Maine Homeschool Requirements

Under 20-A M.R.S. §5001-A(3)(A)(4)(a), the parent or guardian must provide a written notice of intent simultaneously to the school officials of the administrative unit where the student resides and to the commissioner within 10 calendar days of beginning home instruction. The notice must include: parent/guardian name, signature, and address; student name and age; date home instruction begins; assurance of at least 175 instructional days in required subjects; and assurance of annual academic assessment. Notices can be filed via the Home Instruction Portal or by paper to the resident superintendent's office. For the first year, the deadline is within 10 days of withdrawal or by September 1 if starting in the fall.

Per 20-A M.R.S. §5001-A(3)(A)(4)(a)(iv), the home instruction program must provide at least 175 days annually of instruction in: English and language arts, math, science, social studies, physical education, health education, library skills, fine arts, and in at least one grade from grade 6 to 12, Maine studies. At one grade level from grade 7 to 12, the student must demonstrate proficiency in the use of computers. There are no specific curriculum standards for Maine home instruction; parents select their own materials.

Under 20-A M.R.S. §5001-A(3)(A)(4)(a)(iv), the notice of intent must include a statement of assurance that the program will provide at least 175 days annually of instruction. The Maine school year runs July 1 through June 30 for purposes of counting the required instructional days. There is no specific daily hour requirement in statute for home instruction. Parents may deliver instruction on a schedule not coinciding with the public school year, but the July 1-June 30 reporting period is always used.

Per 20-A M.R.S. §5001-A(3)(A)(4)(b), on or before September 1 of each subsequent year, the parent must file a continuation letter with the assessment results, choosing one of: (1) a standardized achievement test administered through the local administrative unit or commissioner-approved arrangement; (2) a locally-developed test agreed to by school officials; (3) review and acceptance by a current Maine-certified teacher; (4) review and acceptance by a local homeschooling support group that includes a Maine-certified teacher or administrator reviewing an educational portfolio; or (5) review by a local advisory board appointed by the superintendent including one administrative unit employee and two home instruction tutors. Assessment must be administered near the end of the school year.

Under 20-A M.R.S. §5001-A(3)(A)(4)(c), copies of information filed (including notices of intent and assessment results) must be maintained by the parent or guardian until the home instruction program concludes and must be made available to the commissioner upon request. The confidentiality of all records is governed by 20-A MRSA §6001, FERPA (20 U.S.C. §1232g), and related federal law. 'Directory information' is confidential and not subject to public disclosure unless the parent specifically permits it in writing or a judge orders otherwise.

Neither 20-A M.R.S. §5001-A nor Maine DOE guidance specifies any educational credential requirement for parents providing home instruction. The law requires assurances about instructional days and subjects, and an annual assessment, but places no qualification requirements on the instructing parent or guardian. A Maine-certified teacher is involved only as an optional assessment method, not as a requirement for the instructing parent.

According to Maine DHHS guidance, for students who are solely home-schooled and do not take part in any school activities (sports, extracurricular, etc.), the immunization law does not apply. If a home-schooled student participates in any extracurricular activities at a public school, they must follow the same immunization requirements pursuant to Title 20-A MRS §5021. Public schools are required to make available to home-schooled students information regarding initial health and developmental screening requirements, including immunization requirements, upon the family's request.

Under Maine law (20-A M.R.S. Chapter 301 and the Maine Department of Education's Chapter 101 Special Education regulations, Section IV.4.H), home instruction students are eligible for special education services in accordance with federal IDEA regulations and relevant DOE procedures. The public school's obligation to provide services arises only when the student elects to participate in classes at the school, and only to the extent those services are necessary due to the student's disability. Parents may contact the resident school unit to arrange evaluation and services.

Per 20-A M.R.S. §5001-A, when home instruction is discontinued, students of compulsory school age must be enrolled in a public school or an equivalent instruction alternative. The receiving school determines the student's placement. At the secondary level, the principal determines the value of prior educational experience toward meeting the standards of the system of learning results under §6209. Parents wishing to re-enroll should contact the resident school administrative unit.

Under 20-A M.R.S. §5001-A(1), persons 6 years of age or older and under 17 years of age must attend a public day school during regular session. Under §5001-A(1-A), a person 5 years of age or older who is enrolled in and has not withdrawn from a public day school is required to attend. Exceptions include those who graduated high school before age 17, have a valid employment certificate, are enrolled full-time at an accredited post-secondary institution (with commissioner approval), or are receiving home instruction meeting statutory requirements.

Under Maine law (20-A M.R.S. §5021 and related provisions), a student receiving home instruction who seeks admission to a public high school may earn credits for satisfactory course completion. Awarding of a diploma by the local school is conditioned on the student demonstrating all course credit and other requirements established by the local school board, which may include resident credit requirements. There is no statewide home-school diploma. Students may also pursue a high school equivalency credential independently.

Under 20-A M.R.S. §5021 and related provisions, a student receiving home instruction may participate in public school extracurricular and interscholastic activities sponsored by the local school unit, provided they: comply with the same physical examination, immunization, insurance, age, and semester eligibility requirements as regularly enrolled students; the student's home instruction program is compliant; and all required documentation is made available upon request. A tuitioned home-schooled student attending classes in more than one receiving school unit is not eligible for participation in interscholastic activities at any local school unit.