Montana homeschool families operate under the state's home-school statute. Notification is filed with the county superintendent, the program follows specified subject areas and instructional time, and the parent issues the diploma.
Legal framework
Home schools are governed by Montana Code Annotated §20-5-109 and §20-5-111. The Montana Office of Public Instruction's Home Schools page publishes current notification forms and guidance.
Notification & registration
Parents file an annual Notification of Intent to Home School with the county superintendent at the start of each school year.
Recordkeeping
Montana requires at least 180 days of instruction (or 720/1,080 hours depending on grade level) in the basic subject areas, and parents must maintain attendance and immunization records. There is no state testing requirement.
Graduation requirements
Montana does not prescribe specific high school graduation requirements for home-school students. The parent determines completion. Aligning the transcript with the Montana public high school graduation requirements is a useful reference.
Who issues the diploma
The parent operating the home school issues the diploma in the name of the family's home school.
College & military recognition
Montana University System institutions admit home-school graduates routinely. Homeschool graduates qualify for Tier 1 military enlistment under current DoD policy.
Official source
For current statutory text, forms, and procedural updates, the authoritative source is the Montana Office of Public Instruction - Home Schools. Homeschool laws change, so confirm specific requirements directly with the state before relying on them.