Home › Homeschool Laws by State › Maine
Maine Homeschool Requirements Moderate regulation
What Maine requires from homeschool families — notification, subjects, hours, testing, and portfolio rules — with links to the current law. This is the same state data FolioKid uses to build your portfolio template.
- Governing law: 20-A M.R.S. § 5001-A
- Required subjects: English / Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Physical Education, Health, Library Skills, Fine Arts, Maine Studies (in at least one grade 6–12), Computer Proficiency (in at least one grade 7–12)
- Instructional days: 175 days per year
- Annual assessment: standardized test, certified Maine teacher review, or portfolio review through an approved group (parent's choice)
File an initial notice within 10 days of starting, simultaneously with the local superintendent and the Commissioner of Education; file an annual continuation letter by September 1 in later years. An annual assessment is required (20-A M.R.S. § 5001-A(3)(A)(2)).
Records you must keep in Maine
Maine lets you choose your year-end assessment, and a portfolio review through an approved group is one accepted option. Keep:
- Work samples across Maine's required subjects (including Maine Studies and Computer Proficiency in the required grade bands)
- A record of instructional time toward the 175-day minimum
- Your chosen annual assessment (a standardized test, a certified Maine teacher review, or a portfolio review through an approved group)
- Copies of your filings — the initial notice to the superintendent and the Commissioner, plus each September 1 continuation letter
Your Maine filing timeline
- Within 10 days of startingFile your initial notice simultaneously with the local superintendent and the Commissioner of Education.
- All year longKeep work samples current and log days toward the 175-day minimum.
- End of the yearComplete your annual assessment — a test, a certified Maine teacher review, or a portfolio review through an approved group.
- By September 1 (each later year)File your annual continuation letter.
How FolioKid builds a Maine-compliant portfolio
You do the teaching; FolioKid assembles the records Maine accepts for its annual assessment:
- Snap photos of work as it happens — FolioKid tags each entry by subject against Maine's required-subject list.
- Log instructional time toward Maine's 175-day minimum with a running total.
- Choose your assessment — if you use portfolio review, FolioKid organizes work samples by subject for your approved reviewer; test scores and teacher reviews attach too.
- Export a Maine-formatted portfolio PDF — or send your reviewer a read-only share link (no account needed, expires in 30 days).
Free: the Maine Homeschool Records Checklist
A one-page printable PDF — exactly what to keep, your filing deadlines, and a blank hours log. We'll email it to you.
✓ Thanks! Check your inbox for your Maine checklist.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. FolioKid is an organizational tool, not legal advice. Prefer to print it now?
Official Maine sources
- 📜 20-A M.R.S. § 5001-A — the statute itself
- 🏛️ Maine DOE — Home Instruction
- 🔎 HSLDA — Maine homeschool law summary
Maine homeschool FAQ
What law governs homeschooling in Maine?
Homeschooling in Maine is governed by 20-A M.R.S. § 5001-A. File an initial notice within 10 days of starting, simultaneously with the local superintendent and the Commissioner of Education; file an annual continuation letter by September 1 in later years. An annual assessment is required (20-A M.R.S. § 5001-A(3)(A)(2)). Always verify current requirements with your state department of education.
What subjects are required for homeschooling in Maine?
Maine requires: English / Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Physical Education, Health, Library Skills, Fine Arts, Maine Studies (in at least one grade 6–12), Computer Proficiency (in at least one grade 7–12).
How many hours or days of instruction does Maine require?
Maine requires 175 days per year.
Does Maine require testing or a portfolio evaluation?
No — Maine does not require standardized testing or a portfolio evaluation, but keeping a portfolio of your child's work is still the simplest way to document progress.
Keeping records for Maine? Snap photos of your kids' work and FolioKid organizes them into a year-end portfolio PDF — formatted around Maine's requirements.
Start free — no credit card