Homeschool benefits: Regional School Unit 21
Regional School Unit 21 (RSU 21), which serves Arundel, Kennebunk, and Kennebunkport, cooperates in the home instruction of any child who lives in the district, so your homeschooled child can take part in its academic programs and its co-curricular and extracurricular activities. Your child follows the same rules as enrolled students and can earn awards and honors for courses and activities they fully take part in.
Who qualifies
Lives in RSU 21
The policy covers any home-instructed child who resides within the district, which is made up of Arundel, Kennebunk, and Kennebunkport.
Answers the school's requests
Participation cannot begin, and credit cannot be awarded, until you and your child have fully provided the information the school asks for. The superintendent may make exceptions in unusual circumstances.
Fits without crowding others
The district limits its cooperation so that homeschool participation does not interfere with students enrolled in regular programs.
What your child can join
The terms come from RSU 21 board policy IHBGA, last reviewed January 25, 2010.
- Academic programs
- Same rules as enrolled students
- Co-curricular and extracurricular activities
- Under the state home-school participation law
- Course credit
- After the school's information requests are met
- Awards and honors
- For courses or activities fully taken
- Discipline
- Same standards as enrolled students
The policy does not say how to apply, which courses have room, or whether there are deadlines or transportation, so ask the school your child would attend before the term starts.
How to take part
- Before you ask
Confirm your town
Make sure your home is in Arundel, Kennebunk, or Kennebunkport, the three towns RSU 21 serves.
- Before the term
Contact the school
Ask the principal of the school serving your child's grade, or the RSU 21 Central Office, about the class or activity you want.
- Before participation
Provide the requested information
Return everything the school asks for. Your child cannot start, or earn credit, until you have.
- While participating
Follow school rules
The superintendent can end academic participation for rule violations after telling you why and offering a meeting, and the principal can suspend under the same standards as for enrolled students.
What it includes
Included
- Academic programs and courses
- Co-curricular activities
- Extracurricular activities
- Awards and honors earned in those programs
Not included
- Places that would interfere with enrolled students' programs
Good to know
Resident homeschoolers can take a class if there is room
RSU 21 opens its academic programs to homeschooled children who live in the district, if the course has room. Their participation cannot interfere with enrolled students.
Who to contact about taking part
The Central Office at 177 Alewive Road, Kennebunk, houses the superintendent, who decides exceptions under the homeschool participation policy.
mgrimm@rsu21.net 207-985-1100 Policy IHBGA
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Maine
You must submit the initial notice to the resident school unit and education commissioner within 10 calendar days of starting. You must submit annual continuation notice and assessment by September 1. Maine’s online portal serves both recipients; paper notices go to the resident superintendent for forwarding.
Maine sets these rules:
- Subjects: At least 175 instructional days annually covering English/language arts, math, science, social studies, PE, health, library skills, and fine arts. Include Maine studies in one grade from 6–12 and demonstrate computer proficiency in one grade from 7–12.
- Testing: Annual assessment required, with a test or an accepted progress review; submit the result with the September 1 continuation notice.
- Records: Retain copies of filed notices and annual assessments until the home instruction program ends; make them available to the commissioner on request.
- Teachers: No state teaching credential required for the home instructor. Some assessment-review options require a Maine-certified teacher or administrator.
Read the Maine homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Maine
Questions parents ask
- Can my homeschooled child play a sport or join a club in RSU 21?
- Yes. The policy covers co-curricular and extracurricular activities under Maine's home-school participation law, and your child can be removed for the same reasons as an enrolled student.
- Will my child get credit for a course?
- Yes, once you and your child have fully provided the information the school requested. Credit is not awarded before then.
- Can my child earn honors?
- Yes, for a course or activity they fully take part in. Awards based on parts of the school program your child did not take are not open to them.
- Who is the superintendent?
- Dr. Martin Grimm is the RSU 21 superintendent, reachable at 207-985-1100 or mgrimm@rsu21.net.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Local classes cover the subjects they offer. We teach the remaining subjects, so a local class can stay part of the year without becoming the whole curriculum.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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