Maine Homeschool Requirements Checklist
Everything you need to do to homeschool legally in Maine, based on 20-A MRSA Section 5001-A. Maine is classified as Moderate regulation.
This is the general checklist for Standard Home Instruction, the most common of Maine's 2 pathways. Our free wizard customizes this for your family, including grade, pathway, enrollment status, and IEP.
Your compliance checklist
Do first
File your Notice of Intent
Submit to superintendent of the school administrative unit (SAU) and the commissioner of education (simultaneously). Deadline: within 10 days of the start of home instruction.
Deadline: within 10 days of the start of home instruction
More details
Include: parent/guardian name, child's name, child's age, planned assessment method
Withdrawal letter recommended
A formal letter isn't required, but it is recommended if your child is enrolled in school. Send it to school principal or school office.
Deadline: Before you start (if enrolled)
Ongoing
Required subjects
English and language arts (reading, writing, spelling, grammar), mathematics, science and technology, social studies (history, geography, economics, civics), physical education and health, library skills, fine arts (music and visual arts), Maine studies (Maine history, geography, and government — in at least one grade from 6 to 12), computer proficiency (demonstrated at one grade level from 7 to 12)
Meet instructional time requirements
Minimum: 175 days/year. You must track and document hours.
Show your child's progress
Standardized test or Teacher evaluation or Portfolio review or Other approved method — annually.
Keep basic records
You must maintain: attendance records.
Renew each year
You must renew your homeschool notice each year by on or before September 1 of each year.
Filing requirements
- What to file
- simple notice
- Send to
- superintendent of the school administrative unit (SAU) and the commissioner of education (simultaneously)
- Deadline
- within 10 days of the start of home instruction
- How often
- annual
Your notice must include:
- •parent/guardian name
- •child's name
- •child's age
- •planned assessment method
Ongoing requirements
Required subjects
- ✓English and language arts (reading, writing, spelling, grammar)
- ✓mathematics
- ✓science and technology
- ✓social studies (history, geography, economics, civics)
- ✓physical education and health
- ✓library skills
- ✓fine arts (music and visual arts)
- ✓Maine studies (Maine history, geography, and government — in at least one grade from 6 to 12)
- ✓computer proficiency (demonstrated at one grade level from 7 to 12)
Varies by pathway. Standard Home Instruction: "general_list"; Approved Private School or Correspondence Program: "none"
Instructional time
Varies by pathway. Standard Home Instruction: true; Approved Private School or Correspondence Program: false
- Days per year:
- 175
Testing and assessment
Varies by pathway. Standard Home Instruction: "superintendent of the SAU"; Approved Private School or Correspondence Program: null
- Accepted types
- Standardized test, Teacher evaluation, Portfolio review, Other approved method
- Frequency
- annually
See our full assessment guide for Maine for details.
Recordkeeping
Varies by pathway. Standard Home Instruction: true; Approved Private School or Correspondence Program: false
- ✓Attendance records
Reporting
Varies by pathway. Standard Home Instruction: ["test_results"]; Approved Private School or Correspondence Program: undefined
- Annual renewal
- Required by on or before September 1 of each year
Other ways to homeschool in Maine
This checklist covers Standard Home Instruction, the most common pathway. Maine offers 2 different ways to homeschool, each with different requirements:
- •Standard Home Instruction(this checklist) : You file a letter of intent with your local superintendent within 10 days of starting, teach eight required subjects (including Maine studies and library skills) for 175 days, and submit annual assessment results by September 1. You choose from several assessment options: standardized test, certified teacher review, or portfolio evaluation.
- •Approved Private School or Correspondence Program : You enroll in an approved private school or DOE-approved correspondence/distance learning program that handles compliance on your behalf. No letter of intent to the superintendent, no annual assessment submission, and no required subject list from the state. Best for families who prefer a structured program or want to avoid the annual assessment requirement.
Our wizard helps you choose the right one. Compare all pathways for Maine
Get your personalized checklist
This is the general checklist for the most common pathway. The wizard customizes it for your family's specific situation, including grade, pathway, and IEP status.
Get your Maine checklistRequirements sourced from 20-A MRSA Section 5001-A. Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026