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Maryland · Some paperwork
Maryland asks you to file a notice before you begin. Here is what goes in it, when it is due, and what happens after.
VerifiedMarch 2026
Written from Maryland's own rules. If a step is missing below, it is because your state does not ask for it.
Withdraw from the school your child attends now
If your child is currently enrolled in a public school, tell the school in writing that you are moving to home education. Keep a dated copy for yourself — it is the record that closes out their enrollment.
Send your notice of intent
Maryland asks families to file a notice before they begin. The deadline is: The first time, you sign the State Department of Education home instruction consent form and submit it to your local school superintendent at least 15 days before home instruction begins (COMAR 13A.10.01.01B). Every year after that, before the school year starts, you verify that you are continuing, with the superintendent or the supervising school or institution. Tell them if your child's status changes during the year. You will do this again at the start of every school year. It goes to Maryland State Department of Education / Local School Superintendent (Portfolio Option) / Supervising school or institution (Options 2 and 3).
Cover the subjects the state names
Maryland names 8 subject areas to teach. How you teach them, in what order, and with which materials is entirely up to you.
Keep a light record as you go
Attendance, a few work samples each term, and a running list of what you covered. Maryland expects you to keep a portfolio of your child's work.
No testing or assessment
Maryland does not require a standardized test or an evaluator's review. Plenty of families still keep a folder of work through the year — not because the state asks, but because it makes a transcript or a college application far easier to put together later. A note from the state: The regulation sets no required testing. A homeschooled child may take the public school's regularly scheduled standardized tests if you ask (COMAR 13A.10.01.02). Under the portfolio option, the local school system may review your portfolio at the end of each semester, at a time you both agree to, with no more than three reviews in a school year (COMAR 13A.10.01.01D-E).
No program on file yet
We do not have a verified Maryland education savings account, scholarship, or tax credit for homeschooling families on file. That may mean the state has none, or it may mean we have not confirmed one yet — we would rather say so than point you at something we have not checked. State programs change often, so it is worth asking Maryland State Department of Education / Local School Superintendent (Portfolio Option) / Supervising school or institution (Options 2 and 3) directly.
Is homeschooling legal in Maryland?
Yes. Homeschooling is legal in Maryland. Maryland has moderate homeschool regulation — some requirements apply but they are generally manageable. Koydo can put the dates your state lists on your calendar.
Do I need to file a Notice of Intent to homeschool in Maryland?
Yes. Maryland requires families to file a Notice of Intent by The first time, you sign the State Department of Education home instruction consent form and submit it to your local school superintendent at least 15 days before home instruction begins (COMAR 13A.10.01.01B). Every year after that, before the school year starts, you verify that you are continuing, with the superintendent or the supervising school or institution. Tell them if your child's status changes during the year.. This notice must be renewed annually.
How many instruction days are required in Maryland?
Maryland does not mandate a minimum amount of instruction time.
What subjects are required by law in Maryland?
Maryland requires instruction in the following subjects: Mathematics, English, Social studies, Science, Art, Music, Health, Physical education.
Does Maryland require annual assessment for homeschoolers?
No. Maryland does not require formal annual assessment. Families may voluntarily track progress for college application purposes.
Do I need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Maryland?
No. Maryland does not require parents to hold a teaching certificate or any specific educational credential to homeschool their children.
Can homeschoolers participate in public school sports in Maryland?
Rules about homeschooled students taking part in public school sports and activities differ by state and by district. Check with your local school district and your state athletic association.
Maryland lets you choose between the portfolio option with local superintendent review and supervision by a church-operated school or an approved nonpublic school. Submit the consent form at least 15 days before you begin. School age is 5 up to 18 (Education Article 7-301(a-1)). MSDE lists home instruction support groups on its home instruction page.
The free tools below work whether or not you ever pay us a penny; each tile says what it needs. Use what helps with Maryland's requirements and ignore the rest.
Last checked in March 2026. Laws change between checks, so confirm anything you are about to file with Maryland State Department of Education / Local School Superintendent (Portfolio Option) / Supervising school or institution (Options 2 and 3). This is information for families, not legal advice.