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Homeschooling in Maryland is legal and relatively straightforward—but only if you understand what you actually need to do. Many families either overestimate the complexity or miss critical requirements entirely.
Here’s what Maryland actually requires from homeschooling families, broken into practical action steps.
Key Takeaways
- File notification with your superintendent at least 15 days before starting
- Choose one of three supervision options (Portfolio is most common)
- Cover 8 required subjects and maintain a portfolio (if Portfolio Option)
- No specific hours mandated; instruction must be “regular and thorough”
- Superintendent may review your portfolio up to 3 times per year
The One Deadline You Can’t Miss: 15-Day Notification
This is the single non-negotiable requirement.
You must submit a Home Instruction Notification form to your local superintendent at least 15 days before beginning homeschooling.
If your child is currently in school and you want to start homeschooling on April 1st, you must file your notification by March 17th.
What the Notification Form Requires
Contact your local school district and request the “Home Instruction Notification” form (each district may use slightly different names, but this is the standard term). The form typically asks for:
- Parent/guardian name and address
- Student name, date of birth, and current grade level
- Effective date of home instruction
- Your chosen supervision option (Portfolio, Church Umbrella, or Nonpublic School)
- If Church Umbrella: the name of your supervising church/organization
- If Nonpublic School: the name of your supervising school
That’s it. You’re not requesting approval. You’re notifying the state that you’re providing home instruction.
Choose Your Supervision Option
When you file your notification, you must indicate which supervision structure you’ll use. You can change later, but you must pick one.
Portfolio Option (Recommended for Most)
You maintain a portfolio of your child’s instructional materials and work samples. The superintendent may review it up to 3 times per year.
What to keep:
- Textbooks and curriculum you use
- Worksheets, handouts, and instructional materials
- Work samples from each subject
- Writing samples
- Creative projects (art, music)
Portfolio should demonstrate:
- All 8 required subjects covered
- “Regular and thorough” instruction
- Grade-level appropriate work
When reviews happen: Typically at semester ends (so usually twice per year in practice, though superintendent may review up to 3 times).
If reviewed:
- Superintendent checks for adequacy
- If adequate: you pass
- If not: you’re given opportunity to improve and resubmit
Church Umbrella Option
Your church operates a Home Instruction Program and supervises your homeschooling.
Requirements:
- The church must be a bona fide religious organization
- The church maintains your attendance records
- The church ensures all 8 required subjects are covered
- The church supervises your instruction
What this means: You work with your church, not directly with the state. The church acts as your oversight body.
Nonpublic School Supervision
An approved private school assigns a supervising teacher.
What happens:
- Teacher visits at least 3 times per year
- Reviews your curriculum and instruction
- Provides progress reports
- Typically costs a fee
Cover 8 Required Subjects
Maryland requires instruction in:
- English — reading, writing, spelling, grammar, literature
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies — history, geography, civics
- Art
- Music
- Health
- Physical Education
What This Actually Means
- You don’t need separate textbooks for each subject
- Art and Music can be integrated (e.g., art projects during history, music history as part of social studies)
- PE can include sports, outdoor activities, or formal PE classes
- No specific curriculum is mandated—use what works for your family
- No grade-level requirements—customize to your child’s level
Organizing Your Portfolio to Show Coverage
Keep your portfolio organized by subject. Some families create sections:
- English: Writing samples, reading list, grammar/spelling work
- Math: Completed worksheets, problem sets, tests
- Science: Experiments, notes, research projects
- Social Studies: History projects, geography assignments, civics activities
- Art: Photographs of projects, artwork samples
- Music: Practice records, performance recordings, music study materials
- Health: Health curriculum work, nutrition/wellness projects
- PE: Participation logs, sports/activity records, fitness assessments
Bottom line: If you can point to evidence of instruction in all 8 subjects, you’ve met the requirement.
Maintain a Portfolio
This is the primary documentation requirement.
Portfolio should include:
- Instructional materials (textbooks, workbooks, online materials)
- Work samples from each subject
- Writing samples
- Readings and literature assigned
- Creative materials and projects
You do NOT need:
- Daily lesson plans (though some families keep them)
- Formal lesson documentation
- Standardized test scores (tests are optional)
- State-approved curriculum
Keep it simple: A folder or portfolio app with organized sections is sufficient. The goal is to show that instruction is happening in all 8 subjects.
“Regular and Thorough” Instruction
This is the legal standard Maryland uses. It means:
- Regular: Consistent, ongoing throughout the school year (not sporadic)
- Thorough: Covering the 8 required subjects meaningfully
- Sufficient duration: Enough time for real learning
What it does NOT require:
- 180 specific school days (though most families aim for this)
- 6 hours per day (though public school is roughly this)
- Specific grade-level expectations
- Adherence to Maryland standards
In practice: Structure your year similar to public school (regular daily instruction, 180+ days), and you’ll easily meet this standard.
No Standardized Testing Required
Maryland does NOT require homeschoolers to take standardized tests.
You may voluntarily:
- Administer standardized tests to track progress
- Have your child take SAT or ACT for college prep
- Use assessments like Iowa Assessments or Stanford Achievement Test
But none of this is required. Your portfolio is your primary assessment tool.
No Teacher Certification Required
You don’t need:
- A teaching degree
- Educational credentials
- Subject expertise
- Formal training
Anyone can legally homeschool in Maryland.
Practical Compliance Checklist
Before you start:
- [ ] Decide on supervision option (Portfolio, Church Umbrella, or Nonpublic School)
- [ ] Obtain notification form from your district
- [ ] Complete and submit form at least 15 days before your start date
- [ ] Keep copy of submitted form
Throughout the year:
- [ ] Organize portfolio by subject
- [ ] Keep work samples from all 8 subjects
- [ ] Maintain records of instruction (attendance, lesson notes—optional but helpful)
- [ ] Prepare portfolio for potential reviews
At review time (if applicable):
- [ ] Compile portfolio showing all 8 subjects
- [ ] Submit to superintendent on request
- [ ] Address any concerns identified by superintendent
Annual Re-Notification
Check with your district: some require annual re-notification of home instruction, while others accept initial notification as ongoing. Verify with your superintendent.
Summary
Maryland homeschool requirements are:
- Notify at least 15 days before starting
- Choose a supervision option
- Cover 8 required subjects
- Maintain organized portfolio
- Meet “regular and thorough” standard
- Prepare for potential portfolio reviews
That’s it. Everything else is optional (but recommended for best results).
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