Homeschool benefits: Regional School Unit 74
Regional School Unit 74 (RSU 74, the Carrabec schools) lets a homeschooled child who lives in the district enroll in specific classes, audit courses, earn academic credit, borrow textbooks for up to a school year, use school facilities, and try out for extracurricular activities. You apply in writing, and the superintendent may not unreasonably withhold approval for classes.
Who qualifies
Lives in RSU 74
The board cooperates in the home instruction of any child who resides in the RSU 74 administrative unit and would otherwise be eligible to attend its schools.
Follows Maine homeschool law
Participation is limited to homeschooled students whose home instruction programs comply with Maine law and Department of Education rules.
Shows prior achievement
For a regular class, your child must show satisfactory prior academic achievement, meet prerequisites, attend regularly, and be in an age- and grade-appropriate class.
Gets written approval
Apply in writing to the superintendent for classes or auditing, to the principal and with your own written permission for co-curricular activities, and in writing to try out for extracurriculars.
What your child can use
The terms come from RSU 74 board policy IHBGA, effective April 2, 2025.
- Regular classes
- Superintendent's written approval
- Course auditing
- Superintendent's written approval
- Textbooks
- Up to one school year, if copies allow
- Library books
- Same loan period as enrolled students
- Facilities and equipment
- Principal's approval, no added cost to the school
- State tests such as the MEA
- Granted on your request
You must pay for lost, unreturned, or damaged books and for consumable supplies your child uses.
How to take part
- Before you apply
Ask for the participation criteria
On request, RSU 74 gives you its criteria for curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular participation and its health and developmental screening requirements.
- Before the term
Apply in writing
Send a written request to the superintendent naming the class you want your child to take or audit, and wait for written approval.
- During the class
Keep up like enrolled students
Your child completes all assignments and tests, follows attendance and conduct rules, and gets there on your transportation or the school bus if there is room and no added cost.
- At the end of the course
Earn credit
Credit must be awarded when your child meets the academic standards required of all students in the same course.
What it includes
Included
- Specific day-school classes and course auditing
- Academic credit for completed courses
- Textbooks, library books, facilities, and equipment
- Co-curricular and extracurricular activities
- Special education services for eligible students
Not included
- Transportation, unless a bus has room at no added cost
- Uses that disrupt regular school activities
Good to know
One class is possible with the superintendent's written approval
Your child needs to live in RSU 74 and get the superintendent's written approval. The class must be age- and grade-appropriate, your child must meet its prerequisites, and attendance must be regular.
Your child can try out for a team
To play on a Carrabec team, apply in writing for a tryout. Your child must meet the same physical exam, immunization, insurance, age, semester, academic, and conduct rules as enrolled players. The principal may ask for samples of their coursework.
Who to contact about taking part
Superintendent Mark Campbell's office at 56 North Main St., North Anson, approves class and auditing requests from homeschool families.
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 we borrow textbooks for our homeschool?
- Yes, if the school has enough copies and the loan does not disrupt its own programs. A textbook can go home for up to one school year.
- Will a homeschool course count toward a high school diploma?
- Only if the principal decides both before and after the course that it meets the requirements for credit, and the principal may ask for a test. A diploma also depends on meeting every credit requirement the board sets.
- What if my request is denied?
- You can appeal how the policy was applied to the RSU 74 board, whose decision is final. Questions about whether the policy follows the law go to the Maine Commissioner of Education.
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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