The Maine Children’s Scholarship Fund
At Miacademy, we’ve been hard at work partnering with various state funding agencies across the country. Our goal is to make a quality education accessible for every student, and we’re accomplishing our goal one state at a time.
If you’re homeschooling in Maine, we have some exciting news to share with you!
As of March 2024, Miacademy is now an educational provider for the Maine Children’s Scholarship Fund! Eligible families in Maine can access Miacademy’s accredited online homeschool curriculum with funding provided by MECSF.
What is the Children’s Scholarship Fund in Maine?
The Maine Children’s Scholarship Fund (MECSF) helps Maine families access alternative educational opportunities for their children. This includes support for private schooling, homeschooling, or other non-public education options.
At the time of writing, the scholarship pays up to 75% of tuition (maximum of $1,400) for private school or $500 toward homeschooling expenses. Scholarships are awarded to families whose income is within the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program income guidelines.
MECSF’s mission is to empower families to choose the best educational environment for their children, ensuring access to quality education regardless of income.
Who Qualifies for the Maine Children’s Scholarship Fund?
To qualify for MECSF funding, you must:
- Be a resident of Maine
- Have your student’s address be the same as yours
- Meet the income requirements
If you meet the above criteria, you can apply either online or by mail.
There is no need to re-apply every year. If you have applied in the past, you’ll be automatically entered for next year’s drawing. Please call the MECSF office to check on the status of the file instead of applying twice for the same child.
How Do I Get Miacademy Using the Maine Children’s Scholarship Fund?
After your application is accepted, you’ll either submit receipts for reimbursement (homeschool students) or receive tuition installments (private school students).
For private school students: Once the school has accepted your child (or children) and offers you a scholarship, the school will complete and return the School Commitment Form Invoice to MECSF.
For homeschool students: Scholarship winners must purchase supplies first and submit receipts for reimbursement. Here are a few of the items that are covered:
- Educational materials: textbooks, workbooks, teacher’s guides, and reference materials such as dictionaries or atlases
- Teaching aids: globes, calculators, science lab supplies, etc.
- Educational media: software, video tapes, and audio tapes (non-entertainment).
- Instructional fees for group classes with a licensed teacher
- Testing and homeschooling agency fees
For a full list of accepted items, please visit the MECSF’s Homeschool Item List. Reimbursements are available three times a year: in September, January and May.
Want to know more about the Maine Children’s Scholarship Fund? Visit them online for more details about the program and scholarship availability.
If you have any questions about how Miacademy or MiaPrep can help you on your Maine homeschool journey, feel free to chat with one of our helpful customer service agents! They’ll be happy to help you find the answers you need.