The ABCs of Homeschooling in Anne Arundel County
by Julie Buchwald Jeffers, Esq.
Maryland law, Education Article, §7-301, Annotated Code of Maryland, Compulsory Attendance, and COMAR 13A.10.01 requires that every child residing in Maryland who is 5 to 18 years old must attend a public school regularly during the school year. Homeschooling programs provided by either a parent or guardian, any Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) approved nonpublic school or institution, or other online school are an exception to this statutory requirement. Homeschooling has become an increasingly popular alternative to traditional school enrollment for many parents in Anne Arundel County. As of March 2020, there were 2,779 homeschool students in Anne Arundel County. To no surprise, that number significantly increased amid the nationwide COVID-19 shutdown, with 4,895 registered homeschoolers as of March 2021. Over the last few years the number of Anne Arundel County homeschoolers has remained relatively steady, coming in at 4,050 as of March 2025. Whether you’ve been homeschooling your children for some time or are simply considering it, here’s what you need to know: GETTING STARTED To start homeschooling in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, parents must comply with the state's home instruction regulations. The instructor does not need teacher certification in order to deliver home instruction. However, thorough instruction must be given on a regular basis. A parent or guardian who chooses to provide a home instruction program for their child must sign a form prescribed by the Maryland State Department of Education, agreeing to home instruction requirements. The form must be submitted to the local superintendent or designee at least 15 calendar days prior to beginning home instruction. MODEL OPTIONS While the characteristics of each program may vary, all homeschooling must be overseen by either Anne Arundel County Schools, an MSDE-approved nonpublic school, or, under certain conditions, an online program that is neither a Maryland public school nor MSDE-approved private school. A parent or guardian may choose to provide the education personally or may arrange for the instruction to be delivered by another person or organization. Some families have opted for a co-op arrangement, in which the group of guardians divides teaching duties among themselves or collectively contract a tutor. Families who select this option must be careful that this model is used only as a supplement to regular daily instruction. If it becomes the primary mode
of instruction, it could be subject to termination as an unlicensed or unapproved nonpublic school. REQUIREMENTS & COMPLETION All homeschool program providers must maintain a portfolio that demonstrates compliance with statutory requirements. Most importantly, homeschooling must occur on a regular basis during the school year and must include instruction in English, mathematics, science, social studies, art, music, health, and physical education. Homeschoolers may participate in the public school’s standardized testing and United States Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) programs; however, current law does not require that the public schools provide any additional services to a homeschooled student. As a result, the parent or guardian has the freedom to select the curriculum and instructional materials used, provided certain educational benchmarks are satisfied. Each homeschool program is evaluated yearly for compliance with state and county requirements. If the program is deemed deficient, the provider of the program has thirty days to provide evidence that the deficiency has been corrected. If the deficiency is not adequately corrected during that time, the child must enroll in a public or other MSDE-approved nonpublic school. If a homeschooled student wishes to return to a public school, the parent/ guardian must contact the local school system and arrange for credit transfer and placement evaluation. This process may include standardized testing and interviews. While a homeschooled student cannot earn a Maryland High School Diploma, any student over the age of 16 may obtain a General Educational Development (GED) certification by successfully completing the GED test. Further information about homeschooling programs in your area or protocol for operating your own is available through the MSDE Student Services and Strategic Planning Branch, Division of Student Support, Academic Enrichment, and Educational Policy at 410-767-0784 . RESOURCES FOR SUCCESS To support homeschoolers, Annapolis Moms Media has curated a list of Anne Arundel County businesses offering educational, creative, and athletic programs and outlets for families like yours. Source(s): Anne Arundel County Public Schools. "Home Instruction." Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Accessed March 12, 2025. https://www.aacps.org/page/home-instruction. Maryland Division of State Documents. "Title 13A State Board of Education: Subtitle 10 Home Instruction." Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR). Accessed March 12, 2025. http://www.dsd.state.md.us/comar/SubtitleSearch.aspx?search=13A.10.01.
24 | THE MOTHERLODE
Powered by FlippingBook