Montana homeschooling requirements explained. Learn about Montana homeschool laws, notification procedures, required subjects, testing rules, parent qualifications, and local support resources.
Montana is a low-regulation state for homeschooling that provides families with broad educational freedom. Parents must file a notification with their county superintendent and provide instruction in required subjects, but there is no testing requirement and minimal government oversight.
Homeschooling is legal in Montana under Montana Code Annotated §20-5-102 and §20-5-109. The state has recognized the right of parents to provide home-based instruction since 1991 and maintains a relatively permissive framework.
Montana provides one primary legal pathway for homeschooling: parents notify the county superintendent and then provide instruction at home in accordance with state requirements. There is no umbrella school system or cover school option in Montana.
Montana's approach to homeschooling reflects its independent spirit — families enjoy significant freedom in curriculum choices and teaching methods while meeting basic notification and subject requirements.
Montana allows homeschooled students to participate in public school extracurricular activities, including sports, under certain conditions. Students must meet eligibility requirements similar to those applied to enrolled students. This provides valuable opportunities for social interaction and competitive activities.
Montana requires homeschooling families to file an annual notification with their county superintendent of schools. This is a simple process designed to ensure the state is aware that the child is being educated.
Parents must file a notification of intent to home school with the county superintendent of schools. This must be filed annually, prior to the start of each school year or before beginning homeschooling if starting mid-year.
The notification form typically includes:
Many county superintendents provide their own notification forms, making the process straightforward. The notification is a simple administrative filing, not a request for permission.
Beyond the annual notification, Montana does not require families to:
The notification process is purely informational — the superintendent does not have the authority to approve or deny your homeschool.
Montana requires that homeschool instruction be provided in certain subjects that are substantially the same as those taught in the public schools. However, families have complete freedom in choosing materials and methods.
Montana's required subjects for homeschoolers include the same core areas taught in public schools:
Montana provides extensive freedom in how these subjects are taught:
The Montana Content Standards are available as an optional reference but are not mandatory for homeschoolers.
Montana law requires that home school instruction be provided in an "organized educational program". This means instruction should be structured and intentional — not haphazard or informal.
However, this does not require following a rigid schedule or specific format. Families have latitude to organize their educational program in whatever way works best for their children, including project-based learning, unit studies, classical education, or unschooling approaches that cover the required subjects.
Montana does not require parents to have a teaching certificate, college degree, or any specific educational credential to homeschool their children.
Any parent or legal guardian may provide home instruction in Montana. The state trusts parents to provide an adequate education without imposing qualification requirements.
There is no requirement for parents to take courses, pass tests, or undergo any training before beginning to homeschool. Montana's approach is that the parent knows their child best and is capable of directing their education.
While no qualifications are needed, Montana homeschooling parents may find it helpful to:
These resources are optional but can help parents feel confident and well-equipped to teach effectively.
The bottom line: no credentials, certifications, or degrees are required to homeschool in Montana. Any parent can do it.
Montana does not require any standardized testing or formal assessments for homeschooled students. There are no annual evaluations, portfolio reviews, or progress reports mandated by the state.
Homeschooled students in Montana are exempt from all state-mandated assessments, including the Smarter Balanced assessments and Montana Comprehensive Assessment System (MontCAS) tests that public school students take.
Many Montana families voluntarily assess their children using:
These are entirely optional and for the family's own use in tracking progress.
Homeschooled students planning for college should consider:
Montana University System schools generally accept homeschool graduates with satisfactory ACT/SAT scores.
Montana's public universities accept homeschool graduates. Students typically need to provide ACT or SAT scores, a homeschool transcript, and any additional documentation required by the specific institution. Check individual university requirements for details.
Montana requires that homeschool instruction be maintained for at least the same number of hours as the local public school district — typically around 180 days per year or approximately 720 instructional hours for elementary and 1,080 hours for high school.
While Montana does not require families to submit attendance records to any authority, families should maintain records to demonstrate compliance with the instructional time requirements if ever questioned.
Although not all records are specifically required by law, maintaining thorough documentation is a best practice:
Good records protect your family, support college applications, and help you track your child's educational progress over time.
For high school students, maintain detailed records of courses taken, grades earned, and credits completed. Montana homeschool parents issue their own diplomas and transcripts.
A well-organized transcript is essential for college applications and may also be needed for employment or military enlistment.
Montana has minimal oversight of homeschooling families. The county superintendent receives the annual notification but has no authority to approve, deny, or evaluate home school programs.
The county superintendent's role is limited to receiving and filing the annual notification. There is no monitoring program, regular inspections, or evaluation process for homeschools in Montana.
Montana's compulsory education law requires children ages 7-16 to receive instruction. Homeschooling satisfies this requirement as long as:
If a family fails to file the notification and the child is not enrolled in any school, the county attendance officer could potentially pursue truancy proceedings.
Montana law does not authorize home visits or inspections by school officials or any government agency for homeschooling purposes. The county superintendent cannot demand entry to your home or require you to demonstrate your teaching methods.
Montana provides clear legal protections for homeschooling families:
Be aware of these potential concerns:
Failing to file annual notification
Not filing your notification with the county superintendent can lead to truancy concerns. Make sure to file before the start of each school year.
Not meeting attendance equivalency
Montana expects homeschool instruction time to be equivalent to public school attendance. Keep a log of your instructional days and hours.
Varying county superintendent expectations
Some county superintendents may request more information than the law requires. Know the specific statutory requirements so you can politely decline overreach.
If your county superintendent requests information beyond what the law requires, refer to Montana Code Annotated §20-5-109 for the specific obligations. You are only required to provide what the statute specifies.
Homeschool advocacy organizations can help if you encounter any difficulties with local officials.
Montana's homeschool community is active and supportive, with organizations and groups throughout the state ready to help families.
MCHE is Montana's statewide homeschool organization, providing:
The OPI provides helpful resources for homeschooling families:
Local homeschool groups across Montana offer:
Groups are active in Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, Helena, Bozeman, and many smaller communities throughout the state.
Legal resources for Montana homeschoolers:
Our AI-powered tools can help Montana homeschoolers with curriculum planning, content creation, and assessment design. Generate customized worksheets, quizzes, and lesson plans that cover all required subject areas while adapting to your child's unique learning style and pace.
Learning Corner offers several AI-powered tools that can assist Montana homeschoolers:
Analyze your student's activity to understand which concepts they're learning, helping Montana homeschool parents track academic progress across required subject areas.
Create custom quizzes and assessments to track student progress and ensure comprehensive coverage of Montana's required subject areas.
Generate customized worksheets for practice and reinforcement across all required Montana subject areas.
Create structured lesson plans that can serve as documentation of your instruction and help maintain recommended records for Montana homeschoolers.
These curriculum providers, apps, and services are available to homeschool families in Montana:
Award-winning early learning app for ages 2-8 covering reading, math, art, and more.
Apps & Software SubscriptionChristian textbook and video-based curriculum trusted by schools and homeschoolers since 1972.
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Supplies & Materials PaidAlternative to SAT/ACT for college admissions, embraced by homeschool families.
Testing & Assessment Services PaidNational network of classical Christian homeschool communities meeting weekly.
Co-ops & Learning Communities PaidLast Updated: March 23, 2026