Homeschool funding & ESAs in Montana

Can I get paid to homeschool in Montana?

No. Montana has no ESA or voucher that independent homeschooling families can use. Nationwide grants are listed below, each with its own eligibility rules. Romeschool tracks and organizes what you spend, so a receipt is ready the moment a program asks for one — it never files or submits anything on your behalf. Montana's homeschool rules require no test or evaluation of their own, so there is nothing on that side to arrange.

What does Montana require of homeschoolers — and what should I plan for?

Montana does not require a test or an evaluation, so there is no assessment to arrange. What Montana asks for — notice, instruction time, testing and records — is set out below, straight from the reviewed rules.

Notice

Yes. Montana requires homeschooling families to file a notice. Where it goes: County superintendent of schools. How: Written notification (no mandated form; a letter is acceptable; no notarization). When: Annually, before the first day of public school each fiscal year (Jul 1–Jun 30). Parents have full discretion over philosophy, curriculum, materials, time, place, and method.

Testing or evaluation

No. Montana does not require standardized testing for homeschooled students. No state testing policy for homeschools; parents are solely responsible for evaluation.

Days and hours

Montana's rule: 720 hours/year for grades 1–3; 1,080 hours/year for grades 4–12. Maintain attendance records.

Records

Montana requires these records: attendance records. How long, or where they go: Available to the county superintendent on request. Attendance records are the only records a home school must keep, and they are shown to the county superintendent on request rather than submitted (MCA § 20-5-109(2)(b)). The immunization records many guides still list were removed for home schools by HB 778 (Ch. 724, L. 2025); that duty now sits in § 20-5-109(1)(a), which applies to nonpublic schools.

Full Montana homeschool requirements →

Nationwide grants

• ACT Today! Grant · Autism Care Today
  For U.S. families of a child with an autism diagnosis (priority to household income under $100k).
  Open to any family of a child with autism — not homeschool-specific, but useful for therapy costs.
• Dyslexia Services Foundation Grant · Dyslexia Services Foundation
  For low-income U.S. children with dyslexia who cannot otherwise afford treatment (need shown via free/reduced lunch, Medicaid, or SNAP).
  Typically identified through a teacher or provider; not homeschool-specific.
• HSLDA Compassion Curriculum Grant · Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
  For HSLDA members with significant financial need (legal custody of a child 6-19, homeschooling 3+ months).
  You must privately fund your homeschool (not receiving ESA or other public funds).
• HSLDA Disaster Relief Grant · Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
  For homeschooling families (child 6-19) with physical disaster damage in the past 18 months.
• MyGOAL Autism Grant · MyGOAL Inc.
  For the primary caregiver of a child under 18 with autism, with demonstrated financial need.
  Open to any family of a child with autism — not homeschool-specific.
• Our Military Kids Grant · Our Military Kids
  For children (1-18) of deployed National Guard/Reserve members (60+ days) or of post-9/11 combat-injured service members and veterans.
  Funds organized, provider-led activities (not parent-taught core instruction).
• UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation Grant · UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation
  For U.S. children aged 16 or under with commercial (non-public) health insurance, subject to income guidelines.
  Medical (not education) funding — useful for special-needs homeschoolers' therapy costs.

Full details, amounts and deadlines for every program →