Maine Homeschool Laws and Requirements
Aug 14, 2026Maine calls homeschooling home instruction, and the rhythm is straightforward once you see it. You file a notice of intent when you begin, teach at least 175 days across a named list of subjects, and have your child assessed once a year. Each following year you send a short letter saying you are continuing, with a copy of that assessment attached. No one approves your program. The filing is received, not reviewed.
Last Reviewed: August 15, 2026. Reviewed by the Modern Homeschools Editorial Team. Next scheduled review: August 15, 2027.
Maine Homeschool Requirements at a Glance
| Topic | What applies in Maine |
|---|---|
| Compulsory attendance ages | School attendance is compulsory from the 6th birthday to the 17th birthday |
| Notification or registration | A notice of intent filed within 10 calendar days of beginning home instruction, sent to your school administrative unit and to the commissioner. A continuation letter follows on or before September 1 each later year |
| Legal pathway or homeschool definition | Home instruction under Maine law. Enrollment in an equivalent instruction private school is a separate arrangement with its own requirements |
| Parent or instructor qualifications | None required in the home instruction requirements |
| Required subjects | English and language arts, math, science, social studies, physical education, health education, library skills, and fine arts, plus Maine studies in at least one grade from 6 to 12 and computer proficiency at one grade level from 7 to 12 |
| Instructional time | At least 175 days annually of instruction |
| Testing or evaluation | An annual assessment of academic progress, chosen from five permitted methods |
| Required records | A copy of the annual assessment is attached to each subsequent year's filing. Your portfolio, lesson records, and student work stay with you |
| Responsible government agency | Your school administrative unit superintendent and the commissioner receive the filings. The Maine Department of Education publishes the forms and requirements |
Five Ways to Meet the Annual Assessment
Maine gives you real choice here, and only one of the five options involves a standardized test.
You may use a standardized achievement test administered through your administrative unit, or a test developed by the school and agreed upon in advance. You may instead have a portfolio of your child's work reviewed by a Maine certified teacher, or reviewed by a homeschooling support group whose membership includes a certified teacher. The fifth option is a review by a local advisory board made up of one administrative unit employee and two home instruction tutors.
Families uncomfortable with testing generally use one of the portfolio review options. Whichever you choose, the point is documentation of progress rather than a passing score, and Maine's published requirements do not set a percentile a child must reach.
Required Versus Optional
Required. The notice of intent within 10 days, the 175 days, the subject list, the annual assessment, and the September 1 continuation letter with a copy of that assessment attached.
Not required. Approval of any kind. Nobody signs off on your curriculum, your materials, or your schedule, and the department notes that the state does not issue grades, credits, diplomas, transcripts, or letters of grade level promotion. Your own recordkeeping beyond the assessment copy is prudent practice, and the department asks as a courtesy that you notify the superintendent and school if your situation changes.
How to Start Homeschooling in Maine
- File the notice of intent within 10 days. It goes to your school administrative unit and to the commissioner, and the department publishes the form.
- Include what the form asks. Your name and address, your child's name and date of birth, the start date, and the first year assurances about days and subjects.
- Plan 175 days and the subject list. Note the Maine studies and computer proficiency requirements, which attach to particular grade ranges rather than every year.
- Choose your assessment method early. Portfolio reviewers and testing arrangements both take scheduling.
- Mark September 1 for next year. The continuation letter and the assessment copy are due on or before that date.
Official Maine Homeschool Resources
- Maine Department of Education, Home Instruction Requirements, Forms and Laws
- Maine Department of Education, Home Instruction Frequently Asked Questions
- Notice of Intent to Provide Home Instruction form
Beginning Your Homeschool Journey?
Your First 30 Days of Homeschooling provides a practical path for establishing your priorities, planning your next steps, and creating a rhythm that works for your family.
Modern Homeschools provides educational information to help families understand and navigate homeschooling requirements. Because requirements may change, families should confirm current details with the official state sources linked within this guide.