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Homeschool Friendly Colleges

Maine

• Compulsory Attendance Ages: 7 years of age and under 17, or graduated, or 15 with parent and school board permission, or full-time attendance at accredited college with commissioner approval, (§ 5001-A sub-§§1 and 2)

• Required Days of Instruction: 175 days.

• Required Subjects:
   Option 1: English and 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). (§5001-A, sub-§3A.(4)(a)(iv))
   Option 2: English (reading, writing, spelling, grammar), math, science, American history,  Maine history and geography, and government (including the privilege and responsibility of citizenship).

• Teacher Qualifications: Option 1-none. Under Option 2, the NAPS administrator must approve its teachers' competence.

• Standardized Tests:
   Option 1: Annually submit the results from among the following options:
   1. Official results of any national standardized achievement test; or
   2. Results of a test developed by local school officials.
   3. Review and acceptance of progress by:
       (a) a Maine certified teacher;
       (b) a homeschool support group that includes for this purpose a Maine certified teacher or administrator who has reviewed a portfolio of the student's work; or (c) an advisory board the superintendent appoints composed of two homeschool teachers and one school official (must be arranged before school year starts).

   Option 2: None (but school must provide 4 progress reports to parents annually-see below).

   Parents may either follow the home school statute or participate in a Non-Approved Private School.

   Option 1: Homeschool Statute: (§5001-A, sub-§3A.(4).) A child is excused from attending school if instructed in a home instruction program meeting the following statutory requirements.
   1. Within 10 days of starting home instruction for a student the parent must file a one time notice of intent with both the local superintendent and Commissioner of  Education containing:
       a. name, signature, and address of the parent or guardian,
       b. the name and age of the student,
       c. the date home instruction will or did begin,
       d. a statement of assurance that instruction will be provided for at least 175 days annually and will cover the subjects listed above, and
       e. a statement of assurance that the parents will submit a year-end assessment.
   2. Each year thereafter, by September 1 the parent must submit a letter to both the local superintendent and state Commissioner of Education enclosing the year-end assessment (see "Standardized Tests" above) and stating the intention to continue the student's home instruction. (§ 5001-A, sub-§3.A.(4)(b))
   3. Parents must keep copies of items submitted under #1 and #2 above until the home school program concludes. They must be made available to the commissioner upon request. The confidentiality of all records is protected. (§ 5001-A, sub-§3.A.(4)(c))

   Option 2: Non-approved Private Schools: Parents of at least 2 unrelated students may form a Non-Approved Private School ("NAPS"). (§ 5001-A, sub-§3.A.(1)(b)). Pursuant  to the Commissioner of Education and Cultural Services' memo, "Guidelines for    Equivalent Instruction in Non-Approved Private Schools", to be "recognized" as providing equivalent instruction, the chief administrative official of the NAPS should:

1. Annually by Oct. 1 file a letter with the Commissioner stating that the school:
       a. Complies with applicable state and local safety fire and health laws;
       b. Will report the names, addresses, and grade levels of all students to the superintendent of the school system in which each student resides;
       c. Operates at least 175 days or 875 hours;
       d. Provides instruction appropriate to the grade level in: English (reading, writing, spelling, grammar), math, science, American history, Maine history and            geography, and government (including the privilege and responsibility of citizenship);
       e. Has examined and approved all teachers for competence;
       f. Will furnish parents with at least 4 academic progress reports annually;
       g. Will inform parents of methods of assessment, grade level of assessments, and results;
 2. Annually notify parents in writing of the school's commitment to follow these guidelines, stating the essence of each guideline. (Parents do not need to file  anything with state or local officials.)
3. Note: The Commissioner has no authority to compel a NAPS to follow any guidelines or regulations. However, if the guidelines are not followed, parents may have much greater difficulty establishing they are providing "equivalent instruction" as required under §5001-A, sub-§3.A.(1)(b).

Reference: Click Here

Maine State High School Graduation Requirements
  • English units: 4
    • Eff. Class of 2007: Graduation "determined by student achievement of the standards of the system of learning results in English language arts" and 4 other subject areas.
    • Eff. Class of 2010: Students must achieve "standards of the system of learning results" in all 8 content areas.
  • Math units: 2.  "It is highly recommended that all students have exposure to basic algebraic concepts and skills."
    • Eff. Class of 2007: Graduation "determined by student achievement of the standards of the system of learning results in" math and 4 other subject areas.
    • Eff. Class of 2010: Students must achieve "standards of the system of learning results" in all 8 content areas.
  • Social studies units: 2.  1 unit American history and government and 1 unit social studies.
    • Eff. Class of 2007: Graduation "determined by student achievement of the standards of the system of learning results in" social studies and 4 other subject areas.
    • Eff. Class of 2010: Students must achieve "standards of the system of learning results" in all 8 content areas. Learning results define social studies as including history, economics and civics.
  • Science units: 2 (incl. 1 unit lab)
    • Eff. Class of 2007: Graduation "determined by student achievement of the standards of the system of learning results in ... science and technology" and 4 other subject areas.
    • Eff. Class of 2010: Students must achieve "standards of the system of learning results" in all 8 content areas.
  • P.E./Health units: 1.5. Notes: .5 unit health education and 1 unit p.e.
    • Eff. Class of 2007: Graduation "determined by student achievement of the standards of the system of learning results in ... health and physical education" and 4 other subject areas.
    • Eff. Class of 2010: Students must achieve "standards of the system of learning results" in all 8 content areas.
  • Arts: 1
    • Eff. Class of 2007: Graduation "determined by student achievement of the standards of the system of learning results in 5 subject areas that do not include the arts.
    • Eff. Class of 2010: Students must achieve "standards of the system of learning results" in 8 content areas, including "visual and performing arts."
  • Foreign language: 0
    • Eff. Class of 2007: Graduation "determined by student achievement of the standards of the system of learning results in 5 subject areas that do not include foreign language.
    • Eff. Class of 2010: Students must achieve "standards of the system of learning results" in 8 content areas, including foreign language.
  • Electives units: 0
  • Other units: Students must also demonstrate proficiency with computers, though no units of computer study specified in state policy. Students may satisfy the computer proficiency requirement in grade 7 or 8.
    • Eff. Class of 2007: Graduation "determined by student achievement of the standards of the system of learning results in 5 subject areas that do not include "other" subject areas (5 subjects are English language arts, health and physical education, math, science and technology, and social studies).
    • Eff. Class of 2010: Students must achieve "standards of the system of learning results" in 8 content areas, including "career preparation."
TOTAL # units:  16
  • Notes: Pre-Class of 2007: 12.5 state-determined units and 3.5 district-determined units.
    • Eff. Class of 2007: Graduation based on achievement of content standards of the system of Learning Results for English, health and physical education, math, science and technology, and social studies, as determined by the local assessment system. However, the local board may specify credit or course requirements for the Class of 2007 and beyond.
Graduation effective with the class of 2007 is based on local assessment systems, which may include portfolios, performances and demonstrations in addition to other measures of achievement. Commercially produced assessments may be part of a local assessment but may not carry a majority of the weight in determining student performance. Students are required to study content areas until proficiencies are met. Local boards may specify other requirements for graduation (minimum attendance requirements and/or accumulation of credits or courses) but meeting those requirements is not sufficient by itself to meet graduation requirements. A locally-set standard for student performance (as assessed as part of the local assessment system) in applied technology is a requirement for graduation.

Other diploma options. State does not offer differentiated diploma pathways. State has policy on awarding proficiency-based credit.

ME. REV. STAT. ANN. tit. 20-A, § 4722, 4706, 6202-A, 6209; 05-071 CMR Ch. 127, § 1 and § 7

Important Note: State Graduation requirements are not necessarily the best guideline for homeschoolers to use. They have been included here as a guideline for what a typical public school student would need to complete in order to graduate.

A more important guideline may be the College Entrance requirements for where your student would like to attend college. While colleges have differing requirements, there are many colleges that publish requirements for homeschool graduates.



Related Pages:
Homeschool Support Groups in Maine
Colleges in Maine