Homeschool benefits and savings in Baltimore County
Baltimore County Public Library's Teacher Loan Card lets homeschool teachers borrow up to 100 items for nine weeks at a time with no overdue fines. Homeschool families living in Baltimore County qualify with an annual letter from the BCPS Home Schooling Office or a recent letter from a state-certified umbrella group.
Who qualifies
Homeschools in Baltimore County
Homeschool teachers working with Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) or an umbrella group certified by the Maryland State Department of Education qualify if the homeschool is a Baltimore County residence.
Has a personal library card
You need a valid personal Baltimore County Public Library card before you register.
Shows a homeschool letter
Bring the annual BCPS Home Schooling Office letter, or a letter dated within the last year from a state-certified umbrella group. An umbrella group ID card is not accepted.
What the card gives you
These limits come from Baltimore County Public Library's teachers page.
- Items checked out at once
- 100
- Loan period
- 9 weeks
- Renewals
- None
- Overdue fines
- None
- Teacher Collection gathered for you
- 14 days' notice
- Card length
- Until Aug. 31
Replacement costs still apply for damaged, lost, or missing items, and last year's account issues must be cleared before you renew.
How to get the card
- Before you register
Get your homeschool letter
Use your annual BCPS Home Schooling Office letter or ask your umbrella group for a letter dated within the last year.
- Online or at a branch
Register
Upload one verification document through the online Teacher Registration form, or bring the form, ID, and document to any branch.
- After registering
Get your card number
New cards arrive by mail within 10 business days after you receive your number and temporary PIN; renewals are confirmed by email within three business days.
- From August 1 each year
Renew
Cards expire every August 31 and can be renewed starting August 1.
What it includes
Included
- Books and media for group or student use
- Interlibrary loans on the nine-week period
- Teacher Collections on request
- Assignment Alerts for library research
Not included
- Video games
- E-books and e-audiobooks
- Chromebooks and other loan technology
- Special collections
Who to contact about the card
Librarians at any branch and the Ask a Librarian service answer questions about Teacher Loan Cards and collections.
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
Questions parents ask
- Can a homeschool parent get a Teacher Loan Card?
- Yes. Homeschool teachers working with BCPS or a state-certified umbrella group qualify when the homeschool is a Baltimore County residence.
- Will my umbrella group ID card work as proof for the Teacher Loan Card?
- No.
- Can the library pull books for a unit study?
- Yes. Submit a Teacher Collection request; staff need 14 days to gather items and hold the collection for seven days past your pickup date.
- We live in Baltimore County but use a group in another county. Do we qualify?
- Yes, if the umbrella group is certified by the Maryland State Department of Education and your homeschool is a Baltimore County residence. Confirm your case with a librarian.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Books and library resources give your child something to explore. We turn their interests into coursework, so library discoveries can lead to deeper study at home.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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