How to Start Homeschooling in Maine

Required days

175 days/year

Required subjects

10 subjects

Notice

Required each year

Testing / evaluation

Parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation)

Recordkeeping

Recommended

Jump to the full Maine requirements for plain-English detail on each of these.

Step by step

1. 1

   Understand Maine's homeschool law

   Maine has moderate homeschool requirements. Families must homeschool at least 175 days per year, and you'll file notice with both your local school district and the state.

2. 2

   Withdraw from public school (if enrolled)

   To withdraw your child from public school in Maine and begin homeschooling, send a written withdrawal letter to the current school, then file a notice of intent with both your local school district and the state Department of Education before instruction starts. Rather than hand-writing the withdrawal letter, Homeschool Fox produces a pre-formatted PDF ready to send to the district.

3. 3

   File your notice of intent

   Yes, Maine requires you to file notice of your intent to homeschool. You must notify both your local school district and the state. The notice is filed again each school year.

4. 4

   Plan your subjects

   Maine requires instruction in english, math, science, social studies, health, physical education, fine arts, library skills, maine studies, and computer proficiency. Beyond these requirements, you have flexibility to add subjects that interest your family.

5. 5

   Set your hours or days target

   Maine doesn't specify a minimum number of hours, but requires at least 175 days of instruction per year.

6. 6

   Plan for assessment and records

   Maine requires one annual assessment. Your first notice of intent needs only a statement that the program will include one. Each year after that, you enclose the assessment with the letter of intent you file by September 1. The options are a standardized achievement test given through your school unit or another arrangement the commissioner approves, a test your school unit develops, a review and acceptance of your child's progress by someone who holds a current Maine teacher's certificate, 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 superintendent selects. A test given through the school unit, a test the unit develops, and the advisory board review all need the unit's agreement before you file the notice.

7. 7

   Track your hours and keep records

   Log activities as they happen so hours, attendance, and subject coverage build up automatically. Homeschool Fox lets you log from your phone or by voice and generates a Maine-specific compliance report when you need it.

Free Maine printables

Three ready-to-use PDFs for Maine homeschoolers. No account needed.

Templates, not legal advice. Confirm the current rule with your state or district.

Free tool

Calculate your homeschool pace

Maine tracks days, not hours. We suggest aiming for 900 hours/year as a personal target. Enter your end date to see the pace.

What Homeschool Fox tracks for Maine

Maine leaves the records to you. Keep them in one place anyway. No spreadsheets, no lost notebooks.

• Days toward your 175-day goal
• Required subjects
• Days attended
• Parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation)
• Daily activity logs
• Printable PDF reports
• Progress tracking
• High school transcripts

More Maine guides

• Maine Homeschool Requirements Hours, notice, assessment, and subjects at a glance.
• Homeschooling High School in Maine Credits, GPA, transcripts, and graduation.
• Record Keeping in Maine What to document, how to organize it, and staying compliant.
• How to Withdraw From School in Maine The steps, the letter, and timing to avoid truancy issues.
• Moving to Maine What to file when you arrive and whether your records transfer.
• Public School Sports in Maine Whether homeschoolers can play, what it takes, and who to ask.
• Homeschool Days Required in Maine The number, what counts toward it, and the pace to hit it.
• Required Subjects in Maine The list, how much time each needs, and proving you taught them.
• Maine Letter of Intent Who to file with, when it's due, and a free generator.
• Maine Year End Report What goes in it, when it's due, and who reviews it.
• Homeschool Testing in Maine What the state asks for, when, and low-score rules.