Homeschool laws in Montana
Checked Oct 12, 2026 against 5 sources · General information, not legal advice.
Your Montana to-do
- Notify the county superintendent of schools Every year
Once in each school fiscal year (July 1 to June 30), to the county superintendent of the county where the home school is located; the law sets no specific date.
Homepen turns this into reminders and ready-to-send letters, and counts your days and hours.
Get early accessComing soon to iPhone, iPad and Android
What Montana asks
Montana parents notify their county superintendent of schools once in each school fiscal year (July 1 to June 30) that their child attends their home school, keep attendance records, and teach the subjects required of public schools for at least 720 hours a year in grades 1-3 or 1,080 hours in grades 4-12. There are no required tests or teacher qualifications, and the parent is responsible for evaluating the instruction.
School age: Ages 7–15. A child who is 7 or older before the first day of school in a school fiscal year must be instructed until the later of the 16th birthday or the completion of 8th grade, so some children are covered after 16.
Home school
Mont. Code Ann. § 20-5-102(2)(e); § 20-5-109(2); § 20-5-111; § 20-1-301 · Level 3: Moderate
- Notice: tell your county superintendent once each school year (Jul-Jun)
- Time: 720 hours (grades 1-3) / 1,080 hours (grades 4-12) a year
- Subjects: those required of Montana public schools
- Assessment: none required; the parent evaluates
- Records: attendance, shown to the county superintendent on request
All the details, deadlines and notes
- Notice
- Every year: In each school fiscal year (July 1 to June 30): notify the county superintendent of schools of the county where the home school is located of the student's attendance at the home school. The law sets no specific date or form.
- Time
- 720 hours (grades 1–3) or 1,080 hours (grades 4–12)
Minimum aggregate hours each school fiscal year (July 1 to June 30): 720 hours in grades 1-3 and 1,080 hours in grades 4-12; 1,050 hours may be enough for graduating seniors. Kindergarten is 360 hours (half-time) or 720 hours (full-time). The parent chooses the time, place and method of instruction. - Subjects
- an organized course of study with the subjects required of Montana public schools as the basic instructional program (set by the Board of Public Education)
- Assessment
- No assessment required
- Portfolio
- Not required
- Reports
- No reports to send
- Records to keep
- pupil attendance records, available to the county superintendent on request
- Teacher
- No qualification required
Deadlines
- Notify the county superintendent of schools: Once in each school fiscal year (July 1 to June 30), to the county superintendent of the county where the home school is located; the law sets no specific date.
How Homepen helps
Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons toward this goal, and makes: Notice-of-intent letter, filled in, Attendance & hours report, Daily log, Year-end summary, Report card, High-school transcript.
Sources
- Mont. Code Ann. § 20-5-109 Nonpublic and home school requirements for compulsory enrollment exemption (MCA 2025, amended by Ch. 724, L. 2025) · Statute · checked Oct 12, 2026
- Mont. Code Ann. § 20-5-102 Compulsory enrollment and excuses (MCA 2025) · Statute · checked Oct 12, 2026
- Mont. Code Ann. § 20-1-301 School fiscal year (minimum aggregate hours) (MCA 2025) · Statute · checked Oct 12, 2026
- Mont. Code Ann. § 20-5-111 Responsibilities and rights of parent who provides home school (MCA 2025) · Statute · checked Oct 12, 2026
- Mont. Code Ann. § 20-7-111 Instruction in public schools (MCA 2025) · Statute · checked Oct 12, 2026
General information, not legal advice. Laws change: we check every source at least every 6 months and before each school year. If something looks wrong, tell us. The state agency for homeschooling questions is the Montana Office of Public Instruction.
Keep your Montana records without the paperwork
Plan the week, tick lessons, and Homepen keeps the days, hours and portfolio Montana asks for.
Get early accessComing soon to iPhone, iPad and Android