Homeschooling in Maine
Hi, my name is Jenn, and I homeschool in Maine! I live in Arundel, Maine and our family has two girls, ages 3 and 8, which we
homeschool.
If you have more questions about homeschooling in Maine, or want to learn more
about our experiences in the state, you can find me in the Maine Parent Forum.
Maine Homeschooling Resources
For more information on specific homeschooling requirements in Maine, visit one of these sites:
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Legal disclaimer: This section is one family’s story and how they meet the mandatory school attendance laws in Maine. It is not intended and should not be used as definitive legal advice. In most states, parents find a variety of legal methods to pursue the educational approach that they prefer for their child.
Options for Homeschoolers in Maine
I love homeschooling! I really don’t have much to compare it to, but Maine is a great place to homeschool. The laws are easy to understand and follow. There is a very active homeschool community in the Portland area, and many hard working parents do a great job in organizing activities for children.
There are two different options for homeschoolers in Maine. The first one, which I am more familiar with, is to register with the state as a homeschooler. The other option is to join a non-approved private school, which then registers with the state. With both options, you do not have to do anything until your child is seven years-old, which is the compulsory age in Maine. For more information on legal issues relating to homeschooling in Maine, you may consult the legal statute for the state.
What you Need to Do
Personally, we choose to register our child as a homeschooler. When she started, at age 6, she was already in public school, so we filed our notice of intent that year, the day we took her out of school. Maine requires that families file every year with both the state and the local superintendent. You can find a form to fill out here:
http://www.state.me.us/education/hs/index.html.
Along with this form, you need to send in one of two things: the results of a standardized test or a portfolio review done by a certified teacher. We chose to use the standardized test, the California Achievement Test, which can be done at home and then mailed to have it scored. I know many families who choose to do a portfolio review as well. A homeschool friendly certified teacher is fairly easy to find. They provide them at Homeschoolers of Maine, and many certified teachers will post their contact information on homeschool groups in the spring.
Choosing Homeschool Curriculum
For families with more than one child, choosing a homeschool program can be more problematic. What works for one child may not work for another. What works for one subject may not work on the next. What works one year, may fall flat the very next year.
Time4Learning's experience shows that there is no single, best homeschool material. Rather than feeling torn between homeschool resources, parents should select a diverse blend of materials and activities.
Some of the features that make Time4Learning so successful include:
- Time4Learning appeals to a wide range of learning styles. Our online learning materials are especially well-suited to children who are visual or kinesthetic learners. These children can take advantage of Time4Learning's interactive, multimedia materials.
- Children like using the computer to learn. It's a convenient, interactive homeschool resource that provides a welcome change each day to paper-and-pencil workbooks and textbook-based lessons.
- Parents like that it tracks progress and helps children advance by clearly presenting and reinforcing each lesson. Quizzes and tests are graded by the computer, saving valuable time and effort for parents who would be happier concentrating on other areas.
- Time4Learning's self-paced, modularized lesson plans allow you to move forward and back through the materials whenever you want. You can skip lessons that teach concepts your child has already mastered and repeat those he or she has not. The choice is yours. With Time4Learning, you are always in control.
- Time4Learning is proven effective with homeschoolers, has a low monthly price, is easy-to-use, and provides a money-back guarantee so you can make sure that it works for your children, <a href="http://www.time4learning.com/program/faq.html#guarantee">satisfaction guaranteed</a>! Sign up for Time4Learning as part of your overall homeschool program.
If you have more questions about homeschooling in Maine, or want to learn more about our experiences in the state, you can contact me in the Parent forum at Maine Parent Forum.
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