Homeschool funding & ESAs in Maine

Can I get paid to homeschool in Maine?

No. Maine has no ESA or voucher that independent homeschooling families can use. Nationwide grants are listed below, each with its own eligibility rules. Romeschool tracks and organizes what you spend, so a receipt is ready the moment a program asks for one — it never files or submits anything on your behalf. It runs the other way too: Maine's homeschool rules require a test or an evaluation each year. The accepted options, and who administers each, are in the testing line below. If the option you choose charges a fee, plan for it.

What does Maine require of homeschoolers — and what should I plan for?

Maine requires a test or an evaluation each year. That is the part of the year a family arranges ahead of time. Which options Maine accepts — and who administers each one — is in the testing line below, in the reviewed rules' own words. If the option you choose charges a fee, plan for it. What Maine asks for — notice, instruction time, testing and records — is set out below, straight from the reviewed rules.

Notice

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.

Testing or evaluation

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.

Days and hours

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

Records

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

Full Maine homeschool requirements →

Nationwide grants

• ACT Today! Grant · Autism Care Today
  For U.S. families of a child with an autism diagnosis (priority to household income under $100k).
  Open to any family of a child with autism — not homeschool-specific, but useful for therapy costs.
• Dyslexia Services Foundation Grant · Dyslexia Services Foundation
  For low-income U.S. children with dyslexia who cannot otherwise afford treatment (need shown via free/reduced lunch, Medicaid, or SNAP).
  Typically identified through a teacher or provider; not homeschool-specific.
• HSLDA Compassion Curriculum Grant · Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
  For HSLDA members with significant financial need (legal custody of a child 6-19, homeschooling 3+ months).
  You must privately fund your homeschool (not receiving ESA or other public funds).
• HSLDA Disaster Relief Grant · Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
  For homeschooling families (child 6-19) with physical disaster damage in the past 18 months.
• MyGOAL Autism Grant · MyGOAL Inc.
  For the primary caregiver of a child under 18 with autism, with demonstrated financial need.
  Open to any family of a child with autism — not homeschool-specific.
• Our Military Kids Grant · Our Military Kids
  For children (1-18) of deployed National Guard/Reserve members (60+ days) or of post-9/11 combat-injured service members and veterans.
  Funds organized, provider-led activities (not parent-taught core instruction).
• UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation Grant · UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation
  For U.S. children aged 16 or under with commercial (non-public) health insurance, subject to income guidelines.
  Medical (not education) funding — useful for special-needs homeschoolers' therapy costs.

Full details, amounts and deadlines for every program →