How to start homeschooling in Montana
The legal steps, in order, checked against Montana law.
Short answer: Montana exempts a child from public school enrollment when the child attends a home school, meaning a parent teaching the parent's own child, stepchild, or ward in the parent's home. The parent notifies the county superintendent of schools each school year, keeps attendance records, provides the minimum instructional hours, and teaches an organized course of study in the subjects required of public schools. The parent is responsible for curriculum, schedule, method, and evaluation.
Checked against MCA 20-5-102(2)(e) on Nov 8, 2026. Compulsory school ages: 7 to 16 (from age 7 before the first day of school until the later of the 16th birthday or completion of 8th grade). This is what the law says, not legal advice.
Montana gives you 2 legal ways to homeschool. Pick one and follow its steps.
Option 1: Home school
Parents teaching their own child, stepchild, or ward in the parent's residence.
Steps
- Notify the county superintendent of schools in the county where the home school is located that the child attends your home school. Do this each school fiscal year, which runs July 1 to June 30.
- Plan an organized course of study that includes the subjects required of public schools as the basic instructional program under 20-7-111.
- Provide at least the minimum aggregate hours of instruction each school fiscal year: 720 hours for grades 1 to 3 and 1,080 hours for grades 4 to 12.
- Keep attendance records and make them available to the county superintendent on request.
| Notice to the state | Yes To: The county superintendent of schools in the county where the home school is located When: Each school fiscal year (July 1 to June 30) |
|---|---|
| Subjects | An organized course of study that includes the subjects required of public schools as the basic instructional program under MCA 20-7-111 |
| Time | Minimum aggregate hours each school fiscal year: 360 hours for half-time or 720 hours for full-time kindergarten, 720 hours for grades 1 to 3, and 1,080 hours for grades 4 to 12. 1,050 hours may be enough for graduating seniors. |
| Parent qualifications | Must be the child's parent, instructing the parent's own child, stepchild, or ward. No other qualification required by law. |
| Testing or evaluation | None required by law. The parent is solely responsible for evaluating the home school instruction. |
| Records to keep | Attendance records, made available to the county superintendent on request. |
The law: MCA 20-5-102(2)(e) MCA 20-5-109(2) MCA 20-5-111 MCA 20-1-301
Option 2: Nonpublic school
Families enrolling a child in a parochial, church, religious, or private school.
Steps
- Enroll the child in a nonpublic school that meets 20-5-109(1): it keeps attendance and immunization records, provides the minimum instructional hours, is housed in a building meeting local health and safety rules, and teaches the subjects of the public school basic instructional program.
| Notice to the state | No notice required |
|---|---|
| Subjects | An organized course of study that includes the subjects required of public schools as the basic instructional program under MCA 20-7-111 |
| Time | The minimum aggregate hours under MCA 20-1-301 and 20-1-302 |
| Parent qualifications | None required by law |
| Testing or evaluation | None required by law |
| Records to keep | The school keeps pupil attendance and immunization records and makes them available to the county superintendent on request. |
The law: MCA 20-5-109(1)
High school, transcripts and diplomas
A child in a nonpublic or home school may enroll part time in a public school. When a child from a nonaccredited nonpublic school enrolls in a district school, the district places the child using its own assessment policy, and parents who disagree may request a hearing before the board of trustees.
Public school sports and activities
Yes. MCA 20-5-112 bars school districts and athletic associations from refusing a home school student who meets 20-5-109 the chance to join extracurricular activities in the resident district only because the student is not enrolled or does not attend enough hours. Citizenship and Montana residency may be considered. The student meets the same participation standards as full-time students, and academic eligibility is attested in writing by the instructing educator with verification by the principal, without any student assessment.
After the paperwork
Common questions
Do I have to tell the state I am homeschooling in Montana?
Yes, under the home school route, you notify the county superintendent of schools in the county where the home school is located each school fiscal year (July 1 to June 30).
Is testing required for homeschoolers in Montana?
No. Montana law does not require testing under the home school route. The parent is solely responsible for evaluating the home school instruction.
What subjects are required for homeschooling in Montana?
An organized course of study that includes the subjects required of public schools as the basic instructional program under MCA 20-7-111
What ages must be schooled in Montana?
Ages 7 to 16 (from age 7 before the first day of school until the later of the 16th birthday or completion of 8th grade), per state law.
Sources
- MCA 20-5-102(2)(e)
- MCA 20-5-109(2)
- MCA 20-5-111
- MCA 20-1-301
- MCA 20-5-112
- Montana Office of Public Instruction, Home School Packet
We read each source on Nov 8, 2026 and recheck every guide each quarter. Laws change. If something here no longer matches the state, write to us and we will fix it.