Maine DOE to Offer Office Hours for Home Instruction Points of Contact

The Maine Department of Education is offering quarterly Office Hours for the 2026-2027 school year to support all Home Instruction Points of Contact (PoC).  

The Office Hours are being provided during two separate times: 8:30-9:15 a.m. and 3:00-3:45 p.m., on the following Wednesdays to accommodate as many PoCs as possible:  

• September 30, 2026 
• December 16, 2026 
• March 10, 2027 
• May 12, 2027 

Attendees may choose the time that is most convenient for them. The agendas are identical, but the questions that arise will depend on the attendees. These sessions are intended to allow Home Instruction Points of Contact to connect directly with Maine DOE School Approval and Enrollment Specialist Sierra Wood regarding questions that have arisen. If time allows, POCs will collaborate and share effective practices in providing Maine families with accurate, timely guidance. 
 
Here are some questions to guide discussion during these office hours: 

• What is your method of communicating regularly with all home instruction families? When information is shared by the Maine DOE, how is it then shared with home instruction families?
• How are you reviewing assessment progress reports that are due September 1 each year, and what further supports might be helpful with this?
• What technical supports would be most helpful to you in your responsibilities as the local home instruction point of contact? 
• What practices do you have in place that others could benefit from regarding deadlines for Notices of Intent and Assessment reminders?

Home Instruction Points of Contact may register for one or both of the two office-hour sessions below: 

• Register here for September 30 Sessions  – 8:30 – 9:15 a.m., or 3:00 – 3:45 p.m.
• Register here for December 16 Sessions – 8:30 – 9:15 a.m., or 3:00 – 3:45 p.m.
• Register here for March 10 Sessions – 8:30 – 9:15 a.m., or 3:00 – 3:45 p.m.
• Register here for May 12 Sessions  – 8:30 – 9:15 a.m., or 3:00 – 3:45 p.m.

Please share this information with your school administrative unit’s Home Instruction Point of Contact. To find Home Instruction Point of Contact information, please visit the Maine DOE’s NEO data system.

With questions or potential topics for discussion, please contact Sierra Wood, Maine DOE School Approval and Enrollment Specialist, at Sierra.Wood@maine.gov.