Maryland vs West Virginia: Homeschool Laws Compared

Maryland and West Virginia sit in the same tier: both require notice and a periodic assessment. They still differ on 6 of the 9 rules compared: required subjects, testing or evaluation, the portfolio, progress reports, compulsory school ages, and ESA funding.

Rules compared

9

Differences

6

Same in both

3

The rules, side by side

Rows where the two states differ are marked. Tap a state name for its full guide, deadlines, and sources.

Figures are the same verified compliance data shown on each state's page. Requirements change; confirm with your state before you rely on one.

Moving from Maryland to West Virginia

Once you are a West Virginia resident you homeschool under West Virginia's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. West Virginia's required list adds reading and language and drops english, art, music, health, and physical education compared with Maryland's. Match West Virginia's wording in your records.
2. The assessment rule changes from portfolio review, annually in Maryland to parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation), annually in West Virginia.
3. West Virginia does not require a portfolio. Bring Maryland's with you anyway; it is your proof of progress if a question ever comes up.
4. Reports go from on request in Maryland to once a year in West Virginia.
5. Compulsory school ages are 6-17 in West Virginia against 5-18 in Maryland, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
6. West Virginia runs Hope Scholarship. Check whether your family qualifies; Maryland had no comparable program.

Moving from West Virginia to Maryland

Once you are a Maryland resident you homeschool under Maryland's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. Maryland's required list adds english, art, music, health, and physical education and drops reading and language compared with West Virginia's. Match Maryland's wording in your records.
2. The assessment rule changes from parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation), annually in West Virginia to portfolio review, annually in Maryland.
3. Keep a portfolio of dated work samples: Maryland requires one and West Virginia did not.
4. Reports go from once a year in West Virginia to on request in Maryland.
5. Compulsory school ages are 5-18 in Maryland against 6-17 in West Virginia, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
6. Maryland has no ESA program. West Virginia's Hope Scholarship is for West Virginia residents, so budget without it.

What stays the same

Maryland and West Virginia match on notice of intent, hours or days per year, and public school sports access. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither Maryland nor West Virginia takes homeschool records from another state, and there is no transfer process between them. You keep your own: the hours or attendance log, work samples, and any grades or transcripts. Those are what the new state, and later a college, may ask to see. Homeschool Fox keeps them in one account that moves with your family.

Keep comparing

• Delaware vs Maryland 6 rules differ
• District of Columbia vs Maryland 3 rules differ
• Florida vs Maryland 5 rules differ
• Kentucky vs West Virginia 6 rules differ
• Maryland vs Pennsylvania 5 rules differ
• Maryland vs Virginia 4 rules differ
• Ohio vs West Virginia 4 rules differ
• Pennsylvania vs West Virginia 7 rules differ
• Required Homeschool Subjects by State All 34 states in one table
• States That Require Homeschool Testing or Evaluation All 19 states in one table
• States That Require a Homeschool Portfolio All 6 states in one table
• States That Require Homeschool Progress Reports All 22 states in one table