Montana Homeschooling Laws
The law in Montana allows homeschooling. The requirements to start a home study program are provided in this page. Parents who choose to homeschool are not required to hold specific qualifications nor are students forced to take the annual standardized test.
The following steps must be followed to start a homeschool in Montana:
- Submit a letter of intention to start homeschooling
- Maintain the student’s immunization and attendance records
- Observe the safety regulations and health guidelines stipulated
- Ensure the required instructional hours are met
- Ensure the required subjects are taught
This page provides more information on:
- Requirements to Homeschool in Montana
- Recordkeeping for Homeschoolers in Montana
- Requirements for Graduation in Montana
- Switching form Homeschool to Public School
*This information is by no means intended as legal advice; its purpose is merely informational. It is each parent’s responsibility to get informed and understand the applicable homeschooling laws which regulate homeschooling in his or her state.
Requirements and Laws on Homeschooling in Montana
Parents are required by the law to observe the following:
- Submit a notice of intent to homeschool to the superintendent of your county
- Have a well-organized curriculum with the required subjects
- Keep the student’s immunization records as well as the attendance records
- Have the homeschool situated at a place that is in compliance with the existing health and safety standards.
- Provide instruction for the required amount of time per year
For the students previously enrolled in a public school or private school, it is a good idea to submit a formal withdrawal to avoid any truancy complications. Parents are also required to notify the county superintendent between 1st of July and 30th June of the location of the homeschool their child is attending each school fiscal year.
The student’s immunization records (or a medical or religious exemption from immunizations) or attendance records shall be maintained at the homeschool and submitted to the superintendent of the county upon request.
The required instructional hours for grades 1 to 3 are 720 hours per academic year, for grades 4 to 12, 1080 hours for every academic year. The subjects taught must be the same as those taught in public schools for students in the same grade. The subjects include:
- Math
- Science
- Arts
- Health
- English language arts
- Social studies
- Career education
Parents can choose the textbooks and other learning materials to satisfy the above requirement. Also be sure to follow all health and safety regulations applicable to homes.
Notice of Intent to Homeschool in Montana and Evaluation Records
For students previously enrolled in a public school, parents are advised to submit a withdrawal letter to avoid truancy complications.
Recordkeeping for Homeschoolers in Montana
The only records parents are required to maintain are immunization and attendance records which they should make available to the superintendent upon request. Parents however keep homeschool portfolios which show the child’s academic records. Some of the things that can be included in the portfolio include: written assignments, artwork, worksheets, grades awarded etc.
For students considering joining colleges, parents are advised to research on the qualifications to join a college and have the high school transcript align with those.
Requirements for Graduation in Montana
Homeschoolers are awarded a different high school diploma from the students in public school despite learning the same subjects. For homeschoolers to get a high school diploma equivalent to that awarded to public school students, they have to pass the HiSET test. Students considering college or any other post high school education are advised to take the SAT and PSAT exams whichever is acceptable at the particular college/university. It is therefore a good idea to research on the requirements to join a college before graduating from high school
The chart below shows the comparison between graduation requirements in public school and homeschool in Montana.
| Public/Private School | Homeschool | |
|---|---|---|
|
Diploma requirements in Montana |
To graduate, the student must complete a minimum of 20 credits to be awarded a diploma in Montana. |
Parents in Montana have the liberty to determine when their student will graduate. They then proceed to award the high school diploma under their own terms. |
| Testing requirements in Montana | N/A |
There is no law in Montana that compels or forces homeschoolers to undertake a test as a requirement in order to graduate high school. Students may choose to undertake the EOC evaluations with the approval of the school district. |
|
Montana high school transcripts |
Schools make and maintain the transcripts on file. Information on the credits earned from grade 9 to grade 12 must be included. |
Parents in Montana can create the homeschoolers’ transcripts which may include information they considered relevant to institutions the homeschoolers may intend to apply to. This may include schools, colleges, workplace organizations, or the military. |
|
High school course credits in Montana |
Of the 20 required credits to graduate, 13 must be in the following areas:
|
Many parents in Montana choose to specify or assign academic credits to the courses taken during the homeschooling period as this may aid during the transcript creation process. |
|
Eligibility for GED in Montana |
To take the Montana GED test, you must meet the following eligibility requirements: At least 18 years of age or older. Montana resident. Withdrawn from high school for a minimum of six months |
Homeschoolers in Montana are eligible if they meet the same criteria as public school students. |
Homeschool High School Transcript Template
Track your homeschooler’s credits, courses, and accomplishments with this free homeschool high school transcript template.
Download the transcript template
Switching from Homeschooling to Public School in Montana
Each school has different procedures and regulations to be observed while enrolling new students. It is the parent’s responsibility to consult with the school he/she chooses for the student to get the specific procedure on enrollment. Some schools may allow the parent to decide what grade the student should be placed while others may request homeschooling academic records for review. Other schools may require the student to take a placement test.
Lernsys Homeschooling makes it easy to keep a summary of the curriculum used including grades, topics covered, quiz and test scores, teacher credentials, etc.
Additional Resources Related to Homeschooling in Montana
Have other questions about homeschooling in Montana? You may find the following pages helpful.
