Maine Homeschool Required Subjects: All 10 Areas Explained

Maine is one of the more prescriptive states when it comes to what homeschool families must teach. MRSA Title 20-A §5001-A and the Department of Education's Chapter 130 administrative rules require home instruction programs to cover 10 specific subject areas annually. Two of those — Maine Studies and Computer Proficiency — have grade-window restrictions that catch families off guard. Library Skills is frequently misunderstood as simply "going to the library."

This post breaks down each requirement plainly, addresses the 175-day structure, and clarifies what the state actually checks.

What the State Mandates (and What It Doesn't)

Maine law specifies which subjects must be covered; it does not specify how you teach them, what curriculum you use, or how you sequence the material through the year. There are no required alignment standards tying your instruction to Maine public school learning results. You have full autonomy over methodology, materials, and pacing.

The 10 required subjects under Title 20-A §5001-A are:

1. English and Language Arts
2. Mathematics
3. Science and Technology
4. Social Studies
5. Physical Education
6. Health Education
7. Fine Arts
8. Library Skills
9. Maine Studies
10. Computer Proficiency

The 175-Day Requirement: What It Actually Means

Your home instruction program must provide a minimum of 175 days of instruction per school year. Maine defines the school year as July 1 through June 30.

There is a widespread misconception that you must teach all 10 subjects every single day. The statute does not require that. It requires 175 days of overall instruction, with all 10 subject areas covered within the scope of the academic year. A concentrated week-long Maine Studies unit satisfies the Maine Studies requirement just as well as spreading it across multiple months. Dedicating one afternoon per week to Health Education throughout the year works equally well.

A few edge cases worth knowing:

• If your child turns six (the age of compulsory attendance in Maine) mid-year, the 175-day requirement is prorated or waived for that initial fractional year.
• Any public school days completed before you withdrew your child count toward the 175-day total for that year.
• The 175-day assurance is part of what you formally commit to in your Notice of Intent.

The 10 Subjects in Detail

English and Language Arts

Encompasses reading, writing, spelling, and grammar. This is the most flexibly documented subject — reading logs, essay drafts, phonics workbooks, writing journals, and participation in library reading programs all serve as evidence of coverage.

Mathematics

Ranges from basic arithmetic through algebra, geometry, and beyond. Completed workbook pages, online math program progress reports (such as those from Khan Academy or Beast Academy), or project-based math work all demonstrate coverage.

Science and Technology

Covers biology, chemistry, physics, and earth sciences. Documented through lab reports, photographs of hands-on experiments, nature journals, science fair projects, or participation in programs like Audubon Society field work.

Social Studies

History, geography, economics, and civics. Historical timelines, map-making projects, essays on historical figures, and field trips to historical sites all qualify.

Physical Education

Maine does not require traditional gym class. Hours of hiking, skiing, swimming, community youth sports, martial arts, dance classes, or active daily living all satisfy the PE requirement. A simple activity log demonstrates coverage.

Health Education

Frequently integrated with science (human anatomy, nutrition) or social studies (community health, first aid). Can be taught progressively across the year or intensively over a single concentrated quarter — both approaches satisfy the requirement.

Fine Arts

Highly flexible. Encompasses vocal or instrumental music, drawing, painting, sculpting, graphic design, woodworking, fashion design, photography, and culinary arts. If your child is already taking piano lessons or participating in community theater, that covers Fine Arts.

Library Skills

This is not simply visiting the library. Maine's Library Skills requirement covers information literacy in a meaningful sense: teaching students how to navigate digital databases, distinguish credible sources from unreliable ones, conduct structured research, and apply proper citation formats.

In practice, this means walking your student through how a public library database works, how to evaluate whether a website is authoritative, and how to cite sources in their writing. Homeschoolers of Maine (HOME) sells pre-assembled Library Skills unit studies tailored specifically to this requirement — these are a popular shortcut for families who want a contained, documentable unit they can check off.

Maine Studies

This subject must be taught in at least one grade between grades 6 and 12. It is not required for elementary-level students.

Maine Studies covers state history, Wabanaki Indigenous culture, Maine geography, and civic traditions. Common approaches include reading Maine authors (Longfellow, Sarah Orne Jewett), visiting local historical forts and maritime museums, conducting a unit study on the Wabanaki Confederacy, or working through a dedicated Maine Studies curriculum unit. HOME also publishes Maine Studies unit studies for this purpose.

If your child is currently in grades K–5 and you're in the early years of home instruction, you don't need to address Maine Studies yet — but plan for it before grade 12.

Computer Proficiency

This subject must be demonstrated in at least one grade between grades 7 and 12. Like Maine Studies, it is not required for elementary-level students.

Computer Proficiency covers a practical range of skills: keyboarding, safe and responsible internet use, file management, coding basics, and proficiency with standard software applications (word processing, spreadsheets, presentations). If your middle or high schooler is already using a computer for schoolwork daily, documenting that usage formally and covering internet safety explicitly will satisfy this requirement.

How the State Actually Verifies Coverage

Maine does not send inspectors to your home. Verification happens through the annual assessment, which you submit by September 1 of the following year.

The most common assessment methods are:

Standardized testing: An approved national standardized test (Iowa Assessments, Stanford 10, California Achievement Test) administered through your local school unit or another approved arrangement.

Certified teacher portfolio review: A Maine-certified teacher reviews a portfolio of your student's work and confirms that 175 days of instruction occurred, all 10 required subjects were covered, and the student made adequate academic progress.

For portfolio-based assessment, best practice is to retain two to four work samples per subject per quarter — rough drafts, completed assignments, photos of projects, activity logs. The portfolio is also your primary documentation if your child later re-enrolls in a public school, since Maine public schools make grade placement decisions based on portfolio, prior test scores, or their own placement exams.

Common Misconceptions

"I need to teach all 10 subjects every day." You do not. The law requires 175 days of instruction and coverage of all 10 subjects within the year. How you distribute that coverage is entirely up to you.

"Library Skills just means using the library." It means teaching information literacy: database navigation, source evaluation, citation. A deliberate unit study covering these skills — even a few weeks — satisfies the requirement.

"Computer Proficiency and Maine Studies apply to all grades." They do not. Computer Proficiency is required in at least one grade between 7 and 12. Maine Studies is required in at least one grade between 6 and 12. Elementary families can skip both until the grade windows apply.

"I need to use a curriculum that aligns with Maine public school standards." Chapter 130 explicitly does not require curriculum alignment with Maine public school learning results. You choose the methodology and materials.

Getting the subject requirements right is one piece of the compliance picture. If you're also navigating the Notice of Intent filing, annual assessment selection, or withdrawal letter logistics, the Maine Legal Withdrawal Blueprint covers the full process — including templates, timelines, and what to do if your superintendent pushes back.

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