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The mission of the Home Instruction Program is to promote quality education for K-12 home schooled students. Home Instruction reviews are conducted twice a year to ensure that thorough, consistent instruction is occurring.

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.

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.

No, not under present regulations.

Generally, six (6) hours of instruction, Monday through Friday, for approximately 36 weeks is recommended. Parent can make adjustments to the schedule, based on the needs of the child.

You need to specify the hours, days, and length of your instructional year during the portfolio review. Weekends, evening hours, and summertime may also be part of the schedule if you desire. The portfolio review should reflect a comprehensive program appropriate for the age and functioning of the child.

Evidence of your planning is part of the portfolio review.

Yes.

Evidence of instruction in all of the following areas is required: English/Language Arts, Reading, Math, Science, Social Studies, Spelling, Art, Music, Health, & Physical Education.

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.

Generally, such reviews can occur two (2) times per school year. There can be a maximum of three (3) reviews permitted by the Bylaw each academic year.

Portfolio reviews are not conducted after your child reaches the age of 16 unless requested by the parent.

If there are deficiencies in the program resulting in the child not receiving a regular, thorough instructional program conforming the Bylaw, the parent will be notified of this deficiency and must provide evidence within 30 days that the deficiency has been corrected. If the deficiency is not corrected, the child must be enrolled promptly in a public or nonpublic school.

Your child would be most welcome to enroll. At that point, a conference should be arranged with the school principal to make placement decisions. An evaluation will be made to determine proper placement. This evaluation could include review of the portfolio materials, standardized testing, and/or interviews with the student to determine grade level and ability grouping.

No. Diplomas cannot be issued to students who are not enrolled in our school system.

A new Home Schooling Notification Form is not necessary. However, you will be sent the Annual Home Schooling Verification Form each July which asks about your intent to continue home schooling or to enroll your child in school.

No. Home schooling is an “all-or-nothing” program. However, if a child has been identified through the Child Find process to be eligible for special education services, HCPS will provide services as consistent with his or her identified service plan.

No. Books and materials cannot be issued to a student who is not enrolled in our school system.

Yes. Upon request of a parent or guardian, a child receiving home schooling 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 these tests are not administered at every grade level.

Aberdeen Pupil Services	410-273-5514
Bel Air Pupil Services	410-638-4143
Edgewood Pupil Services	410-612-1521
Fallston Pupil Services	410-638-4124
Havre de Grace Pupil Services	410-939-6612
Magnolia Pupil Services	410-612-1531
North Harford Pupil Services	410-638-3662
Patterson Mill Pupil Services	410-638-4215
Southampton Pupil Services	410-638-4153

REGION	SCHOOLS	PUPIL PERSONNEL WORKER
Aberdeen	Aberdeen Middle Bakerfield Elem. Church Creek Elem. Hall's Cross Roads Elem. George D. Lisby Elem. at Hillsdale	Nathan Smith Aberdeen Pupil Services 410-273-5514 email: Nate.Smith@hcps.org
Bel Air	Bel Air Elem. Bel Air Middle Bel Air High Emmorton Elem. Homestead/Wakefield Elem. Patterson Mill High Ring Factory Elem.	Robin Walker Bel Air Pupil Services 410-638-4143 email: Robin.Walker @hcps.org
Edgewood	Abingdon Elem. Deerfield Elem. Edgewood Elem. Edgewood High Edgewood Middle	Keesha Alexander Edgewood Pupil Services 410-612-1521 email:  Keesha.Alexander@hcps.org
Fallston	Fallston High Fallston Middle Forest Lakes Elem. Harford Technical High John Archer Youth's Benefit Elem.	Daniel Foell Fallston Pupil Services 410-638-4124 email:  Dan.Foell@hcps.org
Havre de Grace	Darlington Elem. Havre de Grace Elem. Havre de Grace Middle Havre de Grace High Meadowvale Elem. Roye Williams Elem.	Jo Ann Spencer Havre de Grace Pupil Services 410-939-6612 email:  Joann.Spencer@hcps.org
Magnolia	Joppatowne Elem. Joppatowne High Magnolia Elem. Magnolia Middle Riverside Elem. William S. James Elem.	Monica Contee-Brown Magnolia Pupil Services 410-612-1531 email:  Monica.Contee-Brown@hcps.org
North Harford	Dublin Elem. Forest Hill Elem. Jarrettsville Elem. Norrisville Elem. North Bend Elem. North Harford Elem. North Harford High North Harford Middle	William Novakoski North Harford Pupil Services 410-638-3662 email:  Bill.Novakoski@hcps.org
Patterson Mill Middle/High	Aberdeen High Patterson Mill Middle William Paca/Old Post Road Elem. Restoration Academy	Pamela Smith Patterson Mill Pupil Services 410-638-4215 email:  Pamela.Smith@hcps.org
Southampton	C. Milton Wright High Churchville Elem. Fountain Green Elem. Hickory Elem. Prospect Mill Elem. Southampton Middle	JoEllen Barnes Southampton Pupil Services 410-638-4153 email:  Joellen.Barnes@hcps.org

For additional information regarding home instruction legal requirements and a listing of nonpublic entities registered to supervise home instruction, please go to the Maryland State Department of Education’s Web Site.