elects to home school his or her child(ren) must select the curriculum to be used. The home instruction bylaw does, however, specify the subjects that must be taught by the parent. Those subjects include studies usually taught in the public school to children of the same age.

5. Must home instruction be supervised in Maryland?

Yes. A parent(s) must choose to have the home instruction they provide supervised by one of the following entities:

1. The local school system. 2. A nonpublic school that holds a Certificate of Approval from the Maryland State Board of Education. 3. A nonpublic school registered with the Maryland State Department of Education as exempt from education regulation because it is governed and operated by a bona fide church organization. 4. An education ministry of a bona fide church organization.

6. What must a nonpublic school or education ministry of a bona fide church organization do before beginning to supervise home instruction of Maryland students?

Before beginning to supervise home instruction, the head of the legal authority of a nonpublic school or the chief officer of a bona fide church organization, must contact the Maryland State Department of Education for registration procedures. Registration procedures include the completion of an official registration form that is submitted to the Maryland State Department of Education. The head of the legal authority of a nonpublic school or the chief officer of a bona fide church organization can obtain his form by calling the Nonpublic School Approval Branch at the Department at (410) 767-0407.

7. Does the Maryland State Department of Education provide information about home instruction support groups?

No. The Maryland State Department of Education does not collect information about home instruction support groups. The Department, however, does maintain the names and addresses of the nonpublic schools and bona fide church organizations that are registered to supervise home instruction in Maryland.

8. If I need more information about home instruction, whom should I contact? For more information, contact the following offices:

1. The Pupil Personnel Office of your local school system;

2. The Student Services and Alternative Programs Branch of the Maryland State Department of Education at (410) 767-0311; or

3. The Nonpublic School Approval Branch of the Maryland State Department of Education at (410) 767-0407.

See list of nonpublic entities registered to supervise home instruction. Click Here