States vary in their regulations for homeschooling. In Maine, homeschooling is addressed under Maine Revised Statutes Annotated ( MRSA) Title 20-A, §5001-A, sub-§3A (4). In summary, this statue states that the parent or guardian of a homeschooled child must file a one-time notice of intent with both the local superintendent and state commissioner of education and file a letter confirming homeschooling status by Sept. 1 of every year thereafter. Additional regulations require periodic submission of standardized test results and program review by an approved official.
According to state law, the three primary guidelines that all students, whether at home or in a public or private institution, must comply with are as follows:
--Program enrollment is mandatory for children from 7 to 16 years of age or until high school graduation. Students 15 and under may terminate school with parent and school board permission or full-time attendance at accredited college with commissioner approval.
--Students must attend school 175 days a year.
--Students must receive instruction in the following categories: English/language arts, math, science, social studies, physical and health education, library skills, fine arts, Maine studies in one grade between grades 6 and 12, and computer proficiency in one grade between grades 7 and 12.
Within 10 days of commencing with homeschooling, the student's parent or guardian must file a one-time notice of intent with the local superintendent and the commissioner of education. This letter should include:
--name, signature, and address of the parent or guardian
--the name and age of the student
--the date home instruction will or did begin
--a statement of assurance that instruction will be provided for at least 175 days annually and will cover the subjects listed above
--a statement of assurance that the parents will submit a year-end assessment.
After the first year, the family or guardian must submit a letter to the same two entities annually by Sept., enclosing a year-end assessment and stating plans to continue with homeschooling.
Families who homeschool are required to submit annual assessments. The state of Maine requests any of the following in lieu of this assessment:
--results of a standardized achievement test
--results of a test developed by local school officials,
--review and acceptance of progress by a Maine certified teacher, a homeschool support group that includes a Maine certified teacher or administrator who has reviewed a portfolio of the student's work, or a local advisory board appointed by the superintendent composed of two homeschool teachers and one school official. This must be arranged with school system before school year starts.
Support is available for Maine's homeschooling families in many forms through an extensive homeschooling network. Organizations that are particularly useful to homeschoolers include the Association of Homeschoolers of Maine, Homeschooling in Maine, Homeschool Associates and the Home School Legal Defense Association.