Homeschool benefits through College of Southern Maryland homeschool dual enrollment

Homeschooled juniors and seniors who report to a Maryland school board or an approved umbrella get 25% off tuition at the College of Southern Maryland (CSM), $105 per credit instead of $140 for Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's County residents. Your student must place at college level in reading and writing. Other options include scholarships and grants and recreation and camp discounts.

By Andrew Garber, founder of TheHomeschoolingCompany. Reviewed August 25, 2026.

What it offers

1. College of Southern Maryland homeschool dual enrollment
2. Calvert County Therman Gray homeschool education award
3. Calvert County Therman Gray recreation fee assistance
4. Calvert County Homeschool Fridays and Teen Homeschool Chesapeake Bay

College of Southern Maryland homeschool dual enrollment

Who qualifies

1. Reports to a Maryland reviewer

   Your homeschool must report to the local Board of Education or to an umbrella organization approved by the Maryland State Department of Education.

2. Is a junior or senior

   The dual enrollment option for homeschool, private, and out-of-county students is open to high school juniors and seniors only.

3. Places at college level

   Your student needs ACCUPLACER scores of at least 254 in reading and 240 in writing, an SAT reading and writing score of 480, or an ACT English and reading score of 21.

4. Registers with a coordinator

   Dual enrollment students cannot register on their own; an enrollment coordinator signs them up.

What the discount saves

CSM charges $140 per credit for Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's County residents and $245 for other Maryland residents from fall 2026 through summer 2027.

One credit, tri-county resident

$105

One 3-credit class

$315

Two 3-credit classes

$630

12 credits

$1,260

One 3-credit class, other Maryland resident

$551.25

A combined fee equal to 25% of tuition, plus any course or e-book fees, is added; ask Student Account Services whether the combined fee is figured on full or discounted tuition.

How to enroll

1. Step 1

   Submit the dual enrollment form

   Fill out CSM's dual enrollment form for homeschool, private, and out-of-county students.

2. Step 2

   Apply online

   In the CSM application, choose the option for dual enrollment while still in high school.

3. Step 3

   Show college readiness

   Take the placement test or send official SAT or ACT score reports. Math courses may also need ALEKS placement.

4. By July 15, Dec. 15, or April 15

   Register by the deadline

   The deadlines are July 15 for fall, December 15 for spring, and April 15 for summer. CSM suggests applying several weeks earlier.

What the discount covers

Covered

• 25% of tuition
• Credit courses at CSM campuses or online

Not covered

• Combined fee
• Course-specific fees
• E-book fees
• County-paid public school courses

Who to contact about dual enrollment

This office answers questions about placement options, requirements, and enrollment for homeschool, private, and out-of-county students.

aod@csmd.edu 301-934-2251 Dual enrollment on campus or online

Calvert County Therman Gray homeschool education award

Who qualifies

1. Lives in Calvert County

   Include proof of residency, any legal document showing your student's name and address.

2. Is a graduating senior

   Seniors graduating from a public, private, or homeschool high school qualify; homeschoolers send a homeschool review in place of a report card.

3. Has a 3.0 GPA

   Your student needs a GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

4. Studies an eligible field

   Eligible undergraduate fields include parks and recreation, natural resources, outdoor recreation management, sport administration, therapeutic recreation, turfgrass management, and related disciplines.

What it is worth

Calvert County Parks and Recreation awards $1,000 to one graduating senior in each of its three districts every year.

Northern District winner

$1,000

Central District winner

$1,000

Southern District winner

$1,000

Total awarded each year

$3,000

Awards per person

One

A committee scores applications with a point system, so the award is competitive even when only a few seniors apply.

From applying to keeping it

1. Senior year

   Gather documents

   Collect proof of residency, the latest report card or homeschool review, an acceptance letter, and a personal and an educational or professional recommendation.

2. Senior year

   Record a two-minute video

   Explain why your student is pursuing a career in parks and recreation and how the money will be used, as an mp3 file or link.

3. April 1 to June 30

   Email the application

   Send the application and attachments to parksandrecreation@calvertcountymd.gov.

4. Early July

   Winners announced

   Winners are announced in early July and awards are paid by July 30.

What it pays for

Covered

• Undergraduate study in an eligible field
• College, university, or trade school enrollment

Not covered

• Fields outside parks, recreation, and related areas
• A second award to the same person

Who to contact

Parks and Recreation receives Education Award applications and answers questions about eligibility.

parksandrecreation@calvertcountymd.gov 410-535-1600 Therman Gray Scholarship Fund

Calvert County Therman Gray recreation fee assistance

Who qualifies

1. Lives in Calvert County

   The program is for patrons residing in Calvert County, Maryland.

2. Shows benefit eligibility

   Attach proof of SSI, SNAP, TANF, WIC, or free or reduced-price lunch, or explain another situation on the form. Proof needs only your name and eligibility dates.

3. Picks an eligible activity

   Assistance applies to Parks and Recreation camps, classes, sports, and clinics listed in the seasonal activity guide.

4. No double assistance

   You cannot get assistance for the same activity from two different agencies or third parties.

What it is worth

The county pays up to 75% of an activity's cost, capped at $200.

$40 class

$30

$100 class

$75

$200 camp

$150

$300 camp

$200

$500 camp

$200

Due to demand, award amounts can change, and you must put down a deposit when you apply: 10% of a class fee or $25 for a camp.

From applying to keeping it

1. Before the season

   Choose an activity

   Find the camp, class, sport, or clinic and its activity number in the seasonal Parks and Recreation guide.

2. 2 weeks before the season

   Apply with a deposit

   Email the application and proof to parksandrecreation@calvertcountymd.gov or mail it to Calvert County Parks and Recreation, 175 Main St., Prince Frederick, MD 20678, with the deposit.

3. 3-5 business days later

   Hear back

   If you do not qualify and cannot pay the balance, your deposit is returned in full.

4. Within 10 business days

   Pay the balance

   Once you are awarded the scholarship, pay the remaining balance within 10 business days.

5. Each season

   Apply again

   You can apply quarterly, for the fall, winter, spring, and summer seasons.

What it pays for

Covered

• Parks and Recreation camps
• Classes
• Sports
• Clinics

Not covered

• Daily park, beach, and pool admission
• Facility, pavilion, and campsite rentals
• Equipment rentals
• Golf green, cart, and driving range fees
• Non-county sport affiliations

An approved scholarship you do not use costs you the deposit.

Because of demand for assistance, the county says scholarship amounts are subject to change.

Who to contact

Parks and Recreation reviews Therman Gray fee assistance applications; call extension 2649 with questions.

parksandrecreation@calvertcountymd.gov 410-535-1600 Therman Gray Scholarship Fund

Calvert County Homeschool Fridays and Teen Homeschool Chesapeake Bay

Who qualifies

1. Homeschooler of the right age

   Homeschool Fridays are for homeschoolers ages 4 to 12, and the Teen Homeschool Series is for ages 12 to 16. Children must be the age listed for each program.

2. Registers in advance

   Reservations are required through calvertparks.org, and programs open for registration on staggered dates.

3. A parent attends for younger children

   Parents of younger children stay with the group; parents of older children may stay as mentors. Teens attend without a parent.

What programs cost

Fees come from Calvert County Parks and Recreation's Summer 2026 activity guide and the Calvert Nature Society's current program listings.

Homeschool Friday, member family

Free

Homeschool Friday, nonmember family

$8

Teen Homeschool Series session, member

Free

Teen Homeschool Series session, nonmember

$8 per teen

Calvert Nature Society family membership

$30

The Summer 2026 guide listed its four-part Teen Homeschool Chesapeake Bay series at $10 per member teen or $20 per nonmember teen, so check the fee on each listing when you register.

How to sign up

1. Before you register

   Decide on membership

   A Calvert Nature Society family membership costs $30, covers everyone in your household, makes member programs free, and gives you early registration.

2. When registration opens

   Reserve a spot

   Register online at calvertparks.org. Online registration gets priority, and Visa, Mastercard, and Discover are accepted online only.

3. November 4 and December 2, 2026

   Teen sessions

   Aquatic Explorations Session 3 meets at Kings Landing Park on November 4, and Animal Clues Session 1 meets at Flag Ponds Nature Park on December 2, both 9:00 a.m. to noon.

4. Each program day

   Learn outdoors

   Each program mixes indoor and outdoor hands-on learning, with students grouped by age.

What it includes

Included

• Hands-on science and nature lessons
• Help with projects and research
• Time to meet other homeschooling families

Not included

• Refunds on program fees under $10
• Refunds on membership dues

Who to contact about the programs

The Natural Resources Division and the Calvert Nature Society take registrations and answer questions about homeschool programs.

CypressSwamp@calvertcountymd.gov 410-535-5327 Homeschool programs

Homeschool rules and statewide help in Maryland

You must submit the prescribed consent form to the local superintendent at least 15 days before starting. District-supervised families verify continuation before each school year and report status changes. A qualifying nonpublic supervisor reports continuing enrollment and status changes to the district.

Maryland sets these rules:

• Subjects: Provide regular, thorough instruction of sufficient duration in English, math, science, social studies, art, music, health, and PE. A qualifying nonpublic-supervised program must provide regular, thorough instruction in the usual public-school studies.
• Testing: State standardized testing is voluntary. District-supervised programs have portfolio reviews at semester ends, with no more than three reviews per school year.
• Records: For district supervision, keep instructional materials and work samples demonstrating required instruction; college report cards or transcripts may substitute for those courses. Qualifying nonpublic supervision follows COMAR’s separate requirements.
• Teachers: No state teaching credential required for the parent providing home instruction.

Read the Maryland homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Maryland

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