Home Instruction Procedures for Parents and Guardians

General Expectations

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 typically 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. 

The following information outlines the general expectations of these two options.

Option A–Home instruction under the supervision of The Montgomery County Public School System.

The parent or guardian will—

• read the regulations regarding home instruction Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 13A.10.01,
• complete and return the Home Instruction Notification (MCPS Form 270-34) to the Home Instruction Office at least 15 days prior to beginning home instruction.
• provide written notification to the office of any changes in status,
• maintain a portfolio for each child being provided home instruction, and
• submit the portfolio(s) for review to MCPS near the conclusion of every school semester.

If parents intend to continue to provide home instruction after the first school year of registration, they must complete and return the Annual Notification to Continue Home Instruction (MCPS Form 270-36) each subsequent year that home instruction continues.

Notification Forms

Home Instruction Notification Form (MCPS Form 270-34):  This form is used to register a child as receiving home instruction in Montgomery County, MD.

Annual Notification to Continue Home Instruction (MCPS Form 270-36):  This form is used every school year after the submission of initial notification form to notify MCPS that the student will continue to receive home instruction.

Completed forms may be emailed to the office at homeinstruction@mcpsmd.org (preferred) or mailed to the address below:

Home Instruction Office

850 Hungerford Dr., Room 251

Rockville, MD 20850

Review Meetings

• A reviewer (MCPS staff member) is assigned and is responsible for reviewing your child’s instructional program.
• The Home Instruction Office will contact you with information regarding the dates of the first and second semester (winter and spring) reviews.
• Failure to submit a portfolio for your child's required review without explanation and/or an effort to determine a mutaually agreeable time and format, you will be expected to enroll your child in an approved public or nonpublic school as defined in COMAR 13A.09.09.02B (4-9).
• Current guidelines regarding program reviews can be found here.

Option B–Home instruction under the supervision of a nonpublic entity, registered with the Maryland State Department of Education.

The parent or guardian will—

• read the regulations regarding home instruction (COMAR) 13A.10.01,
• complete and return the Home Instruction Notification (MCPS Form 270-34) to the Home Instruction Office at least 15 days prior to beginning home instruction.
• provide written notification to the office of any changes in status.

Notification Form

Home Instruction Notification Form (MCPS Form 270-34):  This form is used to register a child as receiving home instruction in Montgomery County, MD.

Completed forms may be emailed to the office at homeinstruction@mcpsmd.org (preferred) or mailed to the address below:

Home Instruction Office

850 Hungerford Dr., Room 251

Rockville, MD 20850