The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) is reviewing the state’s home instruction regulations under COMAR Title 13A. This review could lead to new rules that limit the freedoms homeschooling families currently have or keep the current system in place.
Deadline: Comments must be received by August 15, 2025.
Submit your comment: regulatoryreview.msde@maryland.gov (Subject line: “Regulatory Review”)
We believe the existing homeschool regulations already provide sufficient oversight while respecting family autonomy. Any attempt to increase state control risks unnecessary burdens, constitutional conflicts, and harm to families who have successfully educated children outside the public school system for decades.
That’s why we’re asking every homeschooling parent in Maryland to make their voice heard today.
What’s Being Considered
The regulatory review opens the door to four major policy changes that could impact your family’s ability to homeschool freely:
Degree Requirements for Parents
The state could require homeschool parents to hold a college degree or teaching credential. This would arbitrarily disqualify many capable families, especially from lower-income or nontraditional educational backgrounds, despite decades of evidence showing homeschooled children thrive under diverse parental education levels.Mandatory Standardized Testing
Homeschool students could be forced to take standardized tests aligned to public school curricula. This would erode the flexibility and personalized learning that makes homeschooling effective, adding unnecessary stress and cost without improving educational outcomes.State-Approved Curriculum
The state could mandate which curricula homeschool families use, undermining parental rights to direct their child’s education and potentially forcing instruction that conflicts with family values and religious beliefs.Home Inspections by State Officials
New regulations could allow home visits or inspections, treating families as suspects under surveillance. This would violate constitutional protections of due process and privacy, placing parents under a presumption of guilt.
Sample Letters
Why This Matters
MSDE’s review can lead to three outcomes:
Stay: Keep current homeschool laws and freedoms (what we want).
Change: Impose new restrictive regulations on families.
Adapt: Alter existing laws, potentially opening the door for future restrictions.
We believe no changes are necessary. The current system:
Ensures accountability through portfolio reviews and umbrella programs.
Respects the rights of parents under U.S. Supreme Court rulings.
Has produced generations of successful, well-educated homeschooled students.
How You Can Help
We’ve prepared four sample email letters, each addressing a specific proposed change to Maryland’s homeschool regulations.
Option 1: Use Our Pre-Written Email Link (Easiest)
Review the sample letters (click each image to read).
Choose one or more that reflect your concerns.
Click the button below to open a pre-written email addressed to the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).
Add your name and send before August 15, 2025.
Option 2: Send From Your Own Email
If you prefer to send the message directly from your own email account:
Copy the text from one of the sample letters.
Address your email to: regulatoryreview.msde@maryland.gov
Use this exact subject line: Regulatory Review (this is very important so your comment is counted).
Send before August 15, 2025.
Thank You for Taking Action
Your voice matters.
Each comment sent strengthens the effort to keep homeschooling free from unnecessary state restrictions.
Please consider sharing this page with other Maryland families and friends who support educational freedom. The more voices we raise, the clearer the message will be: No changes are needed to Maryland’s current homeschool regulations.