Lubavitch Homeschool Umbrella Group (LHUG), is a bona-fide religious organization that operates an Education Ministry registered with Maryland State Department of Education. Parents/guardians who wish to provide home instruction for child(ren) under supervision of LHUG, must hereby agree to be wholly responsible for all aspects of the instruction of the child as per MD Code (COMAR).
Every child in Maryland who is 5 years and older and under 18 must attend a public school “unless the child is otherwise receiving regular, thorough instruction during the school year in the studies usually taught in the public schools to children of the same age” or has completed a home instruction program that has been verified by the local school system or supervising entity.
Learn more about compulsory school attendance.
Parents/guardians who wish to home school a child should familiarize themselves with the applicable law, including
Maryland Code, Education Article, 7-301 and
Code of Maryland Regulations (“COMAR”) Title 13A, Subtitle 10 (“Home Instruction”). Note that a local school system may not impose additional requirements for home instruction programs other than those in the Maryland regulations.
Lubavitch Homeschool Umbrella Group (LHUG) Education Ministry provides the following supervision requirements:
•Pre-enrollment conferences with parents/guardians
•Review of textbooks, lesson materials and other instructional materials or equipment designed to be used by the pupil at a site other than a school
•Annual visits by Ministry personnel to site where pupil receives instruction (audiovisual electronic visits currently qualify as site visits)
•Conferences with parents/guardians at appropriate intervals during enrollment period.
In addition, LHUG is required to comply with the following annual verification and change of status requirements of the Home Instruction regulations:
•Verify with the local school superintendent the identification of home schooled students whose instruction is continuing under our supervision
•Notify the local school superintendent of the identification of home schooled students whose instruction is newly added to our supervision (Notification of Intent to Homeschool must be (e)filed each year in your city or county of residence)
•Provide the local school superintendent with the identification of homeschooled students whose instruction is no longer under our supervision
•Notify the local school superintendent if a change occurs in the status of a home schooled student whose instruction was under our supervision during the school year.
Parents/guardians hereby commit to full compliance with MD statutes regarding homeschooling, including:
•
Completing, signing and submitting the legal Dept of Education Homeschool Notification form to the city or county of residence at least 15 days before the beginning of a home instruction program, indicating consent to the state requirements. Per COMAR (Maryland Code) statute, parents/guardians must ensure each child is instructed as per the standard for like age/grade children in public school classes in MD.
•Verifying the beginning, continuation, and discontinuing of home schooling for each child with LHUG Education Ministry. Notification to LHUG of any change in status after the beginning of the school year should occur within 15 days of the change in status.
•Providing Timely Forms, Payment and Information (
by August 1st) to allow LHUG to verify homeschooling status or other information to ensure legal compliance
Membership in the LHUG Umbrella group has the following general guidelines:
•Parents/guardians who are new to homeschooling or do not have complete homeschool plan must consult with LHUG personnel before beginning instruction to review and solidify their curricula & instruction plans for the year in the 8 primary subject areas: English, Math, Social Studies, Science, Health, Physical Education, Music and Art. LHUG personnel will, of course, be happy to assist with guidance or resources for any other subjects or learning goals as well.
•Parents/guardians should connect in to LHUG’s daily communications group ‘Homeschooling Heroes’. To sign up for groups or subgroups, please note your phone number and communications App preference below (WhatsApp or Signal, or email if neither)
•Families or parents should attend some of the group meetups, including e-meetings, as per interests or family needs.
•Families are required to attend a minimum of one meeting with the group per calendar year, for the purpose of Educational Review.
•Families are encouraged, but not required, to host or organize at least one activity, workshop, or class per calendar year.
•Parents/guardians are encouraged, but not required, to support LHUG with a few hours or small support pieces during the year. Volunteering could include organizing and/or hosting a zoom LHUG organizational or review meeting, hosting an LHUG family get-together, matching new homeschoolers to experienced mentors, teaching a few classes in parent’s/guardian’s field of expertise or interest, being the games host at regular park meetups, providing carpool rides for common activities, computer or web support, making ‘intake’ calls/sending info emails for new LHUG inquiries, etc. A small amount of support from everyone allows us to keep costs very low for everyone, as well.
Parents/guardians also agree to conduct the home instruction program in a manner:
•Consistent with Torah Principles
•Which does not interfere with LHUG’s operations and
•Does not harm the good name & reputation of LHUG.
Parents/guardians hereby release LHUG and those acting in support or on behalf of LHUG from any and all liability for any injury, harm or lack of success that may result from any act or omission in conjunction with their program of home instruction. Further, parents/guardians understand that LHUG’s mission is to provide a level of support that is minimally invasive to the parent’s/guardian’s homeschool, but offers experience, mutual support, possible resources, connection to activities and available social connection to other homeschoolers who value living and learning through Torah Principles.
This Agreement is effective for the academic year 2024-2025 upon:
•Execution and Submission of this agreement to LHUG by the parents/guardians signed below
•Payment of the annual fee of $50 (payable to Lubavitch Homeschool Umbrella Group)
PLEASE NOTE: In Payment Memo: list names of children covered under the agreement, 2024-25 school year
•Execution by Lubavitch Homeschool Umbrella Group (LHUG), indicating acceptance.
LHUG reserves the right to decline or discontinue providing supervision for any parent’s/guardian’s instructional program.
Either party is entitled to withdraw from this agreement at any time.
