Maryland asks for a few specific things. Maryland sets out a handful of real requirements. None of them are difficult, but the deadlines are genuine and worth putting in a calendar. Here is the whole list.

What you file, and by when

File a Home Instruction Notification Form (MSDE form) with the local school system superintendent at least 15 days before beginning home instruction, and verify/renew annually each school year. If using an umbrella (Option 2-4), the supervising church organization or nonpublic school notifies/reports instead and the local system does not conduct portfolio reviews.

Days or hours

No day or hour count. COMAR requires instruction 'of sufficient duration to implement the instructional program' during the school year.

Subjects you must cover

English, mathematics, science, social studies, art, music, health, and physical education.

Records you keep

Portfolio option (Option 1): maintain a portfolio of relevant materials - instructional materials, reading materials, and samples of the child's writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials - in each required subject. Umbrella options: records per the supervising school/church program's requirements.

Testing or evaluation

No standardized testing required and no test scores submitted to the state. Under the portfolio option the local superintendent (or designee) may review the portfolio to confirm 'regular, thorough instruction,' not more than three times per school year, with reviews normally at the end of a semester. Since August 2019 reviewers may not observe instruction. If a deficiency is found the parent has 30 days to correct it; there is an appeal path to the local board and the State Board. Umbrella-supervised families are exempt from local portfolio review.

Diplomas and transcripts

Maryland does not issue diplomas or transcripts to homeschoolers and awards no state credits. Parents issue the diploma and produce the transcript; homeschooled students are not required to meet Maryland public high school graduation/service-learning requirements. Maryland law does require public colleges and many employers to accept a homeschool credential, but keep detailed course descriptions and a credit-bearing transcript. High school students in the portfolio option are still subject to the same up-to-three portfolio reviews per year.

Where this comes from

Statute: Md. Code Ann., Educ. 7-301(a) (compulsory attendance / home instruction authorization); COMAR 13A.10.01.01-.05 (Home Instruction)

Source: https://mdrules.elaws.us/comar/13a.10.01

Last reviewed: July 2026 · our confidence in this entry: high

Homeschool law changes, and a page like this goes stale without announcing it. Check the statute above against your own reading before a filing deadline. If we are out of date, we would rather hear it from you than have you find out at the district office.

Keeping the records is the other half of this. Our Records System has the editable transcript with the GPA already wired, 131 course descriptions, and this same statute-cited summary for all fifty states and DC. Thirty-nine dollars, one household, however many children you have.