How to start homeschooling in Maine
Everything Maine asks of a homeschool family, in order, from the state’s own sources, checked October 1, 2026. Each step links to a free tool that does it, and there’s a checklist to print at the end.
Step 0: choose how you’ll homeschool
Maine gives families 2 legal ways to homeschool. Each has its own steps below. Choose one to see its steps.
Home instruction: step by step
Make sure this option fits your family
Parents file a notice of intent with the local school unit and the Commissioner, teach required subjects for at least 175 days, and file an annual assessment with each year's notice.
Required school ages in Maine: 6 years of age or older and under 17 years of age. Teacher qualification for this option: No parent qualification requirement.
If your child is in school now, withdraw in writing
Send the school a dated withdrawal letter saying your child will be educated at home, and keep a copy. Maine also asks for a notice under this option (the next step); file it by its deadline.
File your notice
Required.
When: First year: within 10 calendar days of the beginning of home instruction. Each subsequent year: on or before September 1.
What it includes: Written notice of intent filed simultaneously with school officials of the administrative unit where the student resides AND the Commissioner of Education. Contents: parent name, signature and address; student name and age; program start date; assurance of at least 175 days of instruction in the required subjects; assurance of annual assessment. Renewed each year (subsequent-year notice filed with the annual assessment).
Plan your school year: days and hours
Maine sets a minimum.
At least 175 days annually of instruction. Maine DOE: there is no hourly requirement, per day or per year.
Cover the required subjects
English and language arts, math, science, social studies, physical education, health education, library skills, fine arts, Maine studies.
Maine studies in at least one grade from grade 6 to 12. At one grade level from grade 7 to 12 the student must demonstrate proficiency in the use of computers.
Testing or evaluation
Required every year.
Annual assessment of academic progress, filed on or before September 1 with the subsequent-year notice, by ONE of: (a) standardized achievement test; (b) test developed by local school officials, agreed in advance; (c) review and acceptance by a Maine certified teacher; (d) review by a homeschool support group that includes a Maine certified teacher; (e) review by a local advisory board (selected by the superintendent, incl. an administrative employee and 2 home instruction tutors). No score threshold stated in the statute.
Keep records anyway
Maine doesn’t require records under this option.
Our suggestion: keep attendance, a reading log and a few work samples each year. A move to another state, a college, or a question from the district is much easier with them.
Start teaching
Put your books on a lesson schedule, and the planner spreads the lessons across your school days and moves them when a day is missed. Log attendance in a tap, and keep grades, a portfolio and a transcript as you go.
High school and graduation
Maine DOE: the state does not issue grades, credits, diplomas or transcripts for home instruction students; the parent sets requirements and issues the diploma.
Official sources for this option
Not confirmed on an official page: Statute is silent on consequences of an inadequate assessment (not confirmed). Immunization rules for home instruction not checked. Check these points with the state or your local school district before you rely on them; everything else above comes from the official sources listed.
Private school recognized by the department as providing equivalent instruction: step by step
Make sure this option fits your family
A private school that does not seek state approval can be recognized as providing equivalent instruction by reporting its students; DOE provides no oversight of curriculum or quality.
Required school ages in Maine: 6 years of age or older and under 17 years of age. Teacher qualification for this option: No certification requirement found.
If your child is in school now, withdraw in writing
Send the school a dated withdrawal letter saying your child will be educated at home, and keep a copy. Maine also asks for a notice under this option (the next step); file it by its deadline.
File your notice
Required.
When: DOE guidelines: within two weeks after the opening of school or by October 1, whichever comes first (annual).
What it includes: Person in charge files a certificate/roster with the name, residence and attendance of each student with local school officials; DOE guidelines also call for an annual letter to the Department.
Plan your school year: days and hours
Maine sets a minimum.
DOE equivalent-instruction guidelines: school in operation a minimum of 175 days or 875 hours. 875 hours is an alternative to 175 days in DOE guidelines.
Cover the required subjects
Maine doesn’t list required subjects for this option.
DOE: no legal restrictions on curriculum for non-approved schools.
Testing or evaluation
Not required under this option.
No state testing; DOE guidelines mention academic progress reports at least 4 times annually.
Keep the records the state asks for
Required.
Attendance certificate/roster as above.
Start teaching
Put your books on a lesson schedule, and the planner spreads the lessons across your school days and moves them when a day is missed. Log attendance in a tap, and keep grades, a portfolio and a transcript as you go.
High school and graduation
DOE: no legal restrictions on these schools' use of terms such as course, credit or diploma; the school issues its own diploma.
Official sources for this option
Not confirmed on an official page: Whether a single family teaching only its own children can qualify as a recognized private school (e.g. a minimum number of students/unrelated families) could not be confirmed on an official source. The undated DOE guidelines (175 days/875 hours, reporting deadline) could not be confirmed as current. Check these points with the state or your local school district before you rely on them; everything else above comes from the official sources listed.
Your Maine checklist
Homeschool Corral · How to start homeschooling in Maine · homeschoolcorral.com
- Read Maine’s rules for “Home instruction”
- Withdraw from school in writing (if enrolled), and keep a copy
- File the notice (First year: within 10 calendar days of the beginning of home instruction. Each subsequent year: on or before September 1)
- Set the first and last day, school days and breaks (meeting the state minimum)
- Choose curriculum for each required subject
- Note the testing or evaluation years and deadlines
- Start a simple attendance log and reading log
- Make a first-week plan and start
- Read Maine’s rules for “Private school recognized by the department as providing equivalent instruction”
- Withdraw from school in writing (if enrolled), and keep a copy
- File the notice (DOE guidelines: within two weeks after the opening of school or by October 1, whichever comes first (annual))
- Set the first and last day, school days and breaks (meeting the state minimum)
- Choose curriculum for each required subject
- Start the required records from day one
- Make a first-week plan and start
Questions Maine parents ask
Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Maine?
Home instruction: Yes. When: First year: within 10 calendar days of the beginning of home instruction. Each subsequent year: on or before September 1. What to file: Written notice of intent filed simultaneously with school officials of the administrative unit where the student resides AND the Commissioner of Education. Contents: parent name, signature and address; student name and age; program start date; assurance of at least 175 days of instruction in the required subjects; assurance of annual assessment. Renewed each year (subsequent-year notice filed with the annual assessment).
Private school recognized by the department as providing equivalent instruction: Yes. When: DOE guidelines: within two weeks after the opening of school or by October 1, whichever comes first (annual). What to file: Person in charge files a certificate/roster with the name, residence and attendance of each student with local school officials; DOE guidelines also call for an annual letter to the Department.
How many days or hours do homeschoolers need in Maine?
Home instruction: At least 175 days annually of instruction. Maine DOE: there is no hourly requirement, per day or per year.
Private school recognized by the department as providing equivalent instruction: DOE equivalent-instruction guidelines: school in operation a minimum of 175 days or 875 hours. 875 hours is an alternative to 175 days in DOE guidelines.
Do homeschoolers have to take tests in Maine?
Home instruction: Yes, every year. Annual assessment of academic progress, filed on or before September 1 with the subsequent-year notice, by ONE of: (a) standardized achievement test; (b) test developed by local school officials, agreed in advance; (c) review and acceptance by a Maine certified teacher; (d) review by a homeschool support group that includes a Maine certified teacher; (e) review by a local advisory board (selected by the superintendent, incl. an administrative employee and 2 home instruction tutors). No score threshold stated in the statute.
Private school recognized by the department as providing equivalent instruction: No state testing; DOE guidelines mention academic progress reports at least 4 times annually.
Do I need a teaching certificate to homeschool in Maine?
Home instruction: No parent qualification requirement.
Private school recognized by the department as providing equivalent instruction: No certification requirement found.
What subjects are required in Maine?
Home instruction: English and language arts, math, science, social studies, physical education, health education, library skills, fine arts, Maine studies.
Private school recognized by the department as providing equivalent instruction: Maine doesn’t list required subjects.
What records do I need to keep in Maine?
Home instruction: Maine doesn’t require records. Keeping attendance, a reading log and work samples is still wise.
Private school recognized by the department as providing equivalent instruction: Attendance certificate/roster as above.
Keep going
This is a plain-English summary of the state’s official sources, checked on the date shown. It is not legal advice, and laws change. Read the linked official pages, and check with the state or your local school district if anything is unclear.
Start homeschooling in another state: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming