Quick Links

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions regarding home instruction.

Must the parent be a certified teacher?

No.

Must the parent be the teacher or may a tutor be hired to take care of instruction?

The bylaw is clear that home instruction is for a "parent or guardian who chooses to teach a child at home." The parent or guardian must be the primary provider of the instruction. Other adults may assist with a special area of interest, but may not replace the parent. Otherwise, teaching by another adult or group of adults constitutes a school, which must seek accreditation.

May my child receive special education services?

Child on home instruction is not entitled by law to receive services other than assessment/evaluations. However, if a parent wishes to go through the Child Find process and is determined to be eligible for special education services through the IEP process, then limited services may be offered such as speech, language arts, and math, up to one hour. Services would be offered at the school and transportation is the parent's responsibility.

May my child take part in other school instructional or extracurricular programs while receiving home instruction?

No. Maryland does not recognize dual enrollment. Home Instruction is an "all or nothing" program with the exception of possible special education services mentioned above.

May my child participate in the standardized testing program?

Yes. A child receiving home instruction may participate in the regularly scheduled standardized testing programs administered in the assigned school, and you can indicate your interest by checking the appropriate space on the Assurance of Consent form. It is the responsibility of the parent to contact the assigned school for the testing schedule and to make arrangements for participation prior to the testing date. Transportation must be provided by the parent. MSPAP testing is not included.

My child is not yet eligible for kindergarten. May I register my child for home instruction?

No. That does not prohibit you from beginning a program of study on your own. However, this does not qualify as the state mandated kindergarten program required prior to first grade.
The following questions and answers regarding reviews apply to families choosing supervision by the school system.

How often do portfolio reviews occur?

Generally, reviews occur two (2) times per school year, once in December and once in May. A maximum of three (3) reviews is permitted by the regulations each academic year. Typically a review for one student takes half an hour, and a review for a family home schooling more than one student lasts an hour.

Will schools provide curriculum and texts?

No, these are the responsibility of the home instructor. You may request free Family Guides for grades K-8 to determine areas covered in each curriculum in the HCPSS. Outlines of Essential Curriculum are available online: See Academics.

The General Regulations state that I must provide regular, thorough instruction. How can I show I am doing this?

The primary evidence of regular, thorough instruction will be a portfolio of your child's own work (see follow-up question). Some parents have found it helpful both for their own organization and for the review to keep records such as a planning book or a journal of activities. Some parents create their own report cards and transcripts, which are useful if the child leaves the home instruction program to enroll in a school as well as for future employers and colleges.

What subjects are required?

The regulations state that instruction should be provided in subjects "usually taught in the public schools to students of the same age" and should include "English/language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, art, music, health, and physical education." These are listed on the Educational Program form.

Howard County recommends consideration of technology, library/media skills, and foreign language (all optional). The document "Preparing the Portfolio" provides a few additional suggestions as well as high school guidelines.

What samples of my child's work should be available during the portfolio review?

According to the regulations, the portfolio includes "examples of the child's writing, worksheets, workbooks, creative materials, and tests." Dated samples of work from each area should be provided. Reading lists are also recommended. Other ideas for ways to track student work are contained in the document, "Preparing the Portfolio.

What else should I bring to the review?

Bring a completed Portfolio Review form (if you prefer, the team can complete this at the review). In addition to work samples, selected instructional materials should be brought to at least the first review each year.

Should my child attend the review?

Your child is not required to attend, but children are encouraged to come and often enjoy the opportunity to talk about their program.

What happens if my team finds deficiencies in my program?

The parent will be notified and must provide evidence within 30 days that the deficiencies have been corrected. If the deficiencies are not corrected, the superintendent may require that the child be enrolled promptly in a public or nonpublic school.

What would be the process if I decide to place my child back in school at a future date?

Your child is welcome to reenroll. Make an appointment with the principal of your child's assigned school. An evaluation will be made to determine proper placement. This evaluation may include standardized testing, exams, review of the portfolio, and/or interviews with the student. A complete portfolio of dated work, not just the representative one required for reviews, may help with this process. If you know that your child will begin the school year in the fall, it is worthwhile to initiate the evaluation process during the late spring or early summer. However, see the questions below regarding high school.

Will high school credits earned through home instruction be accepted toward high school graduation if my child returns to school?

Not necessarily. Home schooled students returning to high school will be required to meet the same credit and High School Assessment test requirements in order to receive a Maryland high school diploma. The awarding of credit for home schooled students who are returning to high school will be determined by successful completion of quarterly assessments, mid-term and final exams as determined by the receiving high school. A grade of "pass" will be assigned rather than a letter grade. High school students on home instruction are advised to maintain a portfolio of all work in a given subject area and to contact the schools 15 days prior if they wish to re-enroll. Home instruction during the high school years is not generally recommended, if the intent is to return to public high school. Please be certain to carefully review the credit requirement and Maryland High School Assessment information enclosed with your Home Instruction packet. (Note: Home Studies International is accredited in the state of Maryland, so appropriate courses completed through that institution will be recognized.)

Will a high school diploma be issued by The Howard County Public School System if I elect to have my child remain on home instruction program through grade 12?

No. Diplomas represent completion of Maryland State graduation requirements by students who attend public schools. Some home instruction programs issue their own diplomas or certificates. Your child may choose to sit for the GED.

If you are considering home instruction for part of your child's high school career, be advised that graduation requirements include not only 21 credits in prescribed areas, but also certain attendance requirements, passing grades on certain standardized tests in Maryland, and certain other requirements. Please contact the home instruction office in advance of making such a decision.

Will my home schooling program be accepted for college admission?

You are encouraged to make early contact with individual colleges and universities; determine their policies; and arrange your program, record keeping, and testing accordingly.

Must I complete an Assurance of Consent form each year?

We assume that your status is the same unless you notify us. If there are changes in your program status, address, phone number, or children enrolled, you should contact the office and complete a new Assurance of Consent form.

Participation in programs supervised by non-public entities is verified annually by our office.

Note: Reading this FAQ is not a substitute for reading the General Regulations.

Publications which may be of interest:

• Curriculum Guides (preview only)Parent Guides (available K-8)
• Catalog of Approved High School Courses
• GED Information