Skip to main content

Maine Homeschool Documents & Templates

Every document you need to homeschool legally in Maine, based on 20-A MRSA Section 5001-A.

These are general templates for Standard Home Instruction, the most common of Maine's 2 pathways. Our free wizard generates personalized documents with your name, address, and district filled in.

What documents do you need?

Notice of Intent

Required. Send to superintendent of the school administrative unit (SAU) and the commissioner of education (simultaneously) by within 10 days of the start of home instruction

Assessment Results

Submit to superintendent of the SAU , annual

Annual Renewal

Required by on or before September 1 of each year

Notice of Intent

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.

Your notice must include:

  • •parent/guardian name
  • •child's name
  • •child's age
  • •planned assessment method
Practical tip: One submission through the superintendent's office or online Home Instruction Portal satisfies both the SAU and commissioner notification requirements. 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

First-time filing

Deadline: Within 10 calendar days of beginning home instruction

Annual renewal

Deadline: On or before September 1 of each subsequent year

Starting mid-year?

File notice of intent within 10 calendar days of beginning home instruction. Same process as initial filing, regardless of time of year.

If withdrawing from school

Status
Not required, but recommended to prevent truancy concerns
Send to
school principal or school office
Practical tip: The letter of intent to the superintendent effectively serves as both the withdrawal notification and the home instruction notice. If the child was never enrolled in public school, only the letter of intent is needed.

20-A MRSA 5001-A

Assessment Results

Submit to
superintendent of the SAU
Frequency
annual

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

20-A MRSA 5001-A

Annual Renewal

Deadline
on or before September 1 of each year

20-A MRSA 5001-A

Recordkeeping requirements

Varies by pathway. Standard Home Instruction: true; Approved Private School or Correspondence Program: false

  • ✓Attendance records
Practical tip: Portfolio is not formally required but is recommended for families choosing the certified teacher review or homeschool support group assessment options. Keep attendance records sufficient to demonstrate 175 days of instruction.

20-A MRSA 5001-A

Other ways to homeschool in Maine

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

Get your personalized documents

These are general templates. The wizard generates documents with your name, address, and district already filled in, ready to download and send.

Get your Maine documents

Requirements sourced from 20-A MRSA Section 5001-A. Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026