Your notice of intent,
one step at a time.

What the notice does

The initial home instruction notice informs your local school system that you intend to provide a home instruction program. COMAR requires submission at least 15 days before beginning. Umbrella enrollment and the initial notice are separate tasks.

Gather the information before you begin

• Your local school system’s current notification form or submission instructions.
• The student and parent or guardian information requested on that form.
• Your intended start date, allowing for the required notice period.
• Your selected supervision route and, if applicable, your supervising entity’s details.
• A place to keep the completed form and submission confirmation.

Use the instructions provided by your own local school system. A form intended for another county may create an avoidable extra step.

Keep a simple confirmation trail

Save the version you submitted, the date, and the delivery receipt or confirmation page. If you send a message asking a question, keep the reply with those records. This gives you a clear account of what you sent and when.

If your child is currently enrolled in school, coordinate the transition and withdrawal procedure with the relevant school and home instruction office. Do not assume an online curriculum purchase automatically updates the school’s records.

If you have already joined an umbrella

Ask which notifications the supervising entity handles and which steps remain yours. Check that names and other identifying details match across documents. If anything changes, contact the appropriate office rather than leaving conflicting information on file.

After the notice is submitted

Move your attention to the first week of learning. Choose a manageable routine, organize your materials, and make sure you understand the supervising entity’s communication process. You can refine the routine after you see it in practice.