Maryland people -- question about umbrella groups

[happypamama]

I have a friend who is homeschooling in Maryland, specifically Baltimore County. She's looking at how to get high school diplomas for her kids, and it looks like her choices are either online school or an umbrella group. Problem is, all the umbrella groups she's finding either require membership in their specific churches, or they are super expensive to join (membership fees plus fees per class). She says she's required to have an umbrella group that's in her county, so she couldn't use one in Carroll County, for instance. Can anyone clarify this stuff a bit, or suggest an umbrella group that isn't quite so expensive, or anything?

[Farrar]

She doesn't have to use one in her county, just one that's approved for her county. Beyond that, I don't know since most of my Maryland friends don't do the umbrella option, but I've never heard anything but good stuff about the Baltimore Homeschool Center and they have an umbrella.

[mysticmomma]

Is she aware that she can issue a diploma as well? She is absolutely not required to use one from her county. I live in Baltimore County and my umbrella is in Harford County.

Edited April 6, 2016 by mysticmomma

[happypamama]

She doesn't have to use one in her county, just one that's approved for her county. Beyond that, I don't know since most of my Maryland friends don't do the umbrella option, but I've never heard anything but good stuff about the Baltimore Homeschool Center and they have an umbrella.

Thank you!  I thought that sounded a little strange, that she'd be required to use one IN her county, but I don't know MD laws.  Everyone says they're less restrictive than up here in PA, and it sure wasn't sounding that way!  I'll direct her to the BHC for more info.

 

Is she aware that she can issue a diploma as well? She is absolutely not required to use one from her county. I live in Baltimore County and my umbrella is in Harford County.

Thank you!  I don't know if she's aware that she can issue a diploma or not, but I will pass it along to her.  I'm very glad to hear that you are in her county but use an umbrella outside of it!

 

Farrar and mysticmomma, both of you are very encouraging. :)

[mysticmomma]

Did your friend sort this out?

[tmstranger]

Can I just chime in to say hi!?!?

 

I live in Baltimore Co, too, and I'm so happy to see other WTM locals!!

 

 

[happypamama]

Did your friend sort this out?

I passed all of the info along to her, but I'm not sure what she actually decided to do in the end.  I haven't seen her in several weeks because our group is winding down activities for the year, but hopefully, I will get a chance to talk with her soon to see what progress she's making.