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2026 State Guide
Homeschooling in Montana: Requirements & Rules
Homeschooling is legal in Montana, and requirements are minimal — typically a simple notification. Here’s everything you need to stay compliant, in plain English.
- Regulation level
- Low
- Notification
- Annual notice
- Instruction time
- 1080 hours/year
- Required subjects
- 7 subjects
- Assessment
- Not required
- Recordkeeping
- Required
- Compulsory ages
- 7–16
Notification
Montana requires annual notice, due annual.
File annual notice with the county superintendent of schools.
Instruction time
Montana requires 1080 hours of instruction per school year.
Minimum aggregate hours per school year: 720 for grades 1–3, 1,080 for grades 4–12.
Required subjects
- Reading
- Mathematics
- Language arts
- Social studies
- Science
- Health
- Physical education
Instruction must include basics similar to public school.
Assessment & testing
No statewide testing or assessment is required in Montana.
No assessment requirement.
Recordkeeping
Montana requires homeschool families to maintain records.
Attendance records must be maintained and made available to the county superintendent on request (MCA 20-5-109).
Parent qualifications
None required.
Track Montana’s requirements automatically
Homeschool Wizard logs your school days, hours, and subjects against Montana’s rules — and turns them into portfolio PDFs, transcripts, and report cards when you need them. Free for one student.
Private by design: your family’s records stay on your device.
Frequently asked questions
Is homeschooling legal in Montana?
Yes — homeschooling is legal in all 50 states. In Montana, requirements are minimal — typically a simple notification. Children ages 7–16 fall under compulsory education law.
Do I have to notify anyone to homeschool in Montana?
Yes. Montana requires annual notice — annual. File annual notice with the county superintendent of schools.
How many days or hours of instruction does Montana require?
Montana requires 1080 hours of instruction per year. Minimum aggregate hours per school year: 720 for grades 1–3, 1,080 for grades 4–12.
What subjects are required in Montana?
Montana requires: Reading, Mathematics, Language arts, Social studies, Science, Health, Physical education. Instruction must include basics similar to public school.
Is testing or assessment required for homeschoolers in Montana?
No statewide assessment is required in Montana. No assessment requirement.
What records do homeschoolers need to keep in Montana?
Montana requires families to keep homeschool records. Attendance records must be maintained and made available to the county superintendent on request (MCA 20-5-109).
Official sources
Verify current requirements with the Montana Department of Education and HSLDA’s Montana page.
Not legal advice. This data is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Homeschool laws change frequently. Always verify requirements with your state's Department of Education or a qualified homeschool legal organization before making compliance decisions. Requirements shown were last verified 2026-09.