If you choose to provide your child with home instruction, you’ll need to follow these requirements:
1. File a one-time notice of intent.
You must send a one-time written notice of intent to your local school superintendent. This notice needs to be sent within 10 days of you starting to homeschool your student. Your notice of intent must include the following information: name, address, and signature of the parent or guardian, student’s name and age, the date that home instruction began (or will begin), a statement that you will provide instruction to your student for at least 175 days a year, a statement that you will cover the required subjects, and a statement that you will submit a year-end assessment for your student. Maine law says that you must keep a copy of this notice of intent for your records. If the commissioner of education asks to see the notice, you must provide it to him or her.
2. Send an annual letter.
Each year thereafter, by September 1, you need to send a letter to the local school superintendent. This letter needs to include the following: your student’s year-end assessment, and a statement that you intend to continue your student’s home education. Maine law says that you must keep a copy of each annual letter, and a copy of each year-end assessment, for your records. If the commissioner of education asks to see the letter or the year-end assessment, you must provide it.
3. Provide the required days of instruction and teach the required subjects.
You are required to teach your child for 175 days annually. You must teach all of the following subjects: English and language arts, math, science, social studies, physical and health education, library skills, fine arts, Maine studies (in one grade between grades 6 and 12), and computer proficiency (in one grade between grades 7 and 12).
4. Submit a year-end assessment to your local superintendent.
For your child’s year-end assessment, you can: Submit the official results of a national standardized achievement test. Submit the results of a test developed by local school officials (homeschoolers do not commonly use this type of assessment). Submit a letter stating that your child’s progress has been reviewed and is acceptable. This letter can be from a Maine certified teacher, a support group that has a Maine certified teacher helping to conduct your child’s review, or an advisory board that includes two homeschool teachers and one school official and that you arrange with your school district before the school year begins. The advisory board option is not commonly used. This assessment is due by September 1st. Keep a copy of the assessment you submit for your records. To learn more about types of annual assessments, visit our testing and evaluation page.
