Montana

Homeschool statute: Parents must file annual notice with the local superintendent, provide required hours of instruction in “the subjects required of public schools as a basic instructional program,” and maintain attendance and immunization records. There are no parent qualification or assessment requirements.

Homeschool Statute

“A home school is the instruction by a parent of the parent’s child, stepchild or ward in the parent’s residence.” See Mont. Code Ann. §§ 20-5-102(2)(e) and 20-5-109.

Notification

Parents must annually notify the county superintendent of their intent to homeschool.

Qualifications

None.

Days Or Hours

For grades 1, 2, and 3, 720 hours of instruction each year; for grades 4 through 12, 1,080 hours of instruction each year.

Subjects

Parents must provide “an organized course of study that includes instruction in the subjects required of public schools as a basic instructional program,” as defined and specified by the board of public education. See Mont. Code Ann. § 20-7-111.

Bookkeeping

Parents must maintain attendance and immunization records and make both available for inspection by the county superintendent upon request.

Assessment

None.

Intervention

If annual notice is not provided, children will be considered truant. Failure to educate is included in the state’s definition of neglect. If a family is reported to the Child & Family Services Division for educational neglect, that agency may open an investigation and involve the county superintendent. In this case, parents must demonstrate that they are providing the required hours of instruction in the required subjects of instruction.

Other

Comply with local health and safety regulations.

Services Available to Homeschooled Students

Part-Time Enrollment

Varies by district. In Kaptein v. Conrad School District (1997), the Montana Supreme Court ruled that school districts cannot be compelled to allow homeschooled students to take public school classes or participate in other public school programs.

Sports Access

No. Homeschooled students may be allowed to participate in club sports or in public school sports during grades K-8. However, homeschooled students are not permitted to participate in public school sports governed by the Montana High School Association (MHSA).

Other Extra-Curriculars

Disabilities

Varies by district. While public schools must offer evaluations to all students with disabilities within their districts regardless of what school they attend or whether they are homeschooled, public schools in Montana have no obligation to provide additional services to homeschooled students with disabilities.

Other

n/a