Homeschool by State
Homeschooling in Montana: Requirements, Records & How to Get Started
Everything Montana families need to homeschool with confidence — the law in plain English, the records to keep, and the tools to generate them in minutes.
Idaho homeschool law, summarized
Montana has a few clear requirements to follow
What Montana actually requires
Montana homeschooling is overseen at the county level: each school year (the fiscal year running July 1 to June 30) the parent files a notice of intent to homeschool with the county superintendent of schools. The home school must maintain an organized course of study covering the subjects required in the public schools — English/language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, health, the arts, and career education — and meet the state’s instructional-time minimum. That minimum is 180 school days, or the equivalent of at least 1,080 hours of instruction for grades 4-12 and at least 720 hours for grades 1-3. Montana sets no teacher-qualification standard and requires no standardized testing, so parents keep full control over methods and materials.
Montana’s recordkeeping is light but specific. Parents must keep attendance records and immunization records (or a signed exemption) for each homeschooled child, and they must make the attendance records available to the county superintendent if asked. The building used must also meet applicable local health and safety standards. Because the state does not collect test scores or curriculum, a straightforward daily attendance-and-hours log is the backbone of compliance — it both proves the 180 days and 1,080 hours and satisfies the superintendent’s inspection right. Retaining those logs, immunization paperwork, and a course-of-study outline each year keeps a Montana family audit-ready with minimal effort.
Official Montana resources
Always confirm current rules directly with the state. These are the authoritative sources:
Montana Office of Public Instruction opi.mt.gov ↗HSLDA — Montana Homeschool Laws hslda.org ↗
The records smart Montana families keep
Keeping clean, organized records is the simplest way for Montana families to stay ready for anything — and Homeschool Reports generates each one in minutes.
Generate Montana-ready records without the busywork
Enter your students once and produce attendance logs, report cards, and transcripts whenever you need them — no spreadsheets, no formatting headaches.
Choosing a Montana homeschool curriculum
Montana gives families broad freedom to choose the curriculum and materials that fit their child — from full boxed programs to a custom mix. Whatever you choose, keeping simple records of what you cover makes the year far easier to document.
Homeschooling in neighboring states
Common questions about homeschooling in Montana
Who do I notify to homeschool in Montana?
Your county superintendent of schools. You file a notice of intent to homeschool each school fiscal year (July 1 to June 30).
How many days or hours must I teach in Montana?
180 school days, or at least 1,080 hours of instruction for grades 4-12 and at least 720 hours for grades 1-3.
Does Montana require testing?
No. Montana does not require standardized testing or academic assessment of homeschooled students.
What records do I have to keep?
Attendance records and immunization (or exemption) records; the attendance records must be available to the county superintendent on request.
Start homeschooling Montana with confidence
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