PencilGoMaryland asks for a notice, a yearly check-in and a portfolio that shows regular, thorough instruction. Here is what the regulation says and how PencilGo fills in each piece.
Last checked October 30, 2026 · Templates, not legal advice
| Topic | What Maryland asks | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Notice | A form submitted to the local superintendent at least 15 days before the program begins, with a parent consent form. Each year before the school year starts you verify that you are continuing. You tell the superintendent about any change in your child's status. | COMAR 13A.10.01.01, Home Instruction Program (Cornell Legal Information Institute copy) |
| Supervising body | You can teach at home under the local superintendent, or through a supervising nonpublic school or institution. | COMAR 13A.10.01.01, Home Instruction Program (Cornell Legal Information Institute copy) |
| Subjects | Regular, thorough instruction in the studies usually taught in public school: English, mathematics, science, social studies, art, music, health and physical education. | COMAR 13A.10.01.01, Home Instruction Program (Cornell Legal Information Institute copy) |
| Days or hours | The regulation text we read names no set number of days or hours. | COMAR 13A.10.01.01, Home Instruction Program (Cornell Legal Information Institute copy) |
| Portfolio | Instructional materials, reading materials, the child's writing, worksheets, workbooks, creative materials and tests, showing regular, thorough instruction during the school year. | COMAR 13A.10.01.01, Home Instruction Program (Cornell Legal Information Institute copy) |
| Reviews | The superintendent or supervising body reviews the portfolio at the end of each semester, at times you both agree. There can be no more than three reviews in a school year. | COMAR 13A.10.01.01, Home Instruction Program (Cornell Legal Information Institute copy) |
Free sheets to keep them on: the Maryland attendance sheet, the weekly log sheet and the hours log. The attendance tracker page lets you set the start month and the number of children.
A review looks at the portfolio for regular, thorough instruction across the subjects. The regulation sets the end of each semester as the usual review time, at a time you and the reviewer agree on.
Ask your school system or supervising body how it wants the portfolio organized. Many families sort by subject, oldest to newest.
Dates come from the sources below. Confirm them with your district before you rely on them.
Rules change. Spot a change? Write to [email protected]. Templates, not legal advice.
Yes. The regulation says a parent who provides instruction maintains a portfolio of relevant materials, such as instructional materials, reading materials, the child's writing, worksheets, workbooks, creative materials and tests.
The regulation provides for review at the end of each semester at times you agree on, and caps reviews at three in a school year.
The regulation text we read names no set number. It asks for regular, thorough instruction during the school year.
The regulation lists English, mathematics, science, social studies, art, music, health and physical education, along with the studies usually taught in public school.
It prepares dated work samples and marked scores from your scans, and counts the non-worksheet subjects from your weekly log. You keep the portfolio and file your forms. PencilGo does not tell you that you meet Maryland rules and does not file anything.
Coming as we finish reading the law: Missouri, Utah, New Hampshire, Alabama, California, Delaware and more.
Print a sheet, scan it when it’s done, and PencilGo adds the date, subject and about how long it took. Free, about five minutes a day, and no screen time for your child.
Templates, not legal advice. Check what your state asks for. Last checked October 30, 2026. Spotted a change? Write to [email protected].