Legal Compliance & Peace of Mind
We satisfy Option B home instruction supervision under COMAR 13A.10.01, handling official verification for county school districts.
🏡 Umbrella Homeschool
Partnering with Families for Quality Home Education
The freedom of homeschooling, with the structure, legal coverage and professional support of an approved Maryland Umbrella Service.
What is an Umbrella Homeschool?
Oversight without the county portfolio review
An Umbrella Homeschool Service Provider in Maryland is a registered nonpublic entity under the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR 13A.10.01) authorized to oversee and supervise a family's home instruction program.
Instead of undergoing portfolio reviews directly with local public school district officials (such as Montgomery County Public Schools), families registered with an umbrella organization receive oversight, academic support, transcript management, and curriculum review from the umbrella group.
Homeschool Umbrella Service at Early Bloom Academy Partnering with Families for Quality Home Education: At Early Bloom Academy (EBA) , we empower families with the freedom of homeschooling alongside the structure, legal coverage, and professional support of an approved Maryland Umbrella Service. Our program ensures full compliance with Maryland Department of Education (MSDE) requirements while giving your child a customized educational journey.- Flexible Scheduling: Structure learning around your life, not rigid bell schedules. Easily fit lessons, family trips, and extracurricular activities into a routine that works best for your household.
- Personalized Attention: One-on-one instruction helps students master concepts faster. We help address your child's unique strengths and challenges directly, ensuring no student falls behind or gets left behind.
- Safe & Supportive Environment: Create a secure space focused entirely on learning, free from the distractions, negative peer pressure, and safety concerns often found in traditional classrooms.
- Stronger Family Connections: Learning together builds deeper relationships. Homeschooling offers shared daily experiences that bring parents and children closer through meaningful education.
- Curriculum Choice & Freedom: Tailor your child's education to fit their specific learning style. Enjoy the freedom to select resources and teaching approaches that align with your family's goals.
- Hands-On & Travel-Friendly Learning: Take education beyond the desk. A flexible routine allows you to turn travel, museum visits, and real-world experiences into memorable learning opportunities.
- Independent Mindsets: Students naturally develop self-reliance, time-management skills, and personal accountability, setting them up for long-term success in college and beyond.
- Space for Passion Projects: Give your child the time they need to dive deep into their true interests, whether that means extra focus on sports, arts, STEM, or specialized hobbies.
- Proven Academic Growth: Focused instruction delivers real results. Homeschooled students consistently perform exceptionally well on standardized benchmarks and academic assessments.
Why Choose Early Bloom Academy Umbrella?
Support that actually supports you
Supportive Twice-Yearly Reviews
Our portfolio reviews are designed to encourage and guide parents, ensuring your curriculum meets state standards without unnecessary stress.
Academic Guidance & Transcripts
We assist with curriculum planning, high school transcript creation, graduation documentation, and dual enrollment verifications.
Community & Enrichment
Access optional group activities, field trips, enrichment workshops, and parent support networks.
What We Provide
Included with your annual enrollment
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Official Letter of Supervision / Enrollment
For your local school board
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Bi-annual portfolio consultations
With qualified educational advisors
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Grade tracking, report cards and high school transcripts
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Administrative support for MVA learner's permits (DL-300A), GED verification, and college admissions
Registration
Four steps to register with EBA as your umbrella
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Step 1
Parent Application & Fee Submission
Complete the online Early Bloom Academy Registration Form and pay the annual umbrella enrollment fee. -
Step 2
Educational Plan & Curriculum Selection
Submit an outline of your selected curricula covering Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, Health and Physical Education. EBA reviews and approves the plan for scope and sequence. -
Step 3
Issuance of Verification Documents
EBA issues an official Umbrella Acceptance / Verification Letter. Submit it with your county Home Instruction Notification form to notify your local district that you are supervised under Option B. -
Step 4
Ongoing Review & Reporting
Track daily instruction, attendance and samples of student work, then attend scheduled Fall and Spring portfolio check-ins with an Early Bloom advisor.
PORTFOLIO REQUIREMENTS & CHECKLIST
Maryland State Portfolio Standards (COMAR Compliance)
Required Core Subjects Under Maryland Law
Maryland regulation (COMAR 13A.10.01.01) requires home instruction to cover 8 core subject areas. Your student portfolio must show consistent work samples in each area throughout the school year:
- English / Language Arts: Reading, writing, grammar, literature, spelling, or vocabulary building.
- Mathematics: Grade-appropriate math concepts, problem sets, workbooks, or practical math applications.
- Science: Observations, lab reports, nature study notes, experiments, or science reading logs.
- Social Studies: History, geography, civics, economics, or social science projects.
- Art: Visual arts projects, creative drawings, art history, or craft work samples.
- Music: Vocal or instrumental practice, music appreciation, theory, or performance records.
- Health: Personal hygiene, safety, nutrition, physical wellness, or health education worksheets.
- Physical Education: Movement routines, sports participation, fitness logs, or organized physical activity.
What to Include in Your Child’s Student Portfolio
To fulfill Maryland home instruction requirements, maintain an up-to-date physical or digital portfolio for each enrolled student. Every portfolio must contain clear evidence of regular, thorough instruction across three core categories:
- Curriculum & Instructional Materials: Document the educational tools you use. Include textbook titles, publisher course outlines, unit syllabi, or printouts/screenshots of online learning platform dashboards.
- Dated Work Samples: Provide tangible proof of academic growth over time. Include dated writing drafts, completed math assignments, science lab reports, or high-quality photos of art and hands-on projects showing progress from the beginning to the end of each term.
- Enrichment & Activity Logs: Track learning beyond traditional coursework. Maintain simple logs for required reading, educational field trips, community service, physical activities, and extracurricular involvement.
Links & Resources
Maryland State & central district resources
County-Specific Registration
How to notify your county
Choose Option B — supervision by an MSDE-registered umbrella program — and name Early Bloom Academy.
Follow the MCPS Home Instruction Procedures and complete Form 270-34. Notification must be submitted at least 15 days prior to starting home instruction. Choose Option B (supervision by an MSDE-registered umbrella program — Early Bloom Academy).
Access the PGCPS Parent Portal to enroll in Home Schooling and submit signed notification forms within 15 days of portal creation.
Submit the AACPS Home School Notification Form directly to the Home School Program Coordinator at 2644 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD 21401.
Complete the BCPS Home Instruction Notification Form and submit it to the BCPS Home Instruction Office prior to starting instruction.
Download and sign the FCPS Home Instruction Notification form and return it to the FCPS Home Instruction Office.
Complete Step 1 of the HCPSS online Home Instruction Notification Form process, and submit equipment returns within 15 days if withdrawing from an HCPSS school.
Contact your local public school system's Home Instruction Liaison or Student Services Department to obtain the proper Notice of Intent form before starting home instruction, then contact Early Bloom Academy.
- Allegany County Public Schools — acpsmd.org | 301-759-2001
- Baltimore City Public Schools — baltimorecityschools.org | 410-396-0775
- Calvert County Public Schools — calvertnet.k12.md.us | 443-550-8457
- Caroline County Public Schools — carolinecps.org | 410-479-1460
- Carroll County Public Schools — carrollk12.org | 410-751-3000
- Cecil County Public Schools — ccps.org | 410-996-5660
- Charles County Public Schools — ccboe.com | 301-934-7326
- Dorchester County Public Schools — dcps.k12.md.us | 410-901-6940
- Garrett County Public Schools — garrettcountyschools.org | 301-334-8938
- Harford County Public Schools — hcps.org | 410-588-5336
- Kent County Public Schools — kent.k12.md.us | 410-778-7167
- Queen Anne's County Public Schools — qacps.org | 410-758-2403
- St. Mary's County Public Schools — smcps.org | 301-475-5511
- Somerset County Public Schools — somerset.k12.md.us | 410-621-6269
- Talbot County Public Schools — tcps.k12.md.us | 410-822-0330
- Washington County Public Schools — wcpsmd.com | 301-766-8776
- Wicomico County Public Schools — wcboe.org | 410-677-4429
- Worcester County Public Schools — worcesterk12.com | 410-632-5079
Click your state to view local regulations.
- Click your state MAP to view local regulations.
Find Your State
Every Child Matters
Homeschool with confidence
Talk to an Early Bloom advisor about your curriculum and your county paperwork.
Or call us on 202-538-6160