Any Maryland Homeschoolers or those familiar with MD homeschool laws?

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Is the portfolio option easy? I see that the 2nd and 3rd options involve umbrella schools and I would prefer not to do that.

I do portfolio review in Florida for my kids and it is a fairly easy process. I do that option in FL to be compliant.

It says the Superintendent "may" review it but I do not notice that it is required, just that we must maintain it and I would presume have it available.

Also--they include that there is a 180 day attendance policy for public schools only, but the law goes onto say that a homeschool student doesn't have to attend public school provided the criteria of one of the options is met. I am unable to discern if I must keep an attendance or not. (our law specifically excludes homeschoolers from the 180 day rule.)

Last question: How must PE be homeschooled? It is not required in our state, but my kids take dance and gymnastics. Would that be sufficient?

Thanks.

 

[Beavers5]

t seems to vary a lot from county to county. In St. Marys County, they reviewed our portfolio twice a year and it has always been quick and easy.For PE they jotted down that my son plays sports.

 

[kimbac3]

I homeschool in NJ but I have a suggestion. Go to www.hslda.org and click on your state. Find your support group association and try to find out who runs your local support group. Give that leader a call, I'm sure she'll be able to tell you how things go in your specific area.

Good luck!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

t seems to vary a lot from county to county. In St. Marys County, they reviewed our portfolio twice a year and it has always been quick and easy.For PE they jotted down that my son plays sports.

That's likely the county that we would be located.

 

[Beavers5]

This year I am using Calvert school, so I don't have to do a review. I did the reviews the past few years though. They are generally done in November and May. I take in about 3 dated pieces of work per subject (I usually try to get three that show progress). They also want to see the books you use, so I bring those in and a list of websites we used. I meet with the reviewer at the library in Lexington Park and it has never taken more than 5-10 minutes. The reviewers have always been very friendly.

There is a yahoo group for St Marys Homeschoolers: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SMHN/

If you have any questions about the area, I'll try to help any way I can.

 

[punkin]

This year I am using Calvert school, so I don't have to do a review. I did the reviews the past few years though. They are generally done in November and May. I take in about 3 dated pieces of work per subject (I usually try to get three that show progress). They also want to see the books you use, so I bring those in and a list of websites we used. I meet with the reviewer at the library in Lexington Park and it has never taken more than 5-10 minutes. The reviewers have always been very friendly.

There is a yahoo group for St Marys Homeschoolers: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SMHN/

If you have any questions about the area, I'll try to help any way I can.

This is second hand info so take it for what it's worth, but a friend of mine was very unhappy with the Montgomery County reviewers and joined an umbrella group to avoid them.

 

[Beavers5]

This is second hand info so take it for what it's worth, but a friend of mine was very unhappy with the Montgomery County reviewers and joined an umbrella group to avoid them.

I've heard some horror stories about other counties' reviewers; luckily, I've not had that experience.

 

[MiniGirl]

This is second hand info so take it for what it's worth, but a friend of mine was very unhappy with the Montgomery County reviewers and joined an umbrella group to avoid them.

Just a question.... Are reviewers assigned or accredited by the county? Here in Florida, we can use any teacher with a current certification to do the review. There are many that are now homeschooling their own children, so are very homeschool friendly.

 

[Beavers5]

Just a question.... Are reviewers assigned or accredited by the county? Here in Florida, we can use any teacher with a current certification to do the review. There are many that are now homeschooling their own children, so are very homeschool friendly.

The reviewers are employees of the county Board of Education.