Home Instruction

A parent or guardian who chooses to teach his or her child at home must provide regular and thorough instruction during the school year in the studies usually taught in the public schools to children of the same age.

The supervision or oversight of this instruction may be done in one of two ways:

• Option A–under the supervision of the Montgomery County Public School System; or,
• Option B–under the supervision of a nonpublic entity registered with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE)

Home Instruction Procedures

• Webinar Slide Presentation (Google Slides)
• Webinar Recording (.mp4)
• Creating a Digital Portfolio (Google Document) (Español)

Home Instruction FAQ's

Home Instruction Regulations (MSDE)

Home Instruction Notification Form (270-34) - PLEASE E-MAIL THE COMPLETED FORM TO HOMEINSTRUCTION@MCPSMD.ORG 

Annual Notification to Continue Home Instruction Form (270-36)

Nonpublic Entities Registered to Supervise Home Instruction of Maryland Students

Home Instruction Resources (Inclusion of non-MCPS resources does not constitute an endorsement of the content by MCPS) 

• Youth Cruiser SmarTrip® Cards
• FRED B. BENJAMIN PEACE WRITING CONTEST
• Virtual Learning and Homeschooling – U.S. Department of State
• MSDE Home Instruction Resources
• MCPS Curriculum Website
• Hand In Hand Education
• Maryland College Application Campaign

Compulsory School Age Law

Maryland law requires that all children five (5) years or older, and under eighteen (18), who live in Maryland, attend school. Students receiving home instruction are exempt from this law, but must comply with the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 13.A.10.01 regarding home instruction, by having the program reviewed twice per year and deemed in compliance with the regulations.

• General Assembly of Maryland Article - Education, Section 7-301

Montgomery County Public Schools can register a child as receiving home instruction who turns five (5) by September 1, 2023.

• School Entry Age

MCPS Special Programs

• If you would like to apply to any MCPS special programs for the next school year, please visit the Admission Process (Regional/Countywide Programs) web page.  Parents of registered grade 8 home instruction students need to use ParentVUE in order to access the applications for high school programs.  To request a ParentVUE activation key, email homeinstruction@mcpsmd.org.  Include the full name and date of birth of your child in your request.

The GED^® Test and Students Receiving Home Instruction

Students receiving home instruction can take the test for General Educational Development (GED^®) in Maryland upon reaching sixteen (16) years of age and older. Information can be found on the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation website. Interested students should email their full name, date of birth, email address used to signup at GED.com, and a contact phone number to homeinstruction@mcpsmd.org. Our office will submit the Verification of Home Instruction form to the DLLR with a copy sent to you..

Montgomery College - Dual Enrollment Information

Students receiving home instruction may take courses at Montgomery College when they are sixteen years of age and meet other MC Dual Enrollment Requirements.  Prior to your appointment with an MC Academic Coordinator, parents should email homeinstruction@mcpsmd.org to request that our office send home instruction verification to the Dual Enrollment Office.  Please include the full name and date of birth of your child in the request.

Motor Vehicle Administration - Verification of Identity and/or School Attendance by Parent or Guardian (Form #DL-300A)

Verification of identity and/or School attendance for a student under the age of 16 by Parent or Guardian in order to obtain a driving license learner's permit.