Maryland Homeschool Law: COMAR 13A.10.01

Not yet verified at a primary source. DiplomaPath has not independently verified Maryland’s homeschool requirements against the statute text or the state’s own published guidance as of September 2026. The requirements described on this page may be incomplete or out of date.

Before you rely on any deadline, filing, or testing requirement here, confirm current law with the Maryland State Department of Education and the HSLDA Maryland page. When this page has been checked against a primary source, this notice will be replaced with a verified date and a link to the statute.

Two free things before you read on. The sample transcript PDF is yours either way, no email needed, and the transcript checklist walks through what to include, line by line.

Maryland recognizes a Home Instruction Program under COMAR 13A.10.01, authorized by Education Article §§2-205 and 7-301. Families file a Notice of Consent with the local superintendent, generally at least 15 days before starting, and submit a continuation notice each subsequent year.

Maryland does not require standardized testing. Most families choose the portfolio option: maintain a portfolio of materials and work samples that documents instruction, which the local superintendent may review up to three times per year.

Keep the portfolio current: Since Maryland can request a review at any point in the year, don’t wait until spring to organize your records. DiplomaPath’s course log doubles as a running portfolio record, always ready if your superintendent’s office calls.

Comparing Maryland with another state, or planning a move? See our guide to homeschool graduation requirements by state.

Maryland’s 22-Credit Public-School Benchmark

Maryland homeschoolers are not legally required to meet the state’s public school graduation credit minimum under COMAR 13A.03.02. Still, this 22-credit benchmark (for students entering 9th grade 2021–22 or later) is the standard Maryland colleges recognize.

Subject Area Courses / Notes Credits
EnglishComposition, Literature, all four years4.0
MathematicsThrough Algebra II or equivalent4.0
Social StudiesUS History, Government, World History3.0
ScienceBiology + 2 additional sciences3.0
World Language or CTETwo years, same language, or CTE program2.0
Fine ArtsVisual or performing arts1.0
Computer Science/Engineering/Tech EdOne approved course1.0
Physical Education/HealthCombined requirement1.0
ElectivesRemaining coursework3.0
Public-School TotalBenchmark, not a homeschool mandate22.0
DiplomaPath tip: DiplomaPath’s Requirements tracker lets you set the Maryland 22-credit model, or your own custom targets, per subject, with live progress bars, no spreadsheet needed.

Required Elements of a Complete Maryland Transcript

Use this checklist when building your Maryland homeschool transcript:

  • Student information
    Full legal name, date of birth, address
  • Home instruction program name
    The name of your registered home instruction program
  • Courses organized by year
    Group by grade (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th) or academic year
  • Grades and grade points
    Letter grade and numeric grade point value; include your grading scale
  • Credits per course
    Full-year course = 1.0 credit; semester course = 0.5 credit (Carnegie Unit)
  • Cumulative GPA, weighted and unweighted
    Include the scale (e.g., A = 4.0; Honors +0.5; AP/dual-enrollment +1.0)
  • Total credits earned
  • Graduation date
  • Parent signature and title
    Sign as “Supervisor” or “Administrator” of your home instruction program

GPA Calculation for Maryland Homeschoolers

GPA is calculated the same way in every state: multiply each course’s grade points by its credit value, sum all products, and divide by total credits. The standard 4.0 scale applies to most courses. Honors courses typically add 0.5 points; AP and dual-enrollment courses add 1.0 point for a weighted GPA.

Always report both weighted and unweighted GPA on your transcript, clearly labeled. Include your complete grading scale (e.g., A = 93–100 = 4.0) so admissions reviewers understand exactly how grades were assigned.

Want to calculate GPA automatically? Use our free Homeschool GPA Calculator, enter courses and grades and get weighted and unweighted GPA instantly.

Common Mistakes Maryland Homeschoolers Make

These are the most common compliance and transcript mistakes among Maryland homeschool families:

  • 1
    Letting the portfolio go stale between reviews
    Maryland can request a portfolio review up to three times a year, not just once. Update work samples continuously rather than scrambling before a scheduled check-in.
  • 2
    Missing the annual continuation notice
    The initial Notice of Consent isn’t a one-time filing, Maryland requires an annual continuation notice each year you homeschool. Set a yearly reminder.
  • 3
    Skipping SAT/ACT because testing isn’t state-required
    Maryland doesn’t mandate standardized testing for homeschoolers, but Maryland colleges still expect or recommend SAT/ACT scores from homeschool applicants. Plan for testing by 11th grade.

Generate a Complete Maryland Transcript Automatically

DiplomaPath supports Maryland homeschoolers with custom credit targets, weighted GPA calculation, and professional PDF transcript export, accepted by colleges across the country. Set your targets once and let the app handle the rest.

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