Maine Homeschool Deadlines & Calendar

Initial filing deadline

Within 10 calendar days of beginning home instruction

Annual renewal deadline

On or before September 1 of each subsequent year

Send to

superintendent of the school administrative unit (SAU) and the commissioner of education (simultaneously)

20-A MRSA 5001-A

Frequency

annual

Submit to

superintendent of the SAU

Parent chooses from approved assessment methods: (1) standardized achievement test (e.g., California Achievement Test, Stanford, Iowa) per Commissioner-approved list; (2) review and acceptance of progress by a Maine certified teacher; (3) review by a homeschool support group that includes a Maine certified teacher or administrator who has reviewed a portfolio; (4) review by a local advisory board appointed by the superintendent; (5) participation in school administrative unit testing with prior permission. Results must be submitted to superintendent by September 1 of the following school year.

See our full assessment guide for Maine for accepted test types and scoring details.

20-A MRSA 5001-A

Annual renewal

Required by on or before September 1 of each year

Annual letter of intent with prior-year assessment results due on or before September 1. The '10 days' deadline applies only to the initial filing. The annual letter must enclose the year-end assessment and state whether the parent intends to continue home instruction. No requirement to submit detailed curriculum plans, lesson plans, or instructional logs.

20-A MRSA 5001-A

These deadlines are for Standard Home Instruction. Maine offers 2 pathways, and each may have different deadlines:

• •
  Standard Home Instruction(this page): You file a letter of intent with your local superintendent within 10 days of starting, teach eight required subjects (including Maine studies and library skills) for 175 days, and submit annual assessment results by September 1. You choose from several assessment options: standardized test, certified teacher review, or portfolio evaluation.
• •
  Approved Private School or Correspondence Program: You enroll in an approved private school or DOE-approved correspondence/distance learning program that handles compliance on your behalf. No letter of intent to the superintendent, no annual assessment submission, and no required subject list from the state. Best for families who prefer a structured program or want to avoid the annual assessment requirement.

Our wizard calculates the right deadlines for your pathway. Compare all pathways for Maine