Maine Homeschool Record Keeping: What to Track & How

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Key Takeaways:

Maine requires annual assessment submitted by September 1; detailed record-keeping supports this
Track: attendance (175 days), subjects taught, curriculum used, books read, projects completed
Portfolio documentation (digital or physical) is the best evidence of learning progress
Maintain records at least until high school graduation and transcript issued
Clear, organized records simplify compliance and demonstrate educational rigor

Maine law doesn’t spell out what records you must keep, but the assessment requirement and potential superintendent questions make thorough documentation essential. This guide explains what to track, how to organize it, and how it supports both compliance and your child’s transcript.

What Maine Actually Requires

The statute (Title 20-A, §5001-A) requires:

175 days of instruction annually (no hour requirement)
Annual assessment submitted by September 1
Instruction in required subjects (ELA, math, science/technology, social studies, PE, health, library skills, fine arts, Maine studies 6–12, computer proficiency 7–12)

It does NOT explicitly require:

Daily attendance records
Curriculum documentation
Grade records
Reading lists
Work samples

However, these are practical necessities for:

Defending your program if questioned
Creating accurate transcripts
Demonstrating assessment validity
Tracking your own progress

The Core Records to Keep

1. Attendance/Instruction Days Log

Simplest format:

Minimum: Month-by-month count totaling 175 days. Include notes about absences (illness, family trips, holidays).

Why: If questioned, you need proof of 175 days. If assessment occurs mid-year, you can count completed days.

2. Curriculum Record

Document what you use each year:

“` Grade 8 – 2025-2026 School Year

ELA:

Writing With Ease (Susan Wise Bauer)
Classic literature (To Kill a Mockingbird, Jane Eyre, etc.)
Grammar: Language Lessons for Growing Hearts
Reading: independent reading ~2 hours/week

Math:

Saxon Algebra 1
Supplemental Khan Academy modules

Science:

Exploring Earth and Space (Homeschool Science)
Hands-on experiments (weekly)
Field trips: Portland Museum of Science

Social Studies:

Story of the World Vol. 3
Maine Studies supplement (Ginn & Co.)

PE:

Home exercise routine 3x/week
Swimming lessons (Winter)

Health:

Our Bodies and Health textbook

Fine Arts:

Piano lessons (private tutor)
Sketching exercises

Library Skills:

Research project on Maine history

Computer Proficiency:

Google Workspace suite
Coding with Code.org

“`

Why: Proves you covered all required subjects. Shows you were intentional about curriculum selection.

3. Reading List

Keep a list of books read or assigned:

“` 2025-2026 Reading

Fiction:

To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee) – Oct
Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte) – Nov-Dec
The Giver (Lois Lowry) – Jan
100+ independently selected books

Non-fiction/Academic:

Story of the World Vol. 3 (chapters 1-42)
Maine historical texts
Science magazines

“`

Why: Shows breadth of reading; supports ELA progress; useful for transcript noting.

4. Project and Assignment Documentation

Record major projects, essays, presentations:

“` Major Assignments – Grade 8

Maine History Research Project

8-week project
15-page research paper
Presentation to family
Portfolio: research notes, outline, drafts, final paper
Date completed: Feb 2026

Science Fair Project: Crystal Growing Experiment

4-week project
Hypothesis, method, results, analysis
Poster presentation
Portfolio: lab notebook, photos, reflection
Date completed: Mar 2026

Expository Essay: “Environmental Changes in Maine”

Research, outline, drafts, final essay (5 pages)
Portfolio: all drafts
Date completed: April 2026

“`

Why: Demonstrates academic rigor and depth. Becomes portfolio evidence for assessment. Shows independent thinking and research skills.

5. Assessment Records

Keep whatever assessment you choose:

Standardized test results and scores
Portfolio assessment checklist and evaluation
Professional evaluation reports
Superintendent-approved assessment documentation

Why: You must submit assessment by Sept 1. Keeping records proves compliance.

6. High School Record (if applicable)

For high school students, maintain:

Course titles and descriptions (so you can create a transcript)
Grades or proficiency levels (A/B/C or proficiency scale: exceeds/meets/approaches/below)
Credit hours (if tracking Carnegie units: typically 0.5 credit per semester course, 1 credit per full-year course)
Dates of completion
High school transcripts (for dual enrollment or college courses)

Example:

“` Grade 9 – 2025-2026

Course Title: Algebra I Curriculum: Saxon Algebra 1 Hours: 150 hours (36 weeks, ~4 hrs/week) Credit: 1.0 Grade: A (90%+) Completion Date: June 2026 Notes: Includes online supplements (Khan Academy)

Course Title: Biology Curriculum: Biology (Holt McDougal) + labs Hours: 150 hours Credit: 1.0 Grade: A- Completion Date: June 2026 Notes: Hands-on labs recorded in lab notebook

[continue for each subject] “`

Why: Essential for creating a high school transcript when your student graduates. Colleges need clear documentation of coursework.

Organization Methods

Option 1: Digital Folder System

Use Google Drive or Dropbox:

“ Homeschool Records ├── 2025-2026 │ ├── Attendance │ │ ├── attendance log.xlsx │ ├── Curriculum │ │ ├── curriculum outline.docx │ ├── Reading List │ │ ├── reading list.docx │ ├── Projects │ │ ├── Maine History Project (folder) │ │ │ ├── research notes │ │ │ ├── outline │ │ │ ├── final paper.docx │ │ │ ├── presentation slides │ │ ├── Science Fair (folder) │ │ │ ├── lab notebook.pdf │ │ │ ├── poster.jpg │ │ │ ├── reflection.docx │ ├── Assessment │ │ ├── standardized test results.pdf │ │ ├── portfolio evaluation.docx │ ├── Transcripts │ │ ├── course grades.xlsx │ │ ├── dual enrollment transcript.pdf “

Advantages: Searchable, organized, easy to share with assessors or colleges.

Option 2: Physical Portfolio

Use a 3-ring binder or box per year:

Section 1: Attendance log, curriculum outline, required subjects checklist
Section 2: Reading list
Section 3: Project descriptions and samples (essays, photos, presentations printed)
Section 4: Assessment records
Section 5: High school transcript (if applicable)

Advantages: Tangible, easy to show during evaluation, doesn’t require technology.

Option 3: Hybrid

Digital files for organization; printed portfolio for submissions.

Maintain all records digitally (backup, searchable)
Print annual portfolio for assessment submission or superintendent review
Email digital copies to assessor

What to Store in Your Portfolio for Assessment

By September 1, compile evidence for your chosen assessment method:

For Standardized Testing

Test score reports
Test date and identifying information

For Portfolio Assessment

10–20 representative work samples per grade level
Cover letter/summary (2–3 pages) explaining your curriculum, your child’s progress, goals, any challenges
Curriculum overview (what you taught, materials used, why)
Reading list (shows breadth)
Projects and major assignments (samples of best work)
Photos (science experiments, presentations, field trips)

For Professional Evaluation

Psychoeducational evaluation report (if student has special needs)
Reading specialist report (if applicable)
Evaluator’s assessment letter

How Long to Keep Records

Minimum: Through high school graduation + 1 year

Rationale:

Colleges may request transcripts after graduation
Scholarship/grant applications may require historical documentation
Professional programs (teacher training, nursing, etc.) may request detailed records

Recommendation: Keep indefinitely (digital storage is cheap; records have future value).

If You’re Questioned by the Superintendent

Clear records are your defense:

If asked “What curriculum did you use?” → Show your curriculum documentation
If asked “How do you know your child met the 175-day requirement?” → Show attendance log
If asked “Prove your child learned science” → Show curriculum, reading list, project documentation, assessment results
If asked about college readiness (high school) → Show transcript, SAT/ACT scores, portfolio of major projects

Organized, clear records demonstrate that you took homeschooling seriously and documented progress professionally.

Special Situations

Transition to Public School

Keep records clear so the public school can assess placement:

Transcript you’ve created
Curriculum outline
Assessment results
Work samples

College Application

Homeschool students need:

Official transcript (you create it)
Standardized test scores (SAT/ACT)
Portfolio (optional, but strengthens applications)

See our guide to building a homeschool portfolio in Maine.

Special Needs Assessment

If your child has disabilities, document:

Any professional evaluations
Accommodations provided
Progress on IEP goals (if transferred from IEP)
Assessment methods adapted for disability

Tools and Templates

Several companies offer homeschool record-keeping software:

Homeschool Seesaw: Online portfolio platform
Trello: Free task/project organization
Google Drive: Free, flexible document storage
OneNote: Free notebook application
Notion: Free/paid project management and documentation

Or create your own system using spreadsheets and documents.

Final Thought

Record-keeping is unglamorous but essential. The act of documenting creates clarity for yourself (tracking what you’ve covered, where your child is struggling), satisfies legal requirements, and builds evidence for assessment. Spend time upfront creating a system; maintenance takes minimal ongoing effort. By September 1, you’ll have the documentation needed for assessment submission and confidence that you can answer any questions about your homeschool program.

For Maine’s assessment requirements, see Maine homeschool reporting & compliance. For more on assessment methods, see Maine homeschool testing.