Maryland families homeschool either under the supervision of the local school system or under the supervision of an approved umbrella organization (a non-public school or an institution of higher education that supervises home instruction).
Legal framework
Home instruction is governed by COMAR 13A.10.01. The Maryland State Department of Education's homeschooling page publishes the current registration form and the list of approved umbrella organizations.
Notification & registration
Parents file the Home Instruction Notification Form with the local school system at least 15 days before starting, and annually thereafter. Families using an umbrella organization indicate that on the form.
Recordkeeping
Local-supervision families maintain a portfolio of materials, work samples, and a log of activities, and meet with school system staff for portfolio reviews up to twice a year. Umbrella-supervision families follow the umbrella organization's recordkeeping rules.
Graduation requirements
Maryland does not prescribe specific high school graduation requirements for home-instructed students. The parent (or umbrella) determines completion. Aligning the transcript with Maryland public high school graduation requirements is a useful reference.
Who issues the diploma
The parent operating the home instruction program issues the diploma in the name of the family's program. Umbrella families may receive a diploma from the umbrella organization.
College & military recognition
University System of Maryland institutions and Maryland community colleges admit home-instructed graduates routinely. Homeschool graduates qualify for Tier 1 military enlistment under current DoD policy.
Official source
For current statutory text, forms, and procedural updates, the authoritative source is the Maryland State Department of Education. Homeschool laws change, so confirm specific requirements directly with the state before relying on them.