Homeschool benefits and savings in Kittery
The Town of Kittery gives an annual Kittery Educational Scholarship, funded by residents' redeemable containers, to Kittery residents headed to college, university, or a vocational program. Graduates of a home-schooling program are named as eligible; the 2026 application was due May 11, 2026, and the town does not publish the award amount.
Who qualifies
Lives in Kittery
The scholarship is for residents of the Town of Kittery, Maine.
Finished a home-schooling program
Applicants must have graduated, or be about to graduate, from an accredited high school, a G.E.D. program, or a home-schooling program. An unofficial transcript is acceptable.
Is going on to school
Your student must plan to enroll in a college, university, vocational-technical school, or other post-secondary program.
Shares financial information
Parents of a dependent student complete the Financial Information form from their most recent federal tax return; the application is not reviewed without it.
How applications are scored
The 2026 application scores each applicant out of 1,000 points; the town does not publish the dollar amount of each award.
- Academic achievement
- 300
- Financial need
- 300
- Work, play, goals, and service
- 150
- Leadership examples and appraisal
- 100
- Essay, art, or other project
- 100
- Environmental studies focus (optional)
- 50
Ask the Town Clerk how much the scholarship paid in 2026 and whether it goes to your student or the school, because the committee only says it arranges disbursement with the Treasurer.
From applying to reapplying
- Spring of senior year
Download the application
The town posts each year's application at kitteryme.gov/scholarship. The 2026 notice went out in March.
- Before you mail it
Get an appraisal
Ask a teacher, community leader, supervisor, or other non-family adult in a position of authority to complete the Appraisal/Counselor Report and return it sealed and signed across the seal.
- By the May deadline
Mail the packet
Send it to the Kittery Educational Scholarship Program, Educational Scholarship Selection Committee, 200 Rogers Road, Kittery, ME 03904. It had to arrive by May 11, 2026, with no exceptions.
- After college year one
Reapply with an update
Repeat applicants skip the essay and write a 100-word update on their past year in college.
What it pays for
Covered
- College or university study
- Vocational-technical or trade school
- Other post-secondary education programs
Not covered
- Students who live outside Kittery
- Late or incomplete applications
Kittery residents' redeemable container donations at the Resource Recovery Facility pay for the scholarship.
Good to know
Homeschool graduates can apply
The town names graduates of a home-schooling program alongside high school and G.E.D. graduates, as long as your student lives in Kittery.
A non-family adult can complete the counselor report
Any non-family adult in a position of authority who knows your student, such as a teacher, community leader, or work supervisor, can complete the appraisal. The counselor section also asks for GPA and ACT or SAT scores.
Who to contact
Town Clerk Jillian Richards processes applications for the Educational Scholarship Committee and answers questions.
jrichards@kitteryme.org 207-475-1313 Scholarship committee page
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
- Does my student have to write an essay?
- Only on a first application, and a project can replace it. First-time applicants explain in 250-500 words why protecting the environment matters and what they do to reduce their impact, or make art from mostly recycled materials or a recycling promotion campaign for the town.
- Can an older graduate apply?
- Yes. Anyone in town who has graduated and intends to enroll is eligible, and students 24 or older apply as independent adults with their own financial information.
- Does an environmental interest help?
- It can. The committee may give special consideration to applicants with a direct connection to environmental studies.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Each grant limits the expenses it covers. Where curriculum is eligible, it can pay for the teaching and feedback your child receives in our courses.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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