Frequently Asked Questions
No. Contrary to our name, we welcome families from all counties, including Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Charles, Frederick, Harford, Kent, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Queen Anne's, and Talbot.
Yes, in conjunction with quarterly open houses, we offer in-person school tours. Click here to book yours!
Yes, HCHC offers academic classes you don't want (or aren't able) to teach your child, such as higher levels of math and science, equestrian, fencing, instrumental lessons, and foreign language study.
We're not here to replace the public school system. We offer support and a sense of community for families who want the services and resources we offer, which include:
(1) group classes and socialization,
(2) regularly scheduled group field trips,
(3) curriculum and educational resources,
(4) informative parent workshops and podcasts, and
(5) legal support to keep families in state compliance.
We schedule several group field trips throughout the year to landmark and historical sites in Baltimore, Annapolis, and the Washington, D.C. area. We balance-out the virtual school experience with a Charlotte Mason, real-world approach. Click here to view our social calendar on Meetup.
Students meet with their online teacher once or twice a week to remit and review class assignments. They are held accountable for the work the instructor assigns throughout the week. We encourage students to study a minimum of 20 minutes a day for each subject matter.
Outdoor classrooms provide hands-on, playful, child-led learning experiences where students are encouraged to roam and move freely. Middle school students are guided by Socratic discussion where certified teachers instruct to each student's individual level of development. View the School Handbook (page 9) to learn more about our daily schedule.
Our certified tutors and instructors supplement courses with secular curriculum from platforms such as Khan Academy, Education.com, Pear Deck, Calico, and Kahoot (among others).
We typically follow the HCPSS calendar for holiday closings, but notify parents of closures based on inclement weather by 6AM via emergency notifications posted to our Facebook, Meetup and Twitter platforms. SEE: HCPSS Calendar
Yes! Our teachers are certified instructors/tutors and have been thoroughly vetted. Some of our secular courses are taught by parent-teachers who are/were former public and private school teachers. Others are professionals with in-depth knowledge of the subject they teach.
Yes! Teachers interact with students online (or in-person) once or twice a week to follow-up on their progress, review assignments, and catch up on missed work. Teachers also provide thoughtful feedback to parents.
Click here to register for classes anytime of year.
Our in-person classes are held at satellite locations throughout Howard County, MD including Christ Episcopal Church located at 6800 Oakland Mills Road in Columbia, MD 21045.
The majority of our students are ages 8 to 12. We're expanding our program to include high school courses, transcripts, and certified diplomas for high school students. Read more...
Class size matters because it lessens distractions and behavioral problems. Fewer participants allots teachers the opportunity to engage and spend quality time with each student.
Yes, HCHC's Leadership Academy is registered with the MSDE to supervise home instruction. We're an approved Maryland Umbrella Group that provides virtual and annual reviews throughout the state of Maryland.
Partial refunds of tuition are given up until the 3rd week of classes. There are no refunds or pro-rations made for missed classes. View the School Handbook (page 15) to learn more about our return policy.
Parents are expected to drop-off children ages 5+ and remain with students less than 4 years old. If you're unable to stay on campus with your child(ren), you may remit a $97 opt-out fee.
Weather permitting, students can elect to eat their bag lunch outdoors during the lunch/recess hour.
Click here to view the company we use to prepare students for standardized testing. Click here to view the testing schedule for the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS).
Yes, we're both a cooperative AND a tutorial. HCHC supplements what's taught in the home by providing enrichment classes taught in a nature-based setting. Students benefit from structure, off-set by child-led play.
As a traditional co-op, we require parents volunteer a minimum of 2X each semester. We're able to keep tuition affordable by augmenting our hired staff with active participation from parents. If you're unable to volunteer your time, you may pay a $97 opt-out fee.
HCHC respects your privacy. We do not ask for, nor do we require medical history or immunization/vaccine records.
Yes! You can join the Umbrella group without having to enroll in enrichment courses at the cooperative and visa versa.
No, we do not require that families sign a Statement of Faith.
An Umbrella Group is an organization recognized by the State of Maryland that provides oversight for home education. Completing portfolio reviews conducted by an Umbrella Group satisfies the Maryland State requirement for regular, and thorough instruction, as stated in COMAR 13.10.01. Read more...
Yes, click here to sign up for available courses.
It means you can enroll your child at any point during the school year at a pro-rated price, withstanding there are seats available. Click here to view open seats.
Day School commences at 10:00am every Tuesday and Thursday. Parents are encouraged to drop-off students by 9:45am and pick-up no later than 2:15pm.
Yes and No. While Day School provides structure by offering regularly scheduled enrichment classes, our approach to teaching is relaxed and playful in the classroom.
Yes and No. Homework and project-based assignments are issued (via Teach N' Go) at the discretion of the teacher.
We encourage parents to accept and activate the code emailed to them after registration from Teach N' Go. On this platform you and your child can access important school information such as attendance records, download/upload homework assignments, and communicate directly with your teachers.
90% of our in-person, Day School staff is vaccinated. We cannot account for the total of online instructors and outside staff working at satellite locations.
Yes, we have a 30% sibling discount for students enrolled in 2 or more classes, a 15% military rebate for both veterans and active duty members, and a 10% loyalty discount for returning families.
We have a play set for children to use during recess at our Mary's Farm and CEC Campuses.
Click here to access the class registration page. For detailed step-by-step instructions on how to complete your child's registration, click here.
Thanks for wanting to support HCHC’s mission. We appreciate your volunteerism, continued patronage, and financial support. Donations are tax deductible and can be made via Spotify, Paypal, or Amazon Smile.
