Montana

Montana has low regulation homeschool laws with strong parental rights protections.

Key Statutes

2025 Law Update — HB778

On May 13, 2025, Governor Gianforte signed HB778:

• Eliminated requirement to maintain immunization records
• Eliminated housing regulation requirement
• Montana now has only FOUR requirements (down from six)

Step 1: Notify the County Superintendent

File notice of intent with the County Superintendent of Schools (NOT the local school district superintendent).

When: Prior to the first day of public school in the school fiscal year (July 1 – June 30)

Method: Phone call, letter, email, visit, or form

What to include: Simply state your intent to homeschool. You are NOT required to provide birth certificates, curriculum, lesson plans, or prior year records.

Step 2: Maintain Attendance Records

Keep records of instructional hours — submitted only IF REQUESTED.

Step 3: Provide Required Instruction

Teach an organized course of study covering required subjects for the required hours.

Current Requirements (Post-HB778, May 2025)

What Montana Does NOT Require

• No testing or assessment
• No curriculum approval
• No teacher qualifications
• No portfolio submission
• No immunization records (as of May 2025)

Parent Rights (MCA 20-5-111)

Parents are solely responsible for educational philosophy, curriculum selection, time/place/method of instruction, and evaluation.

Montana provides full access to public school extracurricular activities.

Legal Basis — MCA 20-5-112 (SB157, 2021)

"A school district or athletic association... may not prohibit or restrict the ability of a student attending a nonpublic or home school from participating in extracurricular activities at a school in the student's resident school district."

What This Means

• Homeschoolers can participate in ANY extracurricular activity
• NO enrollment in academic classes required
• NO minimum attendance hours required
• Applies to sports, band, choir, clubs, etc.

Academic Eligibility

Parent/educator attests in writing, verified by school principal. NO student assessment may be required for verification.

Resident School District

Students must participate at the school in their resident school district.

Legal Basis — HB396 (2023)

Montana law allows homeschool students to enroll part-time in public school.

"A child enrolled in a nonpublic or home school may enroll on a part-time basis in a public school." — MCA 20-5-102(2)(e)

How It Works

• Contact local public school to request part-time enrollment
• School trustees must admit part-time students upon parental request
• Part-time enrollment counts toward school funding (ANB)

Important Notes

• Part-time students may need to meet public school requirements (such as immunizations)
• Does NOT affect your status as a homeschooler
• You remain the primary education provider

No State Requirements

Montana does NOT regulate homeschool graduation. Parents determine graduation requirements, required courses, grading standards, and diploma format.

Parent-Issued Diplomas

Parents may issue their own diploma. There is no state diploma for homeschoolers.

Hours for Graduating Seniors

Graduating seniors may complete a minimum of 1,050 hours instead of the standard 1,080.

Recommended High School Credits

For college-bound students, consider Montana public school college prep requirements: English (4 years), Math (3 years through Algebra II), Science (3 years with 2 lab), Social Studies (3 years), World Language/Vocational/Arts (2 years).

Montana colleges welcome homeschool applicants.

Montana State University (Bozeman)

• Provide final homeschool transcript
• Submit ACT/SAT scores (helpful but not required for admission)

University of Montana (Missoula)

• Complete undergraduate application
• Homeschool transcript signed by parent/guardian
• ACT/SAT for direct UM admission (not required for Missoula College)

Tips for Applicants

1. Maintain detailed transcripts throughout high school
2. Take standardized tests (ACT/SAT) — helpful for placement
3. Document extracurriculars
4. Start early — contact admissions during junior year
5. Consider dual enrollment

Compulsory Attendance Ages

Ages 7-16 — Notification not required after age 16.

Kindergarten

Not compulsory. Half-time K = 360 hours; Full-time K = 720 hours.

Special Education

Through part-time enrollment, homeschoolers may access public school services. Contact local district for options.

Immunizations

As of May 2025 (HB778): Homeschoolers no longer required to maintain immunization records for County Superintendent.

Moving to Montana

File notification with County Superintendent. You're immediately legal once notified.

Montana combines:

1. Low regulation — No testing, no curriculum approval
2. Strong parental rights — MCA 20-5-111 explicitly protects parent authority
3. Full sports access — SB157 guarantees extracurricular participation
4. Part-time enrollment option — HB396 allows public school classes
5. 2025 law improvements — HB778 reduced requirements further

Comparison Table

*Texas requires notification only when withdrawing from public school