Homeschooling in Maine: A Comprehensive Guide to Legal Compliance

Maine offers a straightforward but structured environment for home education. By following the state’s ‘Home Instruction’ statute, families can enjoy significant educational freedom while ensuring their children meet state standards for academic progress. Maine is considered a “moderate-regulation” state because it requires annual notification and annual academic assessments.

The Legal Landscape

In Maine, homeschooling is governed primarily by Maine Revised Statutes Title 20-A, §5001-A(3)(A)(4). Under this law, parents have the right to provide home instruction to their children provided they meet specific notification and assessment requirements. Compulsory attendance begins at age 6 and ends at age 17. If you decide to homeschool a child who is already enrolled in a public school, you should formally withdraw them in writing at the same time you file your initial notice of intent to prevent truancy charges.

Choosing Your Pathway

There are two primary ways to homeschool in Maine, though the first is by far the most common for individual families:

1. Standard Home Instruction

This is the most common route. It allows parents to direct their child’s education entirely. It requires an initial notice, annual subsequent notices, 175 days of instruction, and an annual assessment.

2. Recognized Private School (Private School Providing Equivalent Instruction)

Some families may choose to operate as a small private school or join an existing “unrecognized” private school that has been approved by the Commissioner of Education for equivalent instruction. This is less common for individual families and involves more direct interaction with the Department of Education regarding school status.

Step-by-Step Compliance for Home Instruction

Step 1: File Your Initial Notice

Within 10 days of starting your homeschool program, you must file a Notice of Intent to Provide Home Instruction. This notice must be sent to two places:

1. Your local school superintendent.
2. The Maine Commissioner of Education.

The notice must include the name, signature, and address of the parent/guardian, the name and age of the student, and the date the home instruction will begin. The Maine DOE provides a standard form for this on their website, though you are not legally required to use their specific form as long as you provide the required information.

Step 2: Plan Your Curriculum and Days

You must provide at least 175 days of instruction per year. Maine law is specific about the subjects that must be covered:

• Required Subjects (All Grades): English/Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, Physical Education, Health Education, Library Skills, and Fine Arts.
• Maine Studies: Must be taught at least once during grades 6 through 12.
• Computer Proficiency: Must be taught at least once during grades 7 through 12.

Step 3: Annual Assessment

By September 1st of each year following your first year, you must submit an annual assessment for each child. You have three main options:

1. Standardized Testing: The child takes a national-normed standardized achievement test. The results must demonstrate ‘reasonable proficiency.’
2. Teacher Review (Portfolio Review): A Maine-certified teacher reviews a portfolio of the child’s work and signs a statement certifying that the student is making ‘adequate progress.’
3. Local School Official Evaluation: A review by a local school official, such as the superintendent or a principal, following a review of the child’s work.

Step 4: Subsequent Yearly Notifications

Every year after your first year of homeschooling, you must file a Subsequent Year Letter of Intent by September 1st. This letter should be sent to your local superintendent and the Maine DOE. Crucially, you must attach your annual assessment results from the previous year to this letter.

Record Keeping

Maine law requires that parents maintain a copy of the notice of intent and the assessment results for each year. It is highly recommended to keep these records indefinitely, especially as they may be required for college admissions, military enlistment, or if the family moves to a different state.

ESA and School Choice

At this time, Maine does not offer an Education Savings Account (ESA) or universal voucher program for homeschoolers. The ‘Town Tuitioning’ program is Maine’s oldest school choice program, but it is specific to students living in towns that do not have their own public schools. In those cases, the town pays tuition for the student to attend a public or private school of their choice. This program generally does not apply to students being homeschooled under the home instruction statute.

Special Education Services

Homeschooled students in Maine do not have an individual entitlement to special education services from their local school district. However, districts may choose to provide ‘equitable services’ to students in home instruction, though this is at the district’s discretion and is often limited.

Summary of Key Dates

• Initial Start: File Notice of Intent within 10 days.
• September 1st: Deadline for Subsequent Year Letter of Intent and Assessment submission.
• Instructional Year: 175 days of instruction required annually.