Families homeschooling in the state of Maine are required to file a Notice of Intent with the Maine Department of Education within 10 days of beginning home instruction. Charleston Academy families typically complete this process through the Maine DOE online portal.
The Maine DOE Home Instruction Portal can be accessed by clicking HERE.
Through this portal, families can:

• Submit their initial Notice of Intent
• File annual year-end assessments
  
• Access homeschool reporting forms and information

Families are responsible for ensuring that all homeschool reporting requirements are completed in accordance with Maine state law.

Parents administer standardized testing  but don’t need to submit results to anyone. We recommend it as a process of  monitoring and adjusting, seeing where your child is performing at the national level, and making adjustments for the following year. Charleston Academy will provide links to  standardized testing companies that provide this service.

Dr. Bryan Ray’s stats show that  homeschoolers outperform their public schooled counterparts by 37 points on  average—even if the homeschooling parent never graduated from high school.  Additional research and information are available at NHERI.org. 

For your child’s year-end assessment (due by September 1st), you can:

• Submit the official results of a national standardized achievement test.
• Submit a letter stating that your child’s progress has been reviewed and is acceptable. This letter must be from a Maine-certified teacher.
  

You taught your children to talk, walk, eat, have manners…
Who better to teach them then someone who deeply cares?
Curriculum outlines the scope and sequence, but parents impart the love of learning, build character, and curiosity. If you don’t know the material, learn together.
Affirming interaction helps students succeed. 
Other families study the same material, which motivates both students and parents.

Absolutely. Homeschooled students are often highly prepared for college because they learn independence, responsibility, and strong academic skills in a personalized environment.
At Charleston Academy, we combine structured academics with the flexibility of homeschooling, helping students grow academically, socially, and spiritually while preparing them for future success in college and beyond.

Schools use 7 hours a day because of wasted time. Children spend time waiting and distracted. Home school families generally spend 3-4 hours per day. Beside study time, learning happens in the car, at the store, everywhere and anytime they are receptive. Students work on their assignments independently part of the time - not so distracted by other students! Then they have free time to enjoy family and other children!

Students will complete their core classes using the provided syllabus through a combination of instruction at Charleston Academy and at home. The primary education takes place at home, while Charleston Academy serves to reinforce, support, and encourage families in the learning process.

In case of inclement weather, the Academy will monitor conditions and notify families of closures via email, social media, and, if needed, phone calls. We aim to announce by 6:30 AM and consider road safety, weather severity, and local school decisions. Snow days will not be made up at the end of the year, as we trust families to continue learning at home when possible.

Usually 5-15, but depends on the class.

No. We encourage family involvement. Talk in the car and be a part at school!

Parent Partners are an important part of Charleston Academy! Families can help by supervising lunch, assisting in classrooms, greeting families at the Welcome Desk, helping with setup and cleanup, and supporting special events throughout the year. Your involvement helps strengthen our Academy community and keeps Charleston Academy running smoothly!

Dr. Bryan Ray’s stats show that  homeschoolers outperform their public schooled counterparts by 37 points on  average—even if the homeschooling parent never graduated from high school.  Additional research and information are available at NHERI.org. 

Yes, the Department of Education defines your  self-hiring requirement as simply “qualified to teach.” We have great freedom in Maine for  homeschooling, and with great freedom comes great responsibility. 

A homeschool academy offers the best of both worlds — the flexibility of homeschooling paired with the benefits of a classroom community. Through hands-on learning, meaningful discussions, and a Socratic approach that encourages critical thinking, students are actively engaged in their education while learning alongside their peers.

Here is what one Charleston Academy parent shared:
    “The academy has been exactly what our family needed. A perfect mix of in-person and homeschooling. It takes the pressure out of planning and allows you to focus on what is needed each day. My children both look forward to Tuesday and Thursday and miss it when they have to be away.”