Home Instruction Frequently Asked Questions

A Reminder to Maine Home Instruction Parents and SAUs Regarding Annual Assessment Requirement

https://neo.maine.gov/DOE/NEO/Dashboard

A Notice of Intent must be filed annually by the parent or legal guardian. A school year starts July 1 and ends June 30. For parents in the first school year of home instruction in Maine, file the notice within 10 days of withdrawal from school or by September 1 if beginning with the new school year. Parents of students continuing home instruction after the previous school year must submit a prior year assessment together with the Notice of Intent by September 1.

Using the Home Instruction Portal is not mandatory. You may provide notice to the superintendent's office in a different format, provided it contains all required information:

• Applicable school year
• Parent/guardian full name
• Physical address, city, zip code; and mailing address (if different)
• Child's full name
• Child's date of birth or age expressed in years
• Indicate first or subsequent year of home instruction
• Date starting home instruction (if first year)
• First year assurance: The home instruction program will provide at least 175 days annually of instruction in the following subject areas: English and language arts, math, science, social studies, physical education, health education, library skills, fine arts and, in at least one grade from grade 6 to 12, Maine studies. At one grade level from grade 7 to 12, the student will demonstrate proficiency in the use of computers. The program will include an annual assessment of the student's academic progress as described in 20-A M.R.S. §5001-A(3)(A)(4)(b).
• Prior year assessment (if subsequent year)
• Subsequent year statement: I intend to continue providing home instruction and enclose the prior year annual assessment of the student's academic progress as outlined in 20-A M.R.S. 5001-A(3)(A)(4)(b).
• Signature and date of signature
• A valid email address if you would like an acknowledgment

You will find an up-to-date list of addresses on our website.

According to Maine law, school attendance is compulsory from the 6th birthday to the 17th birthday.

Yes, an acknowledgment is sent via email, provided the parent has supplied a valid email address.

Yes — for students who have completed the previous school year in home instruction in Maine, assessment results are due by September 1, submitted together with the Notice of Intent. Assessments must be attached to the paper notice or uploaded during submission to the Home Instruction Portal. Notices submitted without annual assessment results will be flagged for follow-up.

Yes, every year after the first year of home instruction. Even if the student completes the school year as a home instruction student but will not be participating in home instruction in the subsequent year, annual assessment results are still required. Parents are requested to include a note along with the assessment results stating that the student will no longer be participating in home instruction, and the date that they exited home instruction.

Yes, unless the student is enrolled in one of Maine's two virtual public charter schools — Maine Connections Academy or Maine Virtual Academy. A Notice of Intent with annual assessment results is required as usual if your child is enrolled in a distance learning program outside of one provided by the resident local school.

If home instruction ceases and the child is still of compulsory school attendance age, parents must comply with attendance laws in some other way. As a courtesy, please notify the superintendent and school of any changes.

A total of at least 175 instructional days are required. There is no hourly requirement, per day or per year.

The number of days that the student attended school prior to beginning home instruction can be deducted from the 175 instructional day requirement.

A parent cannot retrieve or edit their home instruction information except through a request to the school administrative unit's superintendent's office. Because of privacy, all requests must be made by the parent who submitted the Notice (or by the former student) and are subject to signed release and verification.

Yes.

No. The physical address determines the school administrative unit of residence and is required.

Both the parent (if a valid email address is provided) and the superintendent's office receive acknowledgments.

Yes.

If a submission is noncompliant, the superintendent's office will follow up with the parent for the missing information.

There is no fee charged. However, parents bear the responsibility for all costs.

The local school may provide textbooks upon request as long as extra copies are available. The local school is not required to provide additional instructional materials such as workbooks, lesson plans, computers, etc.

No, this program is not available to home instruction students.

No.

Subjects must include English, language arts, math, science, social studies, physical education, health education, library skills, fine arts, Maine Studies (in at least one grade from 6 to 12), and proficiency in the use of computers (at one grade level from 7 to 12). There are no specific curriculum standards for Maine home instruction.

No. Since there are no standards of achievement for home instruction in Maine, the state does not issue grades, credits, diplomas, transcripts, letters of course completion, or letters of grade level promotion. Parents are advised to contact post-secondary institutions, military recruiters, or potential employers to inquire about what will be required for acceptance, admission, and employment.

Parents and superintendent offices may contact the Maine DOE with questions or issues with the home instruction portal, or with general home instruction questions.

The following statistics pertain to students registered with their local superintendent and the state for home instruction. For 2020 and beyond, visit the student enrollment tab of the Maine DOE Data Warehouse.