Below is a summary of Montana Homeschool Laws to help you ensure your homeschool is compliant.
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Note: The information below is not to be considered legal advice. I’m a homeschool mom with an interest in helping you, not a lawyer. I strongly recommend that you contact your state education department if you have questions specific to your circumstances.
Homeschool
Montana has requirements for core subjects, attendance, immunizations, and minimum hours of instruction.
Can I Teach?
There is no requirement for you to meet in order to teach.
Do I Have to Notify the State?
Yes. You must notify your local superintendent every year that your child is being homeschooled.
I’d recommend doing this in writing and retaining a copy of the notification for your records.
Required Subjects
Montana requires you to teach its core subjects including:
- English
- Math
- Social Studies
- Science
- Health
- Fine Arts
- Career Education
Attendance
You must keep attendance records to be provided upon request from the superintendent. (More on required instruction time below).
Immunization Records
Montana requires you to keep immunization records to be provided upon request to the superintendent. For more information on Montana’s immunization requirements, contact the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.
How Many Days a Year do I Have to Teach?
Montana requires that you provide minimum instruction hours between July 1st and June 30th.
- Half day Kindergarten: 360 hours
- Full day Kindergarten – Grade 3: 720 hours
- Grade 4 – Grade 12: 1,080 hours
Attendance records are required to show you’re meeting this requirement.
Compulsory Attendance Age
The compulsory attendance age is the age range in which your child must be attending school of some type.
In Montana, your child must be enrolled if they are 7 years old before the first day of school until 16 years old, or until they have completed 8th grade (whichever is later).
Public School Sports
The Montana High School Association (MHSA) allows homeschool students to participate in public school extracurricular activities. Your local school principal may need to review your curriculum to ensure it meets academic eligibility standards.
Contact your local school for more information.
Wrapping Up
Hopefully this summary of Montana Homeschool Laws gets you started on your homeschool journey with your family!
If you’re just getting started, you’re probably feeling a bit overwhelmed.
The Home Learning Kit can help!
It’s a package of handy learning tools to make your homeschool more fun and engaging, curated by yours truly. Check it out!
