Maine Homeschooling Laws
Homeschooling in Maine
The homeschooling laws in Maine are easy and straightforward. There are two options to homeschool in Maine: private school and home instruction. While there are several regulations that parents must obey, they are granted a great deal of independence and versatility in homeschooling their students in the way that works best for them. This page provides information on homeschooling in Maine which includes:
· Requirements to Homeschool in Maine
· Recordkeeping for Homeschoolers in Maine
· Requirements for Graduation in Maine
· Switching from Homeschool program to Public School
*This information is by no means intended as legal advice; its purpose is merely informational. It is each parent’s responsibility to get informed and understand the applicable homeschooling laws which regulate homeschooling in his or her state.
Requirements and Laws on Homeschooling in Maine
To homeschool in Maine, parents are required to:
1. File with the local superintendent a notice of intention to homeschool within 10 days of homeschool either via mail or online. The notice must include:
· The name and age of the child
· Particulars of the parent/guardian; name, signature and address of the parent
· The start date of the homeschooling program
· A declaration that you will teach the relevant subjects and submit an evaluation of the student at the end of year
· A declaration that instruction shall be offered for 175 days in a year
Parents are required by law to maintain this notice in the records and provide it to the commissioner of education upon request.
The notice to continue homeschooling should be submitted before 1st September every year the homeschool program is intended to run. This letter must include:
· The end of year evaluation for the student
· A proclamation that the homeschool program will continue for that year
Parents are required by law to maintain this notice in the records as well as the end of year evaluation and provide it to the education commissioner upon request.
2. Include the following subjects in the curriculum:
· Math
· Social studies
· English and Language arts
· Library skills
· Science
· Fine arts
· Computer proficiency (between grades 7 and 12)
· Physical education and health
· Maine studies (between 6th and 12th grade)
3. Provide the following details by 1st September :
· Official national standardized achievement test results.
· A letter indicating the child’s development has been evaluated and found to be satisfactory. The letter can be obtained from a support group that reviews student’s progress, a certified teacher in Maine, a board of advisors that usually has one school official and two homeschool teachers. The parent has to arrange with the school district before the year begins to have the advisory board review the student’s progress.
· Test results of a test devised by school officials in the region; this method of assessment is not widely used by homeschoolers.
Homeschoolers who wish to engage in extracurricular activities must write to the public school at their local area requesting permission and also fulfill the requirements which include:
· Complying with immunization, age eligibility, insurance, physical tests and semester eligibility.
· Complying with the participation rules
· Be academically qualified to participate and give proof of eligibility
· Agree to the mode of transport used by other students
Homeschoolers can borrow books from the local school as well as books from the library.
Homeschool as a private school in Maine
Homeschool as a private school
Parents can choose to establish a private school where their children will receive equivalent instruction to that offered in public schools. HSLDA legal analysis of Maine state law provides the requirements to be fulfilled for a private school to be recognized in Maine. These requirements include teaching the following subjects:
· Math
· American history
· English (grammar, writing, reading and spelling)
· Science
· History of Maine
· Geography of Maine
· Health education
· Government including the responsibility and privilege of citizenship
· Fine arts
Recordkeeping for Homeschoolers in Maine
Maintaining accurate records of the student’s academic progress and homeschool activities is beneficial when submitting the end of year evaluation. Progress can be proven using:
1. Official standardized achievement test results
2. Test results of a test devised by school officials in the region
3. Progress report given by the local advisory board, a homeschool support group or a certified teacher from Maine
Some of the things parents should include in the homeschool portfolio to help in the end of year review of the child’s progress are:
· A report indicating 175 days of attendance
· A list of the subjects taught indicating all the required subjects
· 2 work samples for every subject per quarter to show the child’s academic progress
Requirements for Graduation in Maine
The homeschool administrator in Maine determines the requirements to graduate, the courses to be taught as well as the credits to be assigned. They also decide when the homeschoolers will receive the diploma. It is a good idea to research on the qualifications to join college or any post-secondary organization the student may be interest in to align the homeschool goals with those. This will inform the parent’s decision on what to teach and what to include in the transcripts.
The chart below shows the comparison between graduation requirements in public school and homeschool in Maine.
| Public/Private School | Homeschool | |
|---|---|---|
|
Diploma requirements in Maine |
To graduate, the student must complete 22 credits to be awarded a diploma in Maine. |
Parents in Maine have the liberty to determine when their student will graduate. They then proceed to award the high school diploma under their own terms. |
| Testing requirements in Maine | Must take the ACT, SAT, ASVAB or ACT WorkKeys Test according to their post-high school plans |
There is no law in Maine that compels or forces homeschoolers to undertake a test as a requirement in order to graduate high school. |
|
Maine high school transcripts |
Transcripts shall include particulars of the student, information on the attendance of the student, the totals of the credits taken, the test scores, a conclusive history of records that includes the grades awarded, the titles of the courses and the overall grade for each course taken. |
Parents in Maine can create the homeschoolers’ transcripts which may include information they considered relevant to institutions the homeschoolers may intend to apply to. This may include schools, colleges, workplace organizations, or the military. |
|
High school course credits in Maine |
To graduate in Maine, high school students must complete the following minimum requirements: A. English--4 years or the equivalent in standards achievement;B. Social studies and history, including American history, government, civics and personal finance--2 years or the equivalent in standards achievement; C. Mathematics--2 years or the equivalent in standards achievement; D. Science, including at least one year of laboratory study--2 years or the equivalent in standards achievement; and E. Fine arts, which may include art, music, forensics or drama--one year or the |
Many parents in Maine choose to specify or assign academic credits to the courses taken during the homeschooling period as this may aid during the transcript creation process. |
|
Eligibility for GED in Maine |
To take the Maine GED test, you must be at least 17 years old. There's no option for HiSET testing in Maine for 16-year-olds. |
Homeschoolers in Maine are eligible if the meet the same criteria as public school students. |
Homeschool High School Transcript Template
Track your homeschooler’s credits, courses, and accomplishments with this free homeschool high school transcript template.
Download the transcript template
Switching from Homeschooling to Public School in Maine
Grade placement is left to the discretion of the local school staff. The following criteria are used by the local staff to guide grade placement:
· Conferring with the parent, if appropriate, administering examinations and records of the student’s accomplishments and completed curricula.
· The final grade is determined by the policies and procedures of that particular school. If aggrieved by the decision, one may appeal to the superintendent and the board of the local school. The decision of the board is final and not subject to appeal.
Lernsys Homeschooling makes it easy to keep a summary of the curriculum used including grades, topics covered, quiz and test scores, teacher credentials, etc.
Additional Resources Related to Homeschooling in Maine
Have other questions about homeschooling in Maine? You may find the following pages helpful.
