Montana Homeschool Requirements Checklist
Everything you need to do to homeschool legally in Montana, based on MCA 20-5-109 (Home Schools). Montana is classified as Low regulation.
This is the general checklist for Home School Under MCA 20-5-109, the most common of Montana's 2 pathways. Our free wizard customizes this for your family, including grade, pathway, enrollment status, and IEP.
Your compliance checklist
Do first
File your Notice of Intent
Submit to county superintendent of schools (NOT the local school district superintendent). Deadline: before the start of the school year, or whenever homeschooling begins if starting mid-year.
Deadline: before the start of the school year, or whenever homeschooling begins if starting mid-year
More details
Must include names and ages of children, address where instruction will be provided, and signature of parent or guardian. The notification is not an application for approval — the county superintendent does not have authority to approve or deny homeschooling. OPI provides a suggested notification form on its website.
Withdrawal letter recommended
A formal letter isn't required, but it is recommended if your child is enrolled in school. Send it to current school and county superintendent of schools.
Deadline: Before you start (if enrolled)
More details
If child is currently enrolled in public or private school, parent should submit a written withdrawal letter to the school AND file homeschool notification with the county superintendent. No statutory waiting period between withdrawal and beginning home school.
Ongoing
Required subjects
English language arts / communication arts, mathematics, science, social studies, arts, health and physical education, career education / technology
More details
Statute requires instruction in subjects required of public schools as a basic instructional program per MCA 20-7-111. The Board of Public Education defines these in accreditation standards. No state-approved curriculum list, no requirement to use particular textbooks or materials, and no review or approval of curriculum content by any authority. MCA 20-5-111 confirms parents have sole responsibility for educational philosophy, curriculum selection, instructional methods, and evaluation.
Meet instructional time requirements
Minimum: 180 days/year. You must track and document hours.
More details
720 hours for grades 1-3 (4 hours/day across 180 days). 1,080 hours for grades 4-12 (6 hours/day across 180 days). Mirrors public school requirements in MCA 20-1-301. Parents should maintain an attendance/hour log to document compliance.
Keep basic records
You must maintain: attendance records. Records may be reviewed by the district.
More details
Must maintain attendance records sufficient to demonstrate instructional day and hour requirements have been met. Records are subject to inspection by the county superintendent upon request, though in practice such inspections are very rare. Note: HB778 (signed May 2025) eliminated the immunization record requirement and building compliance requirement for homeschools.
Renew each year
You must renew your homeschool notice each year by before the start of each school year.
Good news
No testing or assessment required
No standardized testing or assessments required under this pathway.
Filing requirements
- What to file
- simple notice
- Send to
- county superintendent of schools (NOT the local school district superintendent)
- Deadline
- before the start of the school year, or whenever homeschooling begins if starting mid-year
- How often
- annual
Must include names and ages of children, address where instruction will be provided, and signature of parent or guardian. The notification is not an application for approval — the county superintendent does not have authority to approve or deny homeschooling. OPI provides a suggested notification form on its website.
MCA 20-5-109 (annual notification to county superintendent)
Ongoing requirements
Required subjects
- ✓English language arts / communication arts
- ✓mathematics
- ✓science
- ✓social studies
- ✓arts
- ✓health and physical education
- ✓career education / technology
Statute requires instruction in subjects required of public schools as a basic instructional program per MCA 20-7-111. The Board of Public Education defines these in accreditation standards. No state-approved curriculum list, no requirement to use particular textbooks or materials, and no review or approval of curriculum content by any authority. MCA 20-5-111 confirms parents have sole responsibility for educational philosophy, curriculum selection, instructional methods, and evaluation.
MCA 20-5-109; MCA 20-7-111 (subjects required of public schools as a basic instructional program)
Instructional time
- Days per year:
- 180
720 hours for grades 1-3 (4 hours/day across 180 days). 1,080 hours for grades 4-12 (6 hours/day across 180 days). Mirrors public school requirements in MCA 20-1-301. Parents should maintain an attendance/hour log to document compliance.
MCA 20-5-109; MCA 20-1-301 (180 days; 720 hours grades 1-3; 1,080 hours grades 4-12)
Recordkeeping
- ✓Attendance records
Records may be reviewed by the district.
Must maintain attendance records sufficient to demonstrate instructional day and hour requirements have been met. Records are subject to inspection by the county superintendent upon request, though in practice such inspections are very rare. Note: HB778 (signed May 2025) eliminated the immunization record requirement and building compliance requirement for homeschools.
MCA 20-5-109 (attendance records; inspection by county superintendent)
Reporting
- Annual renewal
- Required by before the start of each school year
MCA 20-5-109 (annual notification to county superintendent)
What you don't need to worry about
No testing or assessment required
No standardized testing or assessments required under this pathway.
Other ways to homeschool in Montana
This checklist covers Home School Under MCA 20-5-109, the most common pathway. Montana offers 2 different ways to homeschool, each with different requirements:
- •Home School Under MCA 20-5-109(this checklist) : You notify your county superintendent annually before the school year starts, teach seven required subjects, and provide 180 days of instruction (720 hours for grades 1-3, 1,080 hours for grades 4-12). No testing required, and while attendance records must be maintained, they are rarely inspected in practice.
- •Non-Public (Private) School : You operate as a non-public (private) school, filing an annual report with the county superintendent. Montana private schools are relatively unregulated — same subject and instructional time requirements apply, but with less individual oversight. Some families form small group schools or co-ops under this pathway.
Our wizard helps you choose the right one. Compare all pathways for Montana
Related guides
Get your personalized checklist
This is the general checklist for the most common pathway. The wizard customizes it for your family's specific situation, including grade, pathway, and IEP status.
Get your Montana checklistRequirements sourced from MCA 20-5-109 (Home Schools). Verified against primary legal sources. Last verified: March 2026