Medium regulation

Homeschool laws in Maine

Maine has more paperwork than the least regulated states. Under the home instruction option, parents send a notice of intent when they begin, teach at least 175 days, cover listed subjects, and submit a continuation letter with an annual assessment by September 1 each following year. Maine also allows a private-school pathway, but the raw sources reviewed here give fewer details about how that option works in practice.

Last verified

2026-04-20

Compulsory age range

6-17

Quick-start checklist

What parents need to do first

This is the plain-English checklist a parent can follow to get started without reading a mountain of legal text.

1If your child is leaving public school, make sure the school has a clear withdrawal record.
2Send your notice of intent to your local school officials and the commissioner within 10 calendar days of starting home instruction.
3Choose a curriculum that covers Maine's required subjects and plan for at least 175 instructional days.
4Decide early which annual assessment method you will use so you can collect the right records during the year.
5Keep copies of your notice, yearly continuation letters, and assessments in one place until home instruction ends.
6By September 1 each following year, send your continuation letter and the annual assessment to the required recipients.

Full breakdown

Every field is designed to answer the real-world compliance questions parents ask first.

Legal status

Homeschooling is legal in Maine, and families can usually comply either through the home instruction law or by using a private school recognized as providing equivalent instruction.

Compulsory age range

6-17

Notification required

Yes. Under the home instruction option, parents send an initial notice of intent and then send a yearly continuation letter with an annual assessment.

Who you notify

Both the school officials of the local administrative unit and the Maine commissioner of education.

Notification deadline

Send the initial notice within 10 calendar days of beginning home instruction. In each later year, send the continuation letter and annual assessment on or before September 1.

Required 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 grades 6 to 12, Computer proficiency in at least one grade from grades 7 to 12

Hours or days required

Maine's home instruction law requires at least 175 days of instruction each year.

Record keeping

Keep copies of the notice of intent, each annual continuation letter, and each annual assessment until the home instruction program ends. The statute says these records must be available to the commissioner on request.

Testing and evaluation

Yes. Maine requires an annual assessment of academic progress for students using the home instruction option.

Testing frequency

Annually, with the assessment submitted by September 1 each following year.

Teacher qualifications

The home instruction statute does not say the parent must hold a teaching license. Some assessment options do require review by a currently certified Maine teacher or administrator.

Curriculum freedom

Moderate. Parents choose their curriculum and teaching approach, but they must provide at least 175 days of instruction, cover the listed subject areas, and complete the annual assessment process.

Umbrella school option

Yes. The HSLDA source says Maine also allows homeschooling through a private school recognized as providing equivalent instruction.

Virtual school option

The raw sources reviewed do not clearly describe a separate Maine homeschool virtual-school pathway.

Special education

The raw sources reviewed note that Maine has separate special education provisions for homeschoolers, but the excerpts provided here do not give enough detail to summarize them confidently.

High school diploma

The raw sources reviewed do not clearly explain diploma issuance rules for Maine home instruction programs.

College admission

College admission expectations for Maine homeschoolers were not clearly addressed in the raw sources reviewed here.

Sports access

Public school sports access was not clearly explained in the raw source excerpts reviewed for this draft.

Dual enrollment

Dual enrollment was not clearly addressed in the raw sources reviewed here.

Notes

First-pass draft. Maine's statute page for compulsory attendance and home instruction was readable, but the Maine DOE homeschool page in the raw source inventory returned 404 during source capture, so that official link needs final QA before publication. Maine has multiple pathways because families can use home instruction or a recognized private school option, but this draft mainly summarizes the clearer home instruction rules from the statute and the HSLDA compliance page.

Official sources

Parent-friendly reminder

This page is designed to reduce confusion, not replace legal advice. If something changes or feels unclear, verify with your state Department of Education before making compliance decisions.

Want more homeschool guidance and encouragement? Follow Dani at @thedanicerrato.