Maine Homeschool Documents & Templates

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

Free-form letter accepted?

Yes. You can write your own letter instead of using an official form.

Written notice of intent must be provided simultaneously to school officials of the SAU and the commissioner. One submission through the superintendent's office or online Home Instruction Portal satisfies both requirements. Must include parent/guardian name, signature, address; child's name and age; start date; assurance of 175 days covering required subjects; commitment to annual assessments. This is a notification, not a request for approval -- the superintendent does not approve or deny.

20-A MRSA 5001-A

First-time vs. renewal

Status

Not required, but recommended to prevent truancy concerns

Send to

school principal or school office

If child is currently enrolled in public school, parent should formally withdraw the child and file the letter of intent with the superintendent. The letter of intent effectively serves as notice of home instruction. If the child was never enrolled, only the letter of intent is needed.

20-A MRSA 5001-A

Submit to

superintendent of the SAU

Frequency

annual

Parent chooses from approved assessment methods: (1) standardized achievement test (e.g., California Achievement Test, Stanford, Iowa) per Commissioner-approved list; (2) review and acceptance of progress by a Maine certified teacher; (3) review by a homeschool support group that includes a Maine certified teacher or administrator who has reviewed a portfolio; (4) review by a local advisory board appointed by the superintendent; (5) participation in school administrative unit testing with prior permission. Results must be submitted to superintendent by September 1 of the following school year.

See our full assessment guide for Maine for accepted test types, minimum scores, and remediation details.

20-A MRSA 5001-A

Deadline

on or before September 1 of each year

Annual letter of intent with prior-year assessment results due on or before September 1. The '10 days' deadline applies only to the initial filing. The annual letter must enclose the year-end assessment and state whether the parent intends to continue home instruction. No requirement to submit detailed curriculum plans, lesson plans, or instructional logs.

20-A MRSA 5001-A

• ✓Attendance records

Families should maintain: copies of letter of intent, attendance records documenting 175 days, description of curriculum/educational program, work samples, assessment results, and correspondence with school district. No specific retention period mandated. Portfolio not formally required but recommended for assessment purposes.

20-A MRSA 5001-A

This page covers Standard Home Instruction. Maine offers 2 different ways to homeschool, and each may require different documents:

• •
  Standard Home Instruction(this page): 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 and generates the correct documents. Compare all pathways for Maine