Do you want to homeschool in Maryland with fun, freedom and flexibility?
Become a Peaceful Worldschooler today! Peaceful Worldschoolers are committed to cultivating peace in the world beginning right in our own hearts and homes. We are a registered Maryland homeschooling umbrella, and we believe that families should have the freedom to pursue what they love with the people they love – without government oversight or overreach.
¡Hablamos español!
Choosing to start homeschooling can feel overwhelming… but it doesn’t have to be that way!
The truth is YOU have been homeschooling your child since the day they were born, and you will continue to do so until the day that you die. By the time your child is 5, you have probably already taught your child to:
- walk
- talk
- sit
- stand
- count
- identify shapes
- sing rhyming songs
- color
- name some (or all) of the letters and sounds
- recognize or write their name
- tell a story from beginning, middle, to end
- use scissors or a knife to cut something
- cook or bake their favorite food
- build something
- explore the world
- and more!
But even more important than each of those “school skills,” you have also probably taught your child “soft skills,” such as: teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking, adaptability, communicating effectively, time management, cultivating
relationships/friendships, forgiveness, responsibility, and more!
Homeschooling is just continuing the work that you have already been doing by teaching and learning, loving and living with your child.
Are you ready?
Start homeschooling in Maryland today!
Meet Angela
Angela Harders is the founder of PAX Ministries and Peaceful Worldschoolers. She is a certified Spanish, ESOL, and Special Education teacher with a Master’s in Bilingual Education Curriculum and Instruction.
Angela is a best-selling author of the Christian Gentle Parenting book, Gospel-Based Parenting: A Biblical Study on Discipline and Discipling, as well as her latest book, Tales of a Toxic Teacher: Exposing the Cycles of Abuse Within Our Schools.
Angela is also a single mother of two who earnestly desired to find a way to empower and encourage ANYONE to homeschool who has the desire to do so!
She has now taught thousands of children, mentored hundreds of parents and families, and is excited to support you in your homeschooling/unschooling journey!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Peaceful Worldschoolers is the bilingual homeschooling ministry for PAX Ministries. We are a registered homeschooling umbrella in the state of Maryland which means that we will be responsible for supervising your homeschool instead of the county or state.
When completing the Notice of Intent to Homeschool Form, just select “Option B – Peaceful Worldschoolers Umbrella, 3701 Spruell Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20902.”
Homeschooling in Maryland is as easy as 1-2-3!
- Submit the Notice of Intent To Homeschool Form (select Option B – Peaceful Worldschoolers Homeschool Umbrella, 2832 Gracefield Road, Silver Spring, MD 20904) to your county’s homeschool coordinator or superintendent at least 15 days before beginning your homeschool program.
- Allegany County*
- Anne Arundel County
- Baltimore City
- Baltimore County
- Calvert County
- Caroline County*
- Carroll County
- Cecil County
- Charles County
- Dorchester County
- Frederick County
- Garrett County
- Harford County
- Howard County
- Kent County*
- Montgomery County
- Prince George’s County
- Queen Anne’s County
- Saint Mary’s County
- Somerset County*
- Talbot County
- Washington County
- Wicomico County
- Worcester County
- Complete the Peaceful Worldschoolers Homeschool Umbrella Registration Form and pay the $100 annual registration fee.
- Complete the Annual Review via one of our 3 review options: Group Zoom, Peer Review, or Individual Review via phone. See below for more information about each option.
*=I was unable to find a county-specific homeschool notification form, so this is the generic Maryland Intent to Homeschool Form.
While we welcome families of different homeschooling philosophies, personally, we are unschoolers, which means that we promote self-directed, child-led, passion-driven education.
We believe that your child is your curriculum, so while we can recommend various resources to support you and your child’s education, we do not promote any particular curriculum.
We also believe that part of being a homeschooling family means that we focus on the “home” before the “school.” For this reason, we provide online and in-person courses/events for children AND parents.
We invite you to join our Peaceful Worldschoolers of the DMV Facebook group where we host field trips and events every single week! Please feel free to invite your friends and family because our group is open to all – not just umbrella members. To get updates on our trips and connect with others in your area, be sure to join our WhatsApp group.
If you have questions about our educational philosophy, we invite you to join our FREE Unschooling Q&A held via Zoom on the last Wednesday of the month in English and on the 2nd Wednesday of the month in Spanish. Discover the joy of learning as you embrace educational freedom!
We ALL have so much to learn and grow – and it is a blessing that we can do so together!
To learn more about unschooling, check out the Peaceful Worldschooling Podcast or Angela’s TikTok or Instagram where she discusses concerns about the current education system, answers questions about alternatives like unschooling, and shares inspiration for families to live and learn with fun and freedom!
To join our umbrella as a Maryland homeschooler is just $100 per family per year.
We recommend that high schoolers and families desiring additional support consider joining PAX Academy, which costs $350 per child per year or $600 per family per year, so that they are able to receive transcripts and diplomas from our registered Private School rather than a parent-issued transcript or diploma. However, you are welcome to use our umbrella from K-12 if you desire and get additional support as needed for parent-issued diplomas.
You, as the parent, have the right to remove your child from school at ANY point in time. It does not matter if it is the 2nd day of school or the 2nd to last day of school.
As a result, we offer year-round open enrollment. We will open enrollment for the following school year on June 1st. And our (un)school year runs from August 1st until July 31st of the following year.
We do not require you to keep or maintain a portfolio. This will allow you to focus your time and energy on the things that matter most to you and your family. Yay!
Of course, if you want to keep a portfolio for your own records, you are more than welcome to, but it is not required.
As homeschoolers in Maryland, we are required to conduct an annual review each year. This is a great opportunity to reflect on your year, to share informally about the things you have done, and to ask any questions that you may have. You can choose to do your annual review in one of three ways:
- Group Zoom Review: We conduct our Group Review via Zoom on the 1st Wednesday of April at 8 PM EST. This is a great opportunity to connect with other homeschooling and unschooling families in your county.
- Peer Review: If you have a friend in our umbrella, you are welcome to conduct a peer review with one another and then submit the Annual Review Verification Form prior to June 1st.
- Individual Review: If you are unable to attend our Group Zoom Review and you do not have a friend in our umbrella (yet), you may conduct your annual review via a one-on-one phone call with certified bilingual special education teacher, Angela Harders.
To learn more about the homeschooling in Maryland, click here.
We support homeschoolers in Maryland in a variety of ways.
- Peaceful Worldschoolers of the DMV Facebook Group – We post weekly field trips and events for every region/county in our Facebook Group, and we invite our members to also share your own meet-ups and events so we can build a strong homeschooling community in Maryland. Our field trips are a great way to get connected with other homeschoolers in your area while also learning some amazing things! After all, we are peaceful WORLDschoolers because we believe that the WORLD is our biggest and best classroom!
- Monthly Unschooling Q&A – Join best-selling author, Angela Harders, on the second Wednesday of the month in Spanish or on the last Wednesday of the month in English to ask an answer all your questions about unschooling. The meeting is held via Zoom from 8:00 – 9:00 PM.
- Peaceful Worldschoolers WhatsApp Community – Join our FREE WhatsApp Community for Peaceful Worldschoolers living in and around Maryland. We have sub-groups for each region/county so you can get connected with people in your area. We also have sub-groups for various topics of interest such as neurodiverse families and families with teenagers.
- Educational Consultations – If you would like additional one-on-one support for your homeschooling or unschooling journey, book an educational consultation with certified special education teacher, Angela Harders. Together, we will talk through any issues or concerns that you may have and make a plan so that you can create the ideal educational experience for your child and for you!
- Peaceful Worldschooling Podcast – Listen in as we have conversations with other unschooling and worldschooling families from around the world! If you are an unschooler and would like to be guest on the Peaceful Worldschooling Podcast, sign up here.
- PAX Academy – PAX Academy is a registered and accredited private school for unschoolers. As a private school, you do NOT have to fill out a Notice of Intent to Homeschool, and we are also able to support families both in Maryland, throughout the United States, and even international families. We recommend that any family that would like additional support, access to additional resources or exclusive discounts, or families with high school students consider enrolling in PAX Academy.
- Online Courses for Children and Adults – Within PAX Academy, we provide a wide variety of online resources and courses to support you and your children as you learn and grow. Within the “Welcome to PAX Academy” course, we teach you:
- How To Determine Your Child’s Reading Level
- How to Unschool from Kindergarten through 12th Grade
- Unschooling and Math
- Unschooling and Reading
- Transitioning to College as an Unschooler
- and more!
¡Claro que sí! De hecho es una gran bendición que usted pueda educar a sus hijos en su primer idioma. Si necesita ayuda o apoyo para aprender más sobre la educación en casa en español, recomiendo que:
- Se inscriba en nuestro grupo de WhatsApp en español .
- Escuche el segundo episodio de mi podcast, Descubriendo Desescolarización (y todos los otros episodios).
- Lea los libros Historias de una Maestra Tóxica y Historia Secreta del Sistema Educativa.
- Mire los documentales La Educación Prohibida y Un Crimen Llamado Educación.
- Se inscriba como miembro de HSLDA para tener protección legal. (Las familias inscritas en Peaceful Worldschoolers or PAX Academy recibirán un descuento en la membresía de HSLDA).
If you are already homeschooling in Maryland under the supervision of the county or another umbrella, you are always welcome to change and join our umbrella! You would just need to re-submit the Notice of Intent to Homeschool Form (see How Can I Start Homeschooling in Maryland?) and indicate the change to “Option B” under the Peaceful Worldschoolers Umbrella. Our address is: 3701 Spruell Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20902.
Only children ages 5-18 in Maryland can be supervised by our homeschool umbrella, but if you are in another state/country and would like to have the freedom to unschool, I encourage you to register in PAX Academy which is our registered private school and will meet the mandatory compulsory attendance requirement for most states.
By registering in PAX Academy, you will have the legal protection of a private school which means that you will be able to receive a diploma and transcript from a private school rather than as a homeschooler.
In fact, we recommend that high schoolers in Maryland register for PAX Academy as well so that you can avoid the tedious process of applying to college as a homeschooler.
Peaceful Worldschoolers (PW) is an unschool-friendly homeschool umbrella for families that live and learn in Maryland.
PAX Academy is a registered and accredited private K-12 school for families that live in all 50 states and almost every country in the world.
PW costs $100 per family per year.
PAX costs $350 per student per year with a family discount of $600 per year.
PW requires an annual review.
PAX does not require an annual review.
PW Students are homeschoolers and receive parent-issued transcripts and diplomas.
PAX Students are private school students and receive transcripts and diplomas from an accredited private school making the transition to college/career easier.
In addition, PAX Academy provides students and families with access to hundreds of resources and online courses, thousands of dollars worth of discounts, and a supportive community for embracing an unschooling lifestyle.
If you have additional questions that have not yet been answered here, you can book a FREE 15-minute phone consultation with Angela. If you believe that your questions will take longer than 15 minutes, I encourage you to register for a full Educational Consultation.
Do you want more?
Join us for a Field Trip near you!
Annual Reviews
We provide our families with 3 different options for doing an annual review.
You have the freedom to choose the option that works best for you!
Check out what our families think!
Here are some of the testimonials from our Peaceful Worldschooling families.
Being a neurodivergent family, homeschooling my children has been a dream of mine for some time now, so finding Peaceful Worldschoolers has truly been a Godsend. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be part of this community and for all the good work you do. I hope to be able to join all of the activities and social opportunities in the near future.
Mary O.
Peaceful Worldschoolers has been such a blessing for our homeschool! We are provided with so many resources and feel truly supported. We also are invited to so many field trips and gatherings in the area that really encourages social interaction and fun! I’m so grateful for this umbrella!
Sandra P.
I am so grateful for Angela and her guidance into starting homeschooling. It was such a comfort knowing we were part of such a great group. Being able to choose how we “school” and put together a program that works for our family has been so amazing as we made this transition to homeschooling. We chose to do a co-op, private dyslexia tutors, and “unschooling.” We don’t have to prove what we learned to anyone. This umbrella is amazing!
Kate K.
Angela with Peaceful Worldschoolers has been very helpful in answering important questions and concerns during our first year of homeschooling.
Suzette T.
We have enjoyed being a part of this group, and we will continue. I love that Angela puts so much effort in organizing the group and the activities.
Dennis W.
Peaceful Worldschoolers is an awesome group that helps kids learn at their own pace while having fun enjoying what they actually want to learn.
Sara O.
We love Peaceful Worldschoolers. This is the definition of freedom for homeschooling parents. It’s been an amazing year, and our boys are actually enjoying homeschool for a change. Angela is an amazing woman. We are so thankful that she put this together for all of us. I hope this continues to grow.
Edgardo Z.
Angela is so supportive on this homeschooling journey. She truly makes it so much easier and has created a fantastic community of like-minded individuals. From organizing field trips to hosting Q&As to help make your journey more successful, she is very involved and there to lend a helping hand. I can’t wait to watch this community grow!
Mackenzie C.
Peaceful Worldschoolers Umbrella is the most welcoming group I spoke to in my search for an umbrella; Angela truly welcomes everyone with “open lines” (open arms, but with distance) and is very active with our group. She isn’t here for status, she is here to help and make homeschooling be magical for families.
Chelsea W.
I wasn’t planning on joining an umbrella at all. Nothing that I had read about any of them seemed just right. Someone in the Calvert county homeschool group had told me about the teen field trips that the Peaceful Worldschoolers umbrella does. Then I started reading all about the Peaceful Worldschoolers on their Facebook page and it really resonated with me! I am so grateful for Angela. She is so smart, creative and welcoming!
Amanda H.
What I am learning about unschooling from the Peaceful Worldschoolers Umbrella — how important it is to start with the child’s uniquenesses when attempting to determine the pathway forward — is helping me shape an educational experience for my child that is ideal for her.
Mehrtash O.
Peaceful Worldschoolers is a great umbrella to use if you are looking for one that does not add increased work and burden for you in your homeschool journey. Angela is a great communicator and is available to assist and support you if needed. She always has a vast array of field trips available to join as well.
Amy E.
The Peaceful Worldschoolers Umbrella is a supportive and inclusive organization that provides parents with guidance to educate their children in ways that are best for their family.
Erica L.
Being a part of an umbrella is easy and enjoyable with Peaceful Worldschoolers!
Molly R.
This umbrella has been so wonderful! The dedication and time Angela puts into creating field trips, helping families, and creating a cohesive umbrella is truly inspiring. I feel like I can focus on teaching my kids more and less on checking off boxes that need to be completed. We’re thriving with Peaceful Worldschoolers and so happy!
Rachel C.
Enrollment was quick and smooth. I’m very happy with Peaceful Worldschoolers Umbrella!
Rachel T.
Angela is so welcoming and helpful! I came across this umbrella on a FB group where Angela actually replied to one of my questions and invited me to take a look at her umbrella. I immediately felt welcomed. The field trip options are top notch.
Lisa C.
I love being a part of the Peaceful Worldschoolers Umbrella Group! Angela is so kind and puts any concerns at ease immediately. The review process is so simple and low stress, the field trips offered throughout the year are super fun and educational. We will be back next year for sure!
Sara B.
Peaceful Worldschoolers Umbrella has been my safe place for me and my son. Angela has been our angel for our journey. I feel blessed to be part of this family.
Gabriela P.
I am so glad we found the Peaceful Worldschoolers Umbrella and Angela. To have the support and freedom while teaching our children in a way that is best for them and our family is truly a blessing. We are so happy to be a part of this wonderful community.
Deneva R.
Being part of the Peaceful Worldschoolers Umbrella has been a truly wonderful experience for us. The supportive community and enriching activities have made a significant difference in our homeschooling journey. Our sons are thriving and more confident with learning. We’ve felt so well-supported every step of the way. Thank you for everything you do to make this such a special place for families. Highly recommended!
Ronda N.
Encontrar a la señora Angela ha sido lo mejor. Es una persona muy amable desde que la conocí en las redes sociales. Me gusta como ella se preocupa por ayudar a los padres para la escuela en casa. Ella es nuestro angel en medio de nuestra preocupación que teníamos. Recomiendo 100% Peaceful Worldschoolers umbrella.
Claudia C.
This is the easiest, simplest, most straightforward, and BEST decision ever made in my years as a homeschool mom. I used to dread making portfolios for the county and having to wonder if I was going to get hassled for any minor infraction. This process is so painless and worth every penny.
Rachael M.
We absolutely loved the network and community in this homeschool group! There is so much information out there and so many parents with experiences, sharing their experiences to help each other succeed and make sure all kids succeed in education!
Halsey B.
I am so grateful to have found this umbrella! Angela is an amazing lady so kind and willing to help anyone she can! I don’t know how she finds the time but she works so hard to organize so many wonderful things for our kiddos and it does not go unseen! It is always a wonderful experience with her! I could not ask for a better homeschooling experience. I homeschool in full confidence! Love it!
Ariel G.
The Peaceful Worldschoolers umbrella has been wonderful, and our experience with Angela has been exceptional! We appreciate the available field trips, Zoom meetings, consultation options, class offerings and all the creative ways Angela has created a community. We also appreciate the outside-of-the-box ways of offering students credits and opportunities to thrive as homeschooled students! We are grateful for her commitment!
Mimi A.
My family and I absolutely LOVE the Peaceful Worldschoolers Umbrella. This is exactly the kind of community that my family has been wanting and needing. I am so thankful for all the fun field trips that my kids are able to participate in. Angela really does help to bring their learning to life! I also appreciate that we can live and learn without any stress of dealing with the county. PW is a 100/10!
Monica H.
This has been amazing! All the stress from trying to please reviewers has lifted, and we’re beginning to enjoy learning again!
Meghan R.
Peaceful Worldschoolers has truly been a blessing to our entire family. This is an amazing village of parents and children who are trying to do their best and learning and advocating for each other.
Dondelyn S.
From the amazing information about unschooling from Angela to the vast array of field trips, Peaceful Worldschoolers has been a huge blessing to my family. I continue to recommend this umbrella to everyone I meet. It’s amazing!