** This webpage is provided for informational purposes. It is not legal advice. **
Attention COVID19 Homeschool Families
If you are electing to officially homeshool for the short-term during the COVID19 pandemic, be sure to talk with your child’s guidance counselor about the process for re-enrolling back into public school. This conversation is important to have before you purchase curriculum. If you have a middle or high school student, be certain to ask how your local public school will handle homeschool transfer credits.
Online Classes for High Schoolers
Some homeschool families beginning high school consider using online courses for their teens. One reason families chose to go digital is because they hear “accredited course” and believe the credit will more easily transfer, should their teen decide to enroll in public school one day.
Unfortunately, transferring homeschool high school credits is not as easy as passing along your child’s transcript to the guidance counselor.
State regulations govern how public schools can grant credits outside of traditional in-class seat time. One option allows students to earn credits by taking a Maryland State Department of Education approved online course, hosted by their school district.
The MSDE list of virtual coursework has been determined to be equivalent to what is taught in Maryland high schools – when the course is taught by a Maryland certified teacher. The designation as a pre-approved credit class does not necessarily mean the course is superior in quality to non-approved online classes. It simply means the online course vendor submitted documentation to the state and the course made it through the review process.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Selecting an MSDE approved online high school course will NOT guarantee transfer credit for homeschoolers. However, families who register directly through the course provider MAY have an easier time having the transfer credit accepted than if they use a non-approved e-learning course.
List of Approved Online Course Providers
NOTE: Not all providers are approved to offer every virtual class listed below. Be sure to verify if a specific virtual learning class offered by a specific provider has been approved by MSDE.
Download the 2017-2018 Approved Student Online Courses for the most up-to-date list of virtual learning courses school districts are required to accept as transfer credit. You can also visit the Maryland State Department of Education's website For more information about virtual learning in Maryland.
General List of Approved Online Courses
- Administration of Justice II
- Algebra 1, 2, and (honors
- American Government (honors)
- American Literature
- Anatomy and Physiology
- AP Art History
- AP Biology
- AP Calculus AB, BC
- AP Chemistry
- AP Comparative Government and Politics
- AP Computer Science A
- AP English Language and Composition
- AP Environmental Science
- AP French Language and Culture
- AP Macroeconomics
- AP Microeconomics
- AP Physics B
- AP Psychology
- AP Spanish Language and Culture
- AP Statistics
- AP US Government and Politics
- AP US History
- AP World History
- Art Appreciation
- Art History and Appreciation
- Audio Video Production 1, 2, and 3
- Biology (honors)
- British Literature
- Business Communications
- Business Information Management
- Business Information Systems
- Business Law
- Business Math
- Calculus (honors)
- Chemistry (honors)
- Child Development and Parenting
- Chinese 1, 2, and 3
- College Career Preparation
- Computer Programming 1
- Computing for College and Careers
- Creative Writing
- Cyber Security
- Developmental Writing
- Differential Equations
- Digital and Interactive Media
- Digital Photography
- Earth Science
- Earth Space Science (honors)
- Economics
- Electronic Communication Skills
- Emergent Computer Technology
- Engineering Design 1
- English 1, 2, 3, 4 (honors)
- Entrepreneurship A/B
- Environmental Science
- Finance Literacy
- Foundations of Computer Science
- Foundations of Technology
- French 1, 2, 3, and 4
- Game Design
- Geometry (honors)
- German 1, 2, and 3
- Government
- Graphic Design and Illustration
- Health Education
- Human Geography
- Integrated Math 1, 2, and 3
- Introduction to Astronomy
- Introduction to Business
- Introduction to Communication
- Introduction to Computer Applications
- Introduction to Finance
- Introduction to Forensic Science
- Introduction to Sociology
- Introduction to Visual Arts
- Japanese 1 and 2
- Java Programming 1 and 2
- Journalism
- Latin 1, 2, and 3
- Leadership & Supervision in Business
- Linear Algebra
- Living Music 1 and 2
- Marketing, Advertising, and Sales
- Medical Law and Ethics
- Medical Terminology
- Multivariate Calculus
- Nutrition and Wellness
- Personal Finance
- Personal Fitness
- Physical Education
- Physical Science
- Physics
- Pre-Algebra
- Pre-Calculus
- Principles of Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources
- Principles of Art, A/V Tech, & Communications
- Principles of Business Management
- Principles of Business Marketing & Finance
- Principles of Education & Training
- Probability and Statistics
- Psychology A and B
- Public Speaking
- SAT Prep
- Sign Language 1 and 2
- Sociology
- Spanish 1, 2, 3, and 4
- US Government
- US History (honors)
- Video Game Design
- Web Design 1
- Web Technologies A/B
- World Geography
- World History
Last modified on July 12, 2020