State laws change from time to time and though we try to keep the laws up-to-date at all times please check with the department of education for any changes that may have occurred.
There are many reasons to seriously consider homeschooling: you’re in control of what your children are learning, you get to decide how much time you want to spend on different subjects, you can adapt the material to suit your children’s needs, and you don’t have to worry about your children dealing with schoolyard bullies.
Whether you’ve already made this decision or you just plan to, we’re here to show you how to start homeschooling in Maine. We’ll help you make full use of the educational potential of Maine, we’ll let you in on the Maine homeschooling requirements, and we’ll offer you a diverse range of useful online homeschool resources that will guarantee your homeschooling success. Use the infographic and video below to set up a homeschool that thrives.
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The Pine Tree State
Maine is a great state to live in, especially if you’re a literature enthusiast. If only for Stephen King and his breath-taking Maine scenarios, you’d have a great reason to be proud of being a Mainer.
There’s more to Maine than just great novels, though. The natural landscape is one of the most beautiful in US, with great forests, rolling mountains and some of the most impressive coastlines. Take you children hiking in Acadia National Park, one of the most beautiful in the US, or go whale watching in Bay of Fundy. There are so many beautiful landmarks in Maine, that it’s difficult to pinpoint just a few: Marginal Way, Mount Desert Island, Mount Battie are all natural wonders where the beautiful, jagged Maine mountains meet the sky-blue ocean.
If your children prefer history, then Maine is equally tempting. One of the foremost pioneers of the antislavery movement, Maine was established as the counterpart of the proslavery Missouri, in 1820. Until then, it was a part of Massachusetts.
Regardless of academic preference, your children will have plenty of things to do in this wonderful state; no wonder it’s called Vacationland!
Homeschooling in Maine: Requirements
If you want to homeschool in Maine, you’ve got two options: traditional and private schooling.
Regardless of which form you prefer, you need to send a prior notice to the Maine Department of Education and to the local school district. You will then need to provide your children with 175 days of instruction in the required subjects.
If you choose the traditional homeschool, Maine laws require you to provide assessment report. The assessment is usually done through standardized tests, though you may also opt for a certified teacher to perform a portfolio review. The former option does not have a minimum pass score, unlike the latter.
Operating as a private school does not require any compulsory assessment reports. What it does require is enrolling at least two unrelated children. To cope with this requirement, parents have formed umbrella schools – private schools containing more than just one family.
Maine homeschool laws do not require any compulsory qualifications for either homeschooling forms.
Maine Homeschool Friendliness: Final Grade
The consistent amount of paper work earns Maine a C when it comes to homeschooling. However, the legal requirements are not absurd and will help you keep track of your children’s progress.
Conclusion
Homeschooling your children is one of the most important decision that you’ll ever make, and we’re confident you’ll love it. If you want to homeschool in Maine, you have to do a decent amount of paper work – however, it’s all pretty sensible and it will help you stay organized. It’s really a shame not to take full advantage of the many things to do in Vacationland – from whale watching to mountain hiking, from museums to ports and theme parks – and doing it all among enthusiastic fellow homeschoolers will guarantee your success.
Resources
http://www.responsiblehomeschooling.org/policy-issues/current-policy/
http://www.maine.gov/doe/homeinstruction/ - the official website of the Maine Department of Education, offering anything you need to know about the legal side of homeschooling
http://www.homeschoolersofmaine.org/ - a great website where you can get in touch with fellow homeschoolers and browse through a variety of resources.