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Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Home Schooling Do I need to set up a classroom in my home? You need to provide an educational area. This should include a desk or work area with suitable lighting and ventilation. Resource and instructional materials should be available to your child.Must the parent be the teacher or can a tutor be hired to take care of the instruction? The Bylaw is quite clear that the parent is to be the primary provider of the instruction. Other adults can assist with a special area of interest, but not replace the parent. The teaching by another adult or group of adults constitutes a school, which must seek accreditation approval through the State Department of Education.Am I required to be a certified teacher? No, not under present regulations.How much time should be spent on instruction each day? Generally, a minimum of five (5) hours of daily instruction, Monday through Friday, is recommended for a period of at least 36 weeks (180 days) of instruction.Am I obliged to follow the public school calendar? You need to specify the hours, days, and length of your instructional year during portfolio review. Weekend, evening hours, and summertime may also be part of the schedule if you desire. A minimum of 180 days of instruction is expected.Should I develop a planning book for instruction? Evidence of planning on your part is part of the portfolio review.Should I keep a record of attendance and evaluations/grades given to my child? YesWhat areas of instruction are mandatory in my program? Evidence of instruction in all of the following areas is required: Reading, English/Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Spelling, Art, Music, Health, and Physical Education.What samples of my child's work should be available during the portfolio review? Examples of the child's writing, worksheets, workbooks, creative materials, and tests must be saved for the review. In addition, work should be dated as it is completed.How often are portfolio reviews to take place? Generally, such reviews occur two (2) times per school year. There can be a maximum of three (3) reviews permitted by the Bylaw each academic yearWhat happens if the school system personnel are dissatisfied with the home instructional program? If there are deficiencies in the program resulting in the child not receiving a regular, thorough instructional program conforming with the Bylaw, the parent will be notified of this deficiency and must provide evidence within 30 days the the deficiency has been corrected. If the deficiency is not corrected, the child must be enrolled promptly in a public or nonpublic school.What would the process be if I should decide to place my child back in school at some future date? Your child would be most welcome to enroll. At that point the pupil personnel worker would arrange a conference with the school principal to make placement decisions. An evaluation will be made to determine the proper placement. The evaluation could include review of the portfolio materials, standardized testing and/or interviews with the student to determine grade level and ability group.Will a high school diploma be issued by Harford County Public Schools if I elect to have my child remain on home instruction program through grade 12? No. Diplomas cannot be issued to students who are not enrolled in our school system.Can my child take part in some aspects of the school instructional or extracurricular programs while receiving home instruction? No. Home Instruction is an "all-or-nothing" program with the exception that special education services for which a student has been determined to be eligible are available if the child is brought to and from the assigned school by the parent in order to receive such services.Will the school system provide books and materials for a child receiving home instruction? No. Books and materials cannot be issued to a student who is not enrolled in our school system.May my child participate in the standardized testing program offered by the school system even through he/she is not enrolled? Yes. Upon request of a parent or guardian, a child receiving home instruction may participate in the regularly scheduled standardized testing programs that are administered in the public school where the child is eligible to attend. Arrangements must be made prior to testing dates and the child must be brought to the assigned school by the parent. Parents are reminded that not each grade level is tested each year. Schedules available upon request.Must I reapply for permission to continue home instruction each year? A new application is not necessary. However, you are required to send us a letter of your intent, whether to continue your program or enroll in school. Please address letters to your pupil personnel worker at Harford County Public SchoolsIf you have additional questions, contact the pupil personnel worker who monitors the home instruction program in your area by calling:
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