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MAINE HOMESCHOOL LAW
Compulsory
School Age: 7 - 17
Maine
state law offers two legal homeschooling options: 1)
operate a homeschool or 2) operate a homeschool as a non-approved private
school.
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The first option
is to operate a homeschool. Under this option, a notice of
intent must be filed with the local school board and also to the
Commissioner of Education. This initial notice must be filed
within 10 days of starting the homeschool program and a letter
indicating the child's continued homeschooling must be submitted
each year thereafter. The child must attend instruction for
175 days per year and subjects must include English, language arts,
math, science, social studies, health and physical education,
library skills, fine arts, Maine studies (for one grade between grades
6 and 12), and computer proficiency (for one grade between grades 7
and 12).
Testing must be conducted annually and may be any of the following
methods: 1) standardized test; 2) local test; or 3) evaluation
performed by either a certified teacher, local advisory board selected by
the superintendent, or a homeschool support group that includes a
certified teacher. Any and all copies pertaining to the
homeschool program should be kept until the child has completed the
homeschool program. There are no requirements regarding
parent/teacher qualifications.
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The second
option under Maine statute is to operate a homeschool as part of a
non-approved private school. Under this option, the
non-approved private school must teach at least
two students not related to one another. Notice must be given
annually by October 1 by filing a letter with the Commissioner of
Education. Children enrolled in an non-approved private school
must attend 185 days or 875 hours of instruction per year.
Required subjects include English (including, reading, writing,
spelling, and grammar), math, science, American history, Maine
history and geography, and government and citizenship.
Teachers must be considered competent (competence determined and
approved by the non-approved private school) and must issue four
progress reports to parents each year. There are no
regulations that require specific records to be kept or reported.
View these
websites for more information about Maine homeschool laws:
Please
note: This is a brief summary of Maine homeschool law and is presented
for informative purposes only and not as legal advice.
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