See the Homeschool Access Law here.

Over the years, some homeschool families in Maine have chosen to access their local public school for classes, programs, services, etc. There are many situations and factors that lead families to make such choices. HOME would like to urge caution. The following list provides food for thought.

1) Research all other possible alternatives to meeting your perceived needs through public schools.

2) Remember that organizations grow by providing support and meeting needs. Allowing the homeschool community to meet

your needs will strengthen that community and homeschooling overall.

3) Consider whether the influence of the public school may be detrimental to your desire to continue homeschooling in the future.

4) Consider the message you will be sending your child about public education when choosing to access public schools.

5) Be prepared for hostilities. Homeschoolers may or may not be well accepted by classmates, teammates and/or their parents, teachers or coaches.

6) Be prepared to deal with the attitudinal and behavioral changes in your child as a result of time spent in public school classrooms and programs.

7) Consider the cost of a breakdown in family relationships and parental authority.

8) Consider the loss of time for more important homeschool lessons and experiences.

9) Request a copy of the local public school's policy regarding access for homeschoolers. More may be required of you than you expect.

10) Be aware that if you are using the public school access law, then data will be collected on your child. Records may then be made available to any number of government agencies without permission being granted.

11) If you are enrolled in a NAPS, be prepared to be asked to file a notice of intent and submit annual assessment results.

12) Be sure that your Home School Legal Defense Association membership remains current.

If your children are enrolled a home-based NAPS, then they are considered *private school students* according to the law. NAPS students do NOT qualify for use of the Public School Access Law for homeschoolers. 

Two separate court cases in Maine have affirmed that it was the legislature's intent for the Public School Access Law to apply *only* to students who are receiving "equivalent instruction" through "A home instruction program that complies with the requirements of subparagraph (4)".

(http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/20-A/title20-Asec5001-A.html)

 Subparagraph (4), referenced above, describes the "notice of intent" process for homeschooling and also requires an annual assessment. 

Non-approved private schools are considered a different type of "equivalent instruction" under Maine law. The Public School Access Law for homeschoolers only applies to notice-of-intent homeschoolers, not to any other "equivalent instruction" options in the compulsory attendance law. 

Nevertheless, a few Maine School Administrative Districts (SAD's), Regional School Units (RSU's), School Unions, and town or city  school systems do have their own policies in place regarding the use of public school resources, courses, and extracurricular activities by private school students who are district or city residents. These policies are completely voluntary. Not all public school systems have such a policy, and these policies for private school students are *not* required by Maine law.  

Private school students attending either approved or non-approved private schools are NOT covered under the Public School Access Law for homeschoolers.  

Special Note Concerning Special Education Services:  

Federal law provides a small amount of money, distributed through local public school districts, that is specifically directed for use with private school students who have disabilities. Unlike public school students, private school students with disabilities do not have an *individual right* to special education services. The federal law only requires that the public schools "meaningfully consult" with private school administrators to determine the special education needs of private school students with disabilities who are placed by their parents in private schools within the district's geographic boundaries. It is then up to the public school to decide how to spend the federal money directed to private school students with disabilities, and which private school students receive which services.