Pennsole logoPennsole
COMAR 13A.10.01

Maryland home instruction, in plain language

File a notice, teach eight subjects, keep a portfolio, and show it at your reviews. That's the whole shape of it. Maryland compulsory attendance covers children who are 5 or older and under 18, so home instruction is generally supervised from age 5 until 18.

Get the free notificationFree portfolio checklistWhere do I send it?

File your notification at least 15 days before you begin

EveryoneFree in Pennsole

Sign the consent statement on the form prescribed by the State Department of Education — the Home Instruction Notification, commonly called the Notice of Consent — and submit it to your local superintendent at least 15 days before home instruction begins. Every family files this, including families who will be supervised by an umbrella.

COMAR 13A.10.01.01B(1)

Verify each year, before the school year begins

EveryoneFree in Pennsole

Annually after that first filing, you verify that home instruction is continuing — with your local school superintendent, or with your supervising nonpublic school or institution. Most local systems send a short continuation form over the summer. If your child's status changes mid-year, you tell them that too.

COMAR 13A.10.01.01B(2)–(3)

Provide regular, thorough instruction in eight subject areas

EveryoneFree in Pennsole

Instruction must be regular and thorough in the studies usually taught in the public schools to children the same age, must include English, mathematics, science, social studies, art, music, health, and physical education, and must take place on a regular basis during the school year, of sufficient duration to implement your program. Maryland sets no number of days or hours.

COMAR 13A.10.01.01C(1)

Keep a portfolio of materials and your child's work

School system supervisionMember tools

Maintain a portfolio that shows you are providing regular, thorough instruction in those eight areas. It includes relevant materials such as instructional materials, reading materials, and examples of your child's writings, worksheets, workbooks, creative materials, and tests.

COMAR 13A.10.01.01D(1)

Portfolio reviews — at the end of each semester, never more than three a year

School system supervisionMember tools

Under local school system supervision the portfolio is reviewed by the superintendent or a designee at the conclusion of each semester, at a time and place you both agree to. The reviewer looks at the portfolio and discusses your instructional program; there are no more than three reviews in a school year. In practice that means two for most families.

COMAR 13A.10.01.01D(1)(c), .01E

Or be supervised by a nonpublic school or institution (umbrella)

Umbrella optionFree in Pennsole

You may instead run your program under the supervision of a school or institution operated by a bona fide church organization, or a nonpublic school holding a certificate of approval from the State Board of Education. That replaces the school system's portfolio review, but you still file the initial notification with your local superintendent, and the entity verifies your family with the school system each year.

COMAR 13A.10.01.05

If a reviewer finds a problem, you get written notice and 30 days

School system supervisionFree in Pennsole

A superintendent who concludes your program is not regular and thorough must tell you in writing what the deficiencies are. You then have 30 days to show that the deficiency has been or is being corrected. Nothing happens to your program on the day of a review. A local school system also may not add requirements of its own beyond this regulation. If a family fails to provide evidence of a correction after 30 days, or if the superintendent determines there is no satisfactory plan to fix it, only then can they require the child to be promptly enrolled in a public or nonpublic school. Furthermore, you always have the right to appeal a superintendent's adverse decision to the county school board within 30 days.

COMAR 13A.10.01.03B · 13A.10.01.01F

The eight required subjects

  • English — Reading, writing, grammar, literature, spelling.
  • Mathematics — Arithmetic through the level appropriate to your child.
  • Science — Life, earth, or physical science — observation and experiments count.
  • Social studies — History, geography, civics, current events.
  • Art — Drawing, painting, crafts, museum visits, art appreciation.
  • Music — Listening, singing, instruments, or music history.
  • Health — Nutrition, safety, hygiene, body systems.
  • Physical education — Sports, swimming, dance, hiking, active play.

What Maryland does not require

  • • No statewide minimum number of days or instructional hours
  • • No standardized testing requirement
  • • No teacher certification or degree requirement
  • • No sworn affidavit or notarized declaration
  • • No written yearly plan, curriculum approval, or progress reports filed with the state
  • • No requirement to let anyone observe your child being taught — that provision was repealed in 2019

Your limits at a review

  • • There are no more than three reviews in a school year.
  • • The review happens at a time and place you and the reviewer agree on — it does not have to be a home visit.
  • • The purpose of the review is to confirm regular, thorough instruction — not to grade your child.
  • • Maryland does not require standardized test scores, grades, attendance records, or a set number of hours.
  • • You are not required to follow the local school system's curriculum or scope and sequence.
  • • A local school system may not impose requirements beyond the regulation (COMAR 13A.10.01.01F).
  • • Since 2019 the regulation no longer asks you to let anyone observe your child being taught.

Official sources

Pennsole is not a law firm and this page is not legal advice. Always confirm details with your local school system or supervising entity.