Find Top Programs in Maryland
Discover Maryland schools and centers with individualized instruction, low student-teacher ratios, and integrated social-emotional support. Browse programs across 76 cities with 206 total programs.
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Cities with Schools in Maryland
Explore schools across 76 cities in Maryland. Use search to quickly find schools in your area.
Popular Cities
Cities with the most schoolsBaltimore
24Rockville
22Bethesda
11Silver Spring
8Ellicott City
7Elkridge
6Gaithersburg
6Lanham
6All Cities A-Z
76 cities totalCities Starting with A
3 citiesCities Starting with B
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8 citiesCalifornia
1Camp Springs
1Catonsville
2Chillum
1Clarksburg
1College Park
1Columbia
1Cumberland
3Cities Starting with D
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7 citiesCities Starting with F
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3 citiesSpecial Education in Maryland: What Parents Need to Know
Maryland uses a 60-calendar-day evaluation clock and a formal approval system for nonpublic special education schools. BOOST can help some income-eligible families with ordinary private-school tuition, but a nonpublic IEP placement is a different route funded by the school system.
We currently list 206 specialized schools and programs across 76 communities in Maryland.
Evaluation and IEP timing in Maryland
The IEP team must complete the initial evaluation and determine eligibility within 60 calendar days after receiving parental consent. Maryland counts calendar days, so families should record the consent date and ask for the eligibility meeting date early.
- The 60-day clock starts with the school system's receipt of parental consent
- Evaluation data and eligibility are considered by the IEP team within the same timeline
- If eligible, the team develops the services and placement needed for FAPE
How specialized placements are funded in Maryland
A local school system can fund an approved nonpublic special education school when the IEP team determines the public system cannot meet the student's needs. The separate BOOST scholarship is income-based assistance for participating nonpublic schools and does not replace the district's IDEA obligations.
- IEP-team nonpublic placements remain the financial responsibility of the local school system
- BOOST has annual income, school participation, and appropriation rules
- A family-selected private school does not automatically become a publicly funded placement
Types of Special Needs Schools in Maryland
Not every placement type exists in every state. These are the settings families actually find in Maryland.
Approved nonpublic special education schools
Maryland approves nonpublic day and residential schools, including many MANSEF member programs, to serve students whose IEPs require specialized instruction beyond the local public continuum.
Best for: Students whose funding route, IEP, or support needs match this state-specific placement category
District and regional public programs
Maryland districts may serve students in neighborhood schools, separate classrooms, regional cooperatives, or public separate schools depending on the IEP.
Best for: Students who can receive FAPE within the public-school continuum
Autism and therapeutic day schools
These programs combine academics with behavioral, communication, sensory, or clinical support. Approval and public-payment status must be checked separately.
Best for: Students who need coordinated instruction and therapeutic support throughout the school day
Independent schools for learning differences
These schools commonly focus on dyslexia, language-based learning disabilities, ADHD, executive function, or small-group instruction.
Best for: Students who need specialized teaching but not an intensive therapeutic placement
Maryland Special Needs School Questions
How long does a special education evaluation take in Maryland?
The IEP team must complete the initial evaluation and determine eligibility within 60 calendar days after receiving parental consent. Maryland counts calendar days, so families should record the consent date and ask for the eligibility meeting date early.
What funding can families use for a specialized school in Maryland?
A local school system can fund an approved nonpublic special education school when the IEP team determines the public system cannot meet the student's needs. The separate BOOST scholarship is income-based assistance for participating nonpublic schools and does not replace the district's IDEA obligations.
Can a Maryland district pay for a private special education placement?
Yes, when the IEP team determines that the district cannot provide FAPE in its own programs. The public agency then remains responsible for the placement and IEP. A family-selected private enrollment or scholarship is a different legal and funding route.
What types of specialized schools operate in Maryland?
The state-specific options described on this page include Approved nonpublic special education schools, District and regional public programs, Autism and therapeutic day schools, Independent schools for learning differences. Approval, tuition responsibility, and admission rules differ by setting, so confirm both the school's status and who is responsible for payment before enrolling.
Where should I start for a child under three in Maryland?
Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program is the state's birth-to-three starting point. Local programs coordinate IDEA Part C services from birth to age three and begin transition planning with the family before preschool special education responsibility shifts to the school system.
Are there schools for children with ADHD in Maryland?
Yes. Maryland has independent schools built for students with ADHD and learning differences, and its approved nonpublic special education schools serve students whose IEPs call for a more specialized setting. A student with ADHD can qualify for an IEP under the "other health impairment" category when attention needs affect learning, or receive accommodations under a Section 504 plan. A family-chosen private school is paid privately or, for income-eligible families at participating schools, partly through BOOST; an approved nonpublic placement is paid by the local school system only when the IEP team decides the public program cannot meet the child's needs.
Maryland Guides & Resources
Next steps for families comparing schools, requesting an evaluation, or working out how to pay for a placement.
Maryland nonpublic placement guide
How IEP teams, local school systems, and approved nonpublic schools divide responsibility.
Read more →Maryland BOOST scholarship guide
Income rules, participating schools, and how BOOST differs from an IEP placement.
Read more →How to request a special education evaluation
Start the written record before tracking Maryland's evaluation timeline.
Read more →Complete IEP guide
Prepare for eligibility, services, placement, and annual review decisions.
Read more →504 plan vs IEP
Compare the protections and services available through each plan.
Read more →Choosing a special needs school
Questions to ask when comparing programs in Maryland.
Read more →Early intervention guide
Understand birth-to-three services and the transition into Maryland schools.
Read more →IEP meeting prep checklist
Organize records, questions, and priorities before the team meets.
Read more →Autism rates by state
Compare federal autism-identification data for Maryland.
Read more →Sources for this page
- Maryland evaluation and special education guidance
- Maryland placement or education funding guidance
- Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program official program information
State rules change. This page was last reviewed against primary sources on October 8, 2026. Confirm current requirements with your school district or the relevant state agency before making a decision.
Maryland guides
Funding and services guides for Maryland families
Maryland nonpublic placement guide
When the IEP requires it, the school system pays for a private special education school. How that works.
Maryland BOOST Scholarship guide
Award amounts, eligibility, and the next application window for private school tuition help.
Maryland ABA therapy guide
Compare ABA settings, Medicaid and insurance notes, and Maryland provider starting points.
Maryland Autism Waiver guide
Who qualifies, what it covers, the waitlist, and how to join the registry.
Find Your Perfect Match
With 206 schools and centers across 76 cities in Maryland, we'll help you find the right educational environment for your child's unique needs.