Maryland Homeschool Laws
Maryland law calls homeschooling regular, thorough instruction in the subjects public schools usually teach. State rules call it a home instruction program. Families choose from four options. The first is the portfolio option, where you work directly with your local school system. The other three use an umbrella: a church umbrella, a church-exempt school, or a state-approved school. To start, file a Notice of Consent with your local superintendent. A state rule says to file it 15 days before you begin. HSLDA believes that rule is unenforceable. School is required from age 5 until 18. A child who turns 5 during the year may be excused for that year.
Day to day, teach math, English, social studies, science, art, music, health, and physical education. Instruction must be regular and thorough. Under the portfolio option, keep a portfolio of materials and your child’s work. The school system may review it up to three times a year. Under an umbrella, the program supervises your teaching instead. Each year, confirm that you plan to continue. Maryland gives homeschoolers no right to public school sports. However, private schools may include homeschoolers on their teams. For full details on each topic, open the sections below.
Attendance is required from age 5 until the child turns 18, earns a high school diploma or GED, or completes a program of regular, thorough instruction. If your child turns 5 during the school year, you may have the child excused for that year by sending the superintendent a written request before the school year begins (HSLDA: Compulsory School Age in Maryland).
Maryland has four homeschool options (HSLDA: How to Comply with Maryland’s Homeschool Law):
- Option 1: Portfolio option, supervised by the local school system.
- Option 2: Church umbrella, an educational program operated by a bona fide church organization.
- Option 3: Church-exempt school umbrella, a church-operated school exempt from state approval.
- Option 4: State-approved school umbrella, where a school-based teacher assists the home teacher.
No state testing. HSLDA’s summary lists no assessment requirement (HSLDA: Maryland Homeschool Laws).
Portfolio option: Keep a portfolio of instructional and reading materials and examples of your child’s writing, worksheets, workbooks, creative materials, and tests. The superintendent may review it at a mutually agreeable time and place, no more than three times a year. If the reviewer finds deficiencies, you have 30 days to show they are corrected. You may appeal to the local school board within 30 days and then to the state board within 30 days. HSLDA recommends not bringing your children to the review (HSLDA).
Umbrella options: The umbrella supervises instruction. A church umbrella, for example, holds a pre-enrollment conference, reviews textbooks and lesson plans, and holds periodic conferences with parents (HSLDA).
Math, English, social studies, science, art, music, health, and physical education. Instruction must be regular and thorough and “of sufficient duration” to carry out your program (HSLDA).
File a Notice of Consent with your local superintendent and select your option. A Maryland regulation says to file it 15 days before starting; HSLDA considers that unenforceable and believes filing on the day you withdraw from public school is sufficient. For a church umbrella, join the umbrella first, since you name it on the notice (HSLDA).
Portfolio option: Each year before school starts, tell the superintendent whether you will continue; no form is required. File a change-of-status notice if you stop homeschooling or switch options during the year (HSLDA).
Umbrella options: Verify each year to your umbrella that you will stay involved, and notify it if you move, stop, or switch options (HSLDA).
No attendance form is required. Portfolio families keep the portfolio described above; umbrella families follow their umbrella’s record rules (HSLDA).
Portfolio option: None. Options 2-4: Enrollment in a church umbrella, church-exempt school, or state-approved school umbrella. A church umbrella must register with the Maryland State Department of Education and document its bona fide church status. Most umbrellas charge a fee (HSLDA).
No right to public school activities. A Maryland appeals court ruled against private school students seeking to join a public school extracurricular activity (Thomas v. Allegany County Board of Education, 1982) (HSLDA: Public School Access for Homeschoolers in Maryland).
A private school may include homeschool athletes on its teams without losing eligibility under the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association’s standards, a policy adopted after the 2005 Bressler lawsuit (HSLDA).
In 2026, HB 1043 (“Right to Play”) and HB 1528 (extracurricular activities) would have opened public school activities to homeschool students. Both received hearings but did not pass (HB 1043; HB 1528).
None for homeschoolers, according to HSLDA (HSLDA).
Diplomas: HSLDA reports that the Maryland State Department of Education takes the position that an umbrella program cannot issue a valid diploma because it is not a school, and some students with church umbrella diplomas have had problems applying for law enforcement jobs (HSLDA).
No extra rules: Local school systems cannot add requirements beyond the state regulations (HSLDA).
Trends: Montgomery County Public Schools lost a net 82 students to homeschooling in 2026, up from 73 in 2025 (Bethesda Magazine).
- HSLDA: Maryland Homeschool Laws, How to Comply with Maryland’s Homeschool Law, Compulsory School Age in Maryland, and Public School Access in Maryland
- Maryland General Assembly: 2026 home schooling legislation; HB 1043; HB 1528
- Bethesda Magazine: MCPS enrollment, private school and homeschool trends (November 2, 2026)
Last reviewed: November 7, 2026
*The information on this page is for general use only. It should not be taken as legal advice. It is believed to be accurate however state and federal laws change every year. Homeschool.net recommends joining an organization such as the Home School Legal Defense Association before your homeschooling adventure begins. HSLDA can provide complete, accurate, legal advice and services for homeschooling families.
Update History
No changes in law noted since this page was first published.