How Maryland Families Can Enroll at Enlightium Academy
Enlightium Academy is an approved private Christian school that is accredited by Cognia and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Enlightium has served homeschool, online, and co-op school students in K-12 since 2003. As K-12 education policies are different in each state, it is a parental responsibility to check on their state’s homeschool requirements and fulfill them as applicable. To assist parents with this process, Enlightium provides basic information about each state’s requirements. Parents are also encouraged to review their state’s requirements at hslda.org/legal and/or the Maryland Department of Education, as educational policies are subject to change over time.
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and Washington D.C.; however, with a freedom to educational opportunities comes a responsibility to understand and fulfill legal requirements. This can be worrisome, yet you’re not alone in this endeavor. Enlightium Academy is here to help!
Please note that the resources below serve as a starting point for your family; it is important that you research Maryland homeschooling requirements.
Maryland’s Homeschooling Requirements at a Glance
|
Homeschooling Options |
Option 1: Homeschooling under the portfolio option |
|
State Educational Funds |
No |
|
Does the Parent Need to Notify the State? |
Yes |
|
Academic Calendar Requirement |
Yes |
|
Reporting Age Requirement |
5-18 |
|
Instructor Qualifications |
No |
|
Subjects Required |
Yes |
|
Standardized Assessment |
No |
|
Immunization Requirement |
No |
|
Keep a Portfolio |
Yes |
|
Enlightium Parents App with Group for Maryland Families |
Yes |
Homeschooling Options
There are four homeschooling options in Maryland. We recommend Maryland families with students enrolled at Enlightium Academy choose Option 1: Homeschooling under the portfolio option. Please note that Enlightium operates in compliance with Maryland's homeschooling regulations, though we are not listed as an approved private school under the state's nonpublic school approval system. The below guidelines are based on option 1.
State Educational Funds
No state educational funds are available for homeschooling families at this time.
Notifying the State
The Maryland Department of Education requires homeschooling families to inform their local superintendent of their intent to homeschool 15 days before starting courses. Indicate that you are homeschooling through Enlightium Academy. This should be done each year.
If you stop homeschooling during the school year, or switch from one homeschool option to another, you must notify the superintendent.
Age Requirement
Ages four or younger:
Students are not required to attend school but can enroll in primary school at Enlightium Academy to have a head start and be ready for Kindergarten.
Ages five through 18:
Students must continue their education at a school of their parent’s choice until they turn 18 or receive a high school diploma or a GED.
Instructor Qualifications
The Maryland Department of Education does not require students to have teachers with specific credentials or qualifications.
As a part of Enlightium Academy’s dual accreditation, Enlightium teachers are state and/or ACSI-certified. A number of our faculty members have Master's and Doctorate degrees in their fields.
Students in the Homeschool Program (grades PreK-8) use book-based Christian curricula from AOP or BJU Press, while students in the Online Program (grades 3-12) use a digital Christian curriculum. Finally, students in the Sapphire Live program (grades 1-12) use a collection of the best curriculum options on the market. Each curriculum includes Bible, English, math, science, social studies, and electives courses. Click here to learn about the curriculum used at Enlightium Academy and to find the curriculum option that works best for your family.
Required Subjects
The Maryland Department of Education requires:
The first four bullet points are core courses at Enlightium Academy and will likely already be assigned by your student’s counselor. The latter four bullet points are electives available at Enlightium Academy.
Calendar Requirements
Unlike most states which require a number of days or hours of instruction, Maryland requires instruction to be “of sufficient duration” for the student to learn the subjects.
Enlightium’s school calendar has 180 school days (around 210 days with summer school). Additionally, students have access to the courses 24/7 for most days of the school year, including weekends and holidays.
Standardized Assessment
The Maryland Department of Education does not require a standardized test for homeschooled students. However, Enlightium provides multiple assessment options to help you see how your student is progressing per a given grade level:
- Grades PreK-8: IXL diagnostic assessments or Iowa Complete Annual Assessment; you can also opt out of an assessment
- Grades 9-12: Guidance for college-preparatory assessments such as the PSAT, SAT and/or ACT
Immunization Requirement
Immunization is not required in the state of Maryland, but you should have your exemptions or immunizations documented and on file.
Keep a portfolio
You must maintain a portfolio of the following items:
- Curriculum information and samples - Enlightium provides its families with both curriculum overviews by grade level and samples by course.
- Test scores - This can include occasional screenshots of test scores and/or standardized assessment scores.
You may need to provide your state with additional information, so please keep a digital record every year you are enrolled at Enlightium Academy, which should include the following:
- Attendance - Enlightium provides your family with progress reports via email. You can screenshot the details in these emails to show attendance.
- Academic plans - Enlightium Academy counselors provide academic plans during the admission process for each of our four divisions of grades: primary school (PreK-2), elementary school (3-5), middle school (6-8), and high school (9-12).
- Grades - Enlightium provides report cards for all students at the end of each quarter. Transcripts are available upon request.
- Academic Awards - Enlightium provides qualifying students with certificates for Honor Roll, Scholar’s List, Dean’s List, Outstanding Improvement, and the Presidential Award.
- Social/Competition Achievements - Enlightium holds social events and competitions throughout the school year, such as art competitions and spelling bees.
The local superintendent can review your portfolio at a mutually agreeable time and place. He or she can do this only three times a year. (In practice, this usually happens once or twice a year.) It is recommended that you not bring any of your children to the portfolio review.
Enlightium Parents App with Group for Maryland Families
Enlightium Academy has an app and desktop platform for families of currently enrolled students. Within this app is a group just for families living in Maryland to inform and support each other in fulfilling your state’s homeschooling requirements. Your family will be provided a link to download the app after enrolling.
Ready to Enroll at Enlightium Academy?
- Explore Enlightium Academy’s website
- If you have any questions:
- Chat with a team member
- Email consultants@enlightiumacademy.com
- Call (866) 488-4818 option 2
- Ready to enroll? Click here to start the enrollment process, and select the “Enroll Now” button.
Enlightium Academy is a private Christian online school that serves homeschooling families by offering a Bible-based, flexible, accredited, teacher-supported, and affordable education from the comfort of your home. For any other questions about Enlightium, please call (509) 319-2288, or visit EnlightiumSchool.com.
We review state requirements and regulations annually; however, each state may update its guidelines more frequently. If you have additional questions, please contact your state board of education.
Sources reviewed in January 2025: