The state says. •Teach at least 175 days a year.•You choose which days.•The home instruction rules set days.•None of them sets a number of hours.

You do. 1.Plan a year with at least 175 teaching days.2.Count the days as you go.

The state says. •There is more than one way.•The usual way is home instruction. You teach, and you file a notice yourself.•Or your child can go to a private school the state approves or recognizes.•The steps here are for home instruction.

You do. •Pick home instruction if you will teach your child yourself.•Then file your notice in step 1.

Where. Step 1 of Do the steps

The state says. •From the 6th birthday to the 17th birthday.•A 5 year old who is signed up at a public school must keep going.•That lasts until the parent takes the child out.

You do. File a notice for each child aged 6 to 16 that you teach at home.

The state says. •Yes, every year.•The first year, file a notice of intent within 10 days of starting.•If you start with a new school year, file by September 1.•After that, file a new notice by September 1 each year.•From the second year, attach last year's check of progress.

You do. 1.File online in the state's Home Instruction Portal.•Or mail or hand a paper notice to your superintendent's office.•The superintendent runs your school district.2.Keep a copy.3.Do it again by September 1 next year.

Where. Step 1 of Do the steps

The state says. •The home instruction rules list what to file and teach.•None of them asks the parent for a degree or a teaching license.

You do. •Nothing to show about yourself.•Your notice is about the child and the plan.

The state says. Teach these subjects:•English and language arts•math•science•social studies•physical education and health•library skills•fine arts•Teach Maine studies in at least one grade from 6 to 12.•In one grade from 7 to 12, your child shows skill at using a computer.

You do. •Plan each year around this list.•Use the Academic Planner to see what colleges want.

The state says. •Your first notice needs none.•Starting with your second notice, send one check of progress each year.•It covers the year you just taught. It goes with your September 1 notice.Pick one of five kinds:1.A standardized test, given through your school district or another way the state approves.2.A test your school district writes. Agree to it before you file your notice.3.A review by a teacher with a Maine teaching license.4.A portfolio shown to a local homeschool support group. The group has a licensed Maine teacher or school leader in it. A portfolio is a folder of your child's work.5.A review by a local board the superintendent picks.

You do. 1.Pick one kind early in the year.2.Get it done before September 1.3.Attach the result to your next notice.

Where. Step 2 of Do the steps

The state says. •The home instruction law does not mention shots.•The state says the shot law does not cover a child taught only at home.•That holds while the child takes part in no school activities.•Does your child join a team, club or other activity at a public school?•Then the shot rule applies again.

You do. •Send no shot papers with your notice.•Keep your child's shot record at home.•Check it before your child joins anything at a public school.