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Homeschool laws in Maine

Checked Oct 12, 2026 against 8 sources · General information, not legal advice.

Your Maine to-do

For “Home instruction program”. 1 other legal way below.

  1. Send the notice of intent First year
    Within 10 calendar days of starting home instruction (the DOE says: within 10 days of leaving school, or by September 1 when starting with the new school year).
  2. Send the letter of intent to continue with last year's assessment Every year after
    On or before September 1 of each later year of home instruction.

Homepen turns this into reminders and ready-to-send letters, and counts your days and hours.

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What Maine asks

Maine parents send a notice of intent to the local superintendent within 10 days of starting home instruction, promising at least 175 days a year in the required subjects and an annual assessment. Every later year, by September 1, they send a letter of intent to continue with the prior year's assessment (a test or a review by a certified teacher, a support group or a local advisory board).

School age: Ages 6–16. From the 6th birthday until the 17th birthday. A 5-year-old enrolled in public school must attend while enrolled. A child who graduates before 17 is exempt, and a child 15 or older (or done with grade 9) can leave with the permissions and yearly review the law lists.

Maine has 2 legal ways to homeschool. Pick the one that fits your family; Homepen asks you when you set up.

Home instruction program

20-A M.R.S. § 5001-A(3)(A)(1)(c-1), (3)(A)(4) · Level 4: More involved

All the details, deadlines and notes
Notice
Every year: First year: a notice of intent within 10 calendar days of starting home instruction, to the local superintendent and the Commissioner (one portal or paper submission to the superintendent counts for both). Every later year: by September 1, a letter of intent to continue, with the prior year's assessment attached. The school year runs July 1 to June 30.
The state's form
Time
175 days a year
At least 175 days of instruction a year, with no hour rule. When home instruction starts mid-year, the days already spent in school that year count toward the 175.
Subjects
  • English and language arts
  • math
  • science
  • social studies
  • physical education
  • health education
  • library skills
  • fine arts
  • Maine studies (in at least one grade from 6 to 12)
  • computer proficiency (shown at one grade level from 7 to 12)
Assessment
An assessment you choose from the allowed options: Every year after the first year of home instruction, all grades: a standardized achievement test, a test made by the local school unit, a review by a Maine-certified teacher, a portfolio review by a homeschool support group that includes a certified Maine teacher or administrator, or a review by a local advisory board. The local test and advisory board options must be agreed with the school unit before the notice of intent.
By September 1 of the next school year, attached to the letter of intent to continue; still due when the child leaves home instruction after the year.
Portfolio
Not required
Reports
No reports to send
Records to keep
  • copies of everything filed (notices, letters of intent and annual assessments), kept by the parent until home instruction ends and shown to the Commissioner on request
Teacher
No qualification required

Deadlines

  • Send the notice of intent: Within 10 calendar days of starting home instruction (the DOE says: within 10 days of leaving school, or by September 1 when starting with the new school year).
  • Send the letter of intent to continue with last year's assessment: On or before September 1 of each later year of home instruction.
Home instruction directory information is confidential unless the parent allows it in writing or a judge orders otherwise.
A home instruction student may take part in public school classes and activities under 20-A M.R.S. § 5021.
The state does not issue grades, credits, diplomas or transcripts for home instruction.

How Homepen helps

Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons toward this goal, and makes: Notice-of-intent letter, filled in, Attendance & hours report, Portfolio and evaluator packet, Year-end summary, Reading list, High-school transcript.

Another option: Private school recognized as providing equivalent instruction

20-A M.R.S. § 5001-A(3)(A)(1)(b), (3)(A)(2) · Level 1: Very light

All the details and notes
Notice
No notice to file
Time
Set by your school or school district
Subjects
Set by your school or school district
Assessment
Set by your school or school district
Portfolio
Set by your school or school district
Reports
Set by your school or school district
Records to keep
Set by your school or school district
Teacher
Set by your school or school district
The child is credited with attendance only when the person in charge of the school files a certificate with the child's name, residence and attendance with the local school unit.
These schools do not seek DOE approval. Schools that choose to send the DOE's voluntary annual letter state that they teach a set curriculum, run at least 175 days or 875 hours, and give parents progress reports at least 4 times a year.
This is not home instruction: a child is either enrolled in an equivalent instruction school or receiving home instruction.

How Homepen helps

Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons, and makes: Attendance & hours report, Report card, High-school transcript.

Sources disagree

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Laws change: we check every source at least every 6 months and before each school year. If something looks wrong, tell us. The state agency for homeschooling questions is the Maine Department of Education.

Keep your Maine records without the paperwork

Plan the week, tick lessons, and Homepen keeps the days, hours and portfolio Maine asks for.

Get early accessComing soon to iPhone, iPad and Android