MT · Homeschool requirements
Low regulation

Homeschooling in Montana: requirements, laws & how to start

Montana requires an annual notice to your county superintendent, attendance and immunization records, and instruction in the basic subjects — no testing, no reviews.

Homeschooling is legal in Montana and refreshingly low-friction. Each year you notify your county superintendent of schools that you're homeschooling, keep attendance and immunization records on hand, and provide instruction in the same basic subject areas public schools cover.

There's no standardized testing, no curriculum approval, and no home visits. Montana does expect your homeschool to run for roughly the same instructional time as public schools — commonly cited as around 720 hours a year for the early grades and 1,080 for older students — which a normal homeschool schedule meets easily.

What Montana requires

Notice & registration

Send a written notice to your county superintendent of schools each school year stating that you're homeschooling. It's informational — no approval process follows.

Required subjects

Provide an organized course of instruction in the basic subject areas required of public schools — reading, writing, math, science, social studies, health, and the arts are the safe framework to plan around.

Records & attendance

Keep attendance records and immunization records at home, available if requested. Aim for instructional hours in line with the public school calendar for your child's grade span.

How to start homeschooling in Montana
  1. 1

    Find your county superintendent of schools (a county office, not the local district) and send your annual notice.

  2. 2

    Withdraw your child from their current school if enrolled.

  3. 3

    Start an attendance log — a calendar with school days checked off satisfies the record requirement.

  4. 4

    Gather immunization records or the applicable exemption documentation for your file.

  5. 5

    Choose a curriculum covering the basic subjects at your child's real level — Cullinan Academy places each child adaptively and tracks attendance-worthy activity automatically.

The record-keeping part, handled.

Whatever Montana asks for — attendance, subject coverage, progress evidence, transcripts — Cullinan Academy tracks it automatically as your kids learn: verified mastery records, time-on-task, printable transcripts with GPA, and state report templates. No spreadsheet required.

Montana homeschool FAQs
Who do I notify in Montana — the school district or the county?

The county superintendent of schools, which is a county office separate from your local district. One short letter per year does it.

Does Montana require testing for homeschoolers?

No. There is no standardized testing or assessment requirement.

How many hours of school does Montana expect?

Roughly matching public schools — commonly cited as about 720 hours annually in the early grades and 1,080 for older students. Verify current figures with your county office when you file.

Do I need qualifications to homeschool in Montana?

No degree or certification is required. The parent providing instruction simply needs to maintain the notice, records, and subject coverage described above.

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This page is general information, not legal advice. Homeschool law changes, and districts sometimes apply it differently. Verify current requirements with your state's department of education or a local homeschool association before filing anything. Content last reviewed 2026-07.

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