How to Homeschool in Maryland

Are you ready to begin homeschooling? Maryland is home to a large population of homeschooling families, so you'd be in good company. If you are ready to embark on the journey of homeschooling or are even just curious about the possibility, you've come to the right place. In this article you will find an:

• Overview of Maryland homeschool laws
• Introduction to homeschool groups in Maryland
• Description of how Moving Beyond the Page can help you get started

Maryland Homeschool Laws

The first thing you will need to do as a new homeschooling parent is submit your statement of intent. You can contact your local school system to request the form or use the one below. It must be submitted at least 15 days before beginning your instruction. You will then submit an annual verification each year you choose to homeschool.

• Statement of Intent

Maryland has several options for how you chose to homeschool your child; however, there is one law that must be followed regardless of which option you chose. While Maryland does not prescribe a set of curriculum for homeschoolers, it does require that your teachings include the following subjects:

• English
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social studies
• Art
• Music
• Health
• Physical education

Your child is not required to take any state tests, however if you would like your child to take one they are free to do so. Other regulations regarding the homeschooling of child will depend on which option you chose for how to homeschool your family.
Option 1
Option 1, also referred to as the portfolio option, requires that you meet the following criteria:

• You must keep and maintain a portfolio of your child's, instructional materials, reading materials, work, and tests
• You must allow your child's local superintendent to view the portfolio a couple times per year
• Your instruction to your child must be of sufficient length (meet standard hours of instruction)

Option 2
In this option your instruction is not supervised by the public schools, but rather a church umbrella will supervise your instruction. A church umbrella is a school/institution offering an educational program operated by a qualified church. The link bellow gives a list of state approved church umbrellas. If you chose this option, the church will be supervising your instruction by:

• Having a pre-enrolment conference
• Reviewing textbooks and lesson plans
• Visiting your site of instruction annually
• Holding conferences with you periodically (usually phone conferences)

Church Umbrellas
Option 3
The final option requires that your teachings be supervised by a nonpublic and state approved school. This option allows a teacher from the school to assist you in your instruction of your child. The teacher will assist you in picking out books and materials, as well as grading, and providing progress reports.

Ongoing requirements

Each year you chose to homeschool your child, you will need to informally notify the state which option you are homeschooling your child under. This can be either written or oral, no special form needs to be filled out.

Homeschool Groups in Maryland

Homeschooling your children is a daunting task, but there are many groups and organizations in Maryland to help you out. Here are some organizations you may want to look into.

NOTE: You can find a wealth of local and state groups offering homeschooling advice and support on sites such as Facebook and Yahoo Groups. You can search by city or county, religious preference, homeschooling philosophy, and more. You will need a free account on these sites to join one of their groups.

A Homeschool Curriculum for Maryland

Beyond the Page is a homeschool curriculum that exceeds the requirements for homeschooling in the state of Maryland. All of the Beyond the Page packages cover science, social studies, and language arts, and we offer a range of math programs as well. The Maryland legal requirements are only a starting point, and our curriculum utilizes a range of educational strategies that are designed to foster a love of learning in children including:

• Hands-on activities,
• Differentiated options, and
• Independent projects.

Beyond the Page encourages critical thinking and creativity while encouraging your child's unique learning style like no other curriculum on the market. If your child is a hands-on learner, a gifted learner, or a creative free-thinker, then you should look into Beyond the Page for your child.

Choose an age level to continue:

Disclaimers

Any information about the laws in your state is provided to help you understand your legal requirements to homeschool in your state. It should by no means be interpreted as legal advice. This information was not compiled by a lawyer. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under. If you have questions, you should seek the advice of a lawyer that operates in your state.

Beyond the Page does not endorse any of the homeschool groups that are included in these pages. They are provided only for your benefit. You should research any group to ensure that they align with your family's goals and philosophies.