Compulsory ed is for ages 5 to 16.
Home school statute: MD Educ. Code Ann. 7-301(a).
Under the regulations, parents may homeschool according to either of the two
below options if at least 15 days before the beginning of hsing the parents
sign a notice of intent indicating either:
1. that the homeschool provides regular, thorough instruction in the
required subjects and maintain a portfolio including relevant materials such
as instructional materials, reading materials, and examples of the child's
writings, work sheets, workbooks, creative materials, and tests. The local
superintendent may review the portfolio at a mutually agreeable time and
place but not more than three times a year. If the local superintendent
determines after review of the portfolio that the child is not receiving "a
regular, thorough instruction program in conformity with the regs," the
family then has 30 days to provide evidence that the deficiency is remedied
or they will have to cease homeschooling. A local school may not impose any
additional requirements.
2. that the child's instruction is offered through a correspondence course
AND is under the supervision of a school approved by the State Board of Ed OR
a school or institution offering an educational program operated by a
bona-fide church organization. For a church to qualify, it only needs to
send a letter to the State superintendent declaring it is in compliance
with the requirements and provide documentation (such as proof from IRS or
articles of incorporation) that it is bona fide.
Also, either the church or the approved school must supervise the hs
program with pre-enrollment conferences, textbook and lesson plan review,
annual home visits, AND periodic conferences with parents.
There are no teacher qualifications.
There is no mandatory testing.
The notice must include:
*the name and age of the child
*names, addresses, and phone numbers of parents
*for each child previously enrolled, an assessment of progress
*for each child not previously enrolled, independent professional evidence on whether the child is handicapped.
*a detailed outline or narrative which describes the content to be provided.
*school district in which home study is located
*names, addresses, telephone numbers, and signatures of all persons providing instruction
*signatures of all custodial parents
The Commissioner will send back an acknowledgement of compliance or ask for missing information which is due in 14 days. There are no teacher qualifications.
Progress must be assessed annually by either:
1. a certified teacher
2. teacher from an approved VT independent school
3. a teacher advisory service with a portfolio
4. a parent report with portfolio
5. results of a standardized test administered by a qualified person
6. results of a standardized test administered by an approved VT school