Maine Homeschool Law: 20-A MRS §5001-A

Not yet verified at a primary source. DiplomaPath has not independently verified Maine’s homeschool requirements against the statute text or the state’s own published guidance as of September 2026. The requirements described on this page may be incomplete or out of date.

Before you rely on any deadline, filing, or testing requirement here, confirm current law with the Maine Department of Education and the HSLDA Maine page. When this page has been checked against a primary source, this notice will be replaced with a verified date and a link to the statute.

Two free things before you read on. The sample transcript PDF is yours either way, no email needed, and the transcript checklist walks through what to include, line by line.

Maine authorizes home instruction programs under 20-A MRS §5001-A. Families file an initial letter of intent to their local superintendent and the Commissioner of Education within 10 days of starting (or by September 1 if beginning in the fall), then submit a subsequent letter each year by September 1, enclosing the prior year’s assessment.

Maine requires at least 175 days of instruction annually covering English/language arts, math, science, social studies, physical education, health education, library skills, and fine arts, plus computer proficiency at one grade between 7–12 and Maine studies at one grade between 6–12. An annual assessment is required, using a standardized test, a district-developed test, review by a Maine-certified teacher, portfolio review, or review by a local advisory board.

Two deadlines, same date: Both your continuing-year letter of intent and your prior assessment are due together by September 1. Plan your assessment early enough in the summer to have it ready.

Comparing Maine with another state, or planning a move? See our guide to homeschool graduation requirements by state.

Maine’s Public-School Credit Benchmark

Maine homeschoolers aren’t bound to the public-school credit minimum. Under 20-A §4722, the state minimum is 20 credits, though individual districts often require more (commonly 24).

Subject AreaCourses / NotesCredits
EnglishFour years4.0
Social StudiesTwo years2.0
MathematicsTwo years2.0
ScienceTwo years, at least one lab science2.0
Fine ArtsOne year1.0
ElectivesRemaining coursework9.0
TotalState minimum; many districts require up to 24, not a homeschool mandate either way20.0
DiplomaPath tip: Set the Maine 20-credit floor, or a higher custom target closer to 24, in DiplomaPath’s Requirements tracker — earned vs. planned progress updates automatically per subject.

Required Transcript Elements

Use this checklist when building your Maine homeschool transcript:

  • Student information
    Full legal name, date of birth, address
  • Home instruction program name
    The name of your home program
  • Courses organized by year
    Group by grade (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th) or academic year
  • Grades and grade points
    Letter grade and numeric grade point value; include your grading scale
  • Credits per course
    Full-year course = 1.0 credit; semester course = 0.5 credit (Carnegie Unit)
  • Cumulative GPA, weighted and unweighted
    Include the scale (e.g., A = 4.0; Honors +0.5; AP/dual-enrollment +1.0)
  • Total credits earned
  • Graduation date
  • Parent signature and title
    Sign as “Administrator” or “Supervisor” of your home program

GPA Calculation

GPA is calculated the same way in every state: multiply each course’s grade points by its credit value, sum all products, and divide by total credits. The standard 4.0 scale applies to most courses. Honors courses typically add 0.5 points; AP and dual-enrollment courses add 1.0 point for a weighted GPA.

Always report both weighted and unweighted GPA on your transcript, clearly labeled. Include your complete grading scale (e.g., A = 93–100 = 4.0) so admissions reviewers understand exactly how grades were assigned.

Want to calculate GPA automatically? Use our free Homeschool GPA Calculator, enter courses and grades and get weighted and unweighted GPA instantly.

Common Mistakes

  • 1
    Missing the September 1 combined deadline
    Both your continuation letter and your assessment are due September 1. Start the assessment process in the summer so you’re not scrambling in late August.
  • 2
    Skipping a required subject
    Maine specifically requires library skills and computer proficiency at a defined grade band, subjects some families overlook when planning a curriculum. Cover all eight required areas.
  • 3
    Assuming the state 20-credit minimum is enough for competitive admissions
    Many Maine districts require 24 credits for their own graduates. Consider planning toward the higher number if your student is aiming for competitive colleges.

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