Romeschool

Maine homeschool requirements

To homeschool in Maine, file a notice with both your local superintendent and the Commissioner of Education within 10 days of starting; provide 175 days; complete an annual assessment (one of five methods) and file it with the September 1 renewal.

Last reviewed June 5, 2026 · Sources below

Moderate regulation Notice required Instruction time set Testing or evaluation
Another state:

Maine homeschool requirements at a glance

Notice
RequiredWhere it goes: Both the resident superintendent and the Commissioner of Education (Maine DOE). When: Within 10 days of starting; continuing families file by September 1 with the prior year's assessment attached.
Required subjects
English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies/History, Physical Education, Health, Library Skills, Fine Arts, Maine Studies
Instruction time
175 days175 days of instruction per year; no hourly requirement.
Testing or evaluation
Yes — annualAnnual assessment for all home-instruction students; five methods available (certified-teacher review is most common). Results are filed with the September 1 renewal.
Records
Yes — filed forms, assessment results
Parent qualifications
Not required
Compulsory attendance ages
6–17
Ways to homeschool
Two pathways
Law
20-A M.R.S. § 5001-A(3)(A)(4)
Official source
maine.gov ↗

Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Maine?

Yes. Maine requires homeschooling families to file a notice. Where it goes: Both the resident superintendent and the Commissioner of Education (Maine DOE). How: Written notice of intent (Home Instruction portal or paper). When: Within 10 days of starting; continuing families file by September 1 with the prior year's assessment attached. Two-recipient notice (local and commissioner) is an easy step to miss.

What subjects does Maine require homeschoolers to teach?

Maine requires instruction in English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies/History, Physical Education, Health, Library Skills, Fine Arts, and Maine Studies. Maine studies is required at least once in grades 6–12; computer proficiency must be demonstrated in grades 7–12.

How many days or hours of instruction does Maine require?

Maine's rule: 175 days of instruction per year; no hourly requirement.

Is standardized testing required to homeschool in Maine?

Yes. Maine requires a test or another accepted form of evaluation. How often: Annual. Accepted options: standardized achievement test; school-developed test (agreed in advance); review by a Maine-certified teacher; portfolio presented to a local support group that includes a certified teacher/administrator; and review by a local advisory board. Annual assessment for all home-instruction students; five methods available (certified-teacher review is most common). Results are filed with the September 1 renewal.

What records do I need to keep to homeschool in Maine?

Maine requires these records: notice of intent and annual assessment results (filed with the Sept 1 renewal). Assessment results accompany the annual renewal notice.

Do parents need a teaching certificate or other qualification to homeschool in Maine?

No. Maine does not set a general qualification for homeschooling parents. No credential required for the standard home-instruction pathway.

What ages does Maine's compulsory attendance law cover?

Maine's compulsory attendance law covers children from age 6 to age 17.

What are the ways to homeschool in Maine?

In Maine, families homeschool under one of two pathways: home instruction (notice to local + commissioner) and equivalent-instruction private school/program.

Yes. Homeschooling is legal in Maine, as it is in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. To homeschool in Maine, file a notice with both your local superintendent and the Commissioner of Education within 10 days of starting; provide 175 days; complete an annual assessment (one of five methods) and file it with the September 1 renewal.

How to get started in Maine

1
Send your notice of intent to both offices
Within 10 days of starting home instruction, send a written notice of intent to both your local school superintendent and the Commissioner of Education (Maine DOE), through the DOE's Home Instruction portal or on paper.
Official resource (maine.gov) →
2
Renew by September 1 each year
By September 1 of each following year, file a renewal notice with the same two offices saying you intend to continue, with the past year's assessment attached. Keep copies of your notice and every assessment.
3
Provide 175 days of instruction
At least 175 days a year; Maine sets no hourly minimum. A simple attendance log helps you keep count.
4
Teach the required subjects
English and language arts, math, science, social studies, physical education, health, library skills and fine arts — plus Maine studies in at least one grade from 6 to 12, and computer proficiency, demonstrated in grades 7 to 12.
5
Complete an annual assessment
Choose one of five: a standardized achievement test; a test developed by your local school (agreed in advance); a review by a Maine-certified teacher; a portfolio presented to a local support group that includes a certified teacher or administrator; or a review by a local advisory board. Attach it to your September 1 renewal.
What Romeschool tracks for you: Attendance, assessment reminders, filing reminders.

Sources for Maine

Official source (maine.gov) ↗HSLDA's Maine summary ↗
Statute: 20-A M.R.S. § 5001-A(3)(A)(4)
Last reviewed: June 5, 2026

Every requirement above comes from our review of Maine’s rules, last checked against these sources on June 5, 2026. Homeschool law changes, and a state can amend its rules between our reviews — read the official source before you file anything or rely on a date here. How we review state requirements.

Nearby states

States that share a border with Maine:

All 50 states & D.C. →