How to withdraw your child from public school and homeschool in Montana

Step by step

1. Step 1. Know what Montana requires to start

   A home school must notify the county superintendent of schools of the county where the home school is located in each school fiscal year (MCA 20-5-109(2)(a)); this is notice, with no approval stated. The statute does not specify the content of the notice, and no official state form was found. Section 20-5-109 was amended in 2025 (Ch. 724), and its current home school list no longer includes the immunization record and building items that a county form still quotes.

2. Step 2. Leave the school the right way

   The statutes say nothing about a separate withdrawal from the district; the child is excused from enrollment if in a home school that meets 20-5-109. No exit meeting or waiting period appears in the statutes, and it is common courtesy to inform the school in writing.

3. Step 3. Watch the deadlines

   Notice is required in each school fiscal year (July 1 to June 30), but the statute sets no deadline date or number of days. A child must be 7 or older before the first day of school for compulsory enrollment to apply.

4. Step 4. Ask for your child’s records

   MCA 20-5-109(2)(b) requires the home school to keep attendance records and make them available to the county superintendent on request. A state rule on the family's access to the former school's records was not found in primary sources. Under federal FERPA (34 CFR 99.10) a parent has the right to inspect and review the child's education records, and the school must respond within 45 days of a request.

5. Step 5. If your child has an IEP or a 504 plan

   State-specific withdrawal rules for a child with an IEP or 504 plan were not found in primary sources. Under 34 CFR 300.300(b)(4) a parent can revoke consent for special education services in writing, after which the school must give prior written notice and may not continue the services.

Before you pull your child out

A letter you can fill in

Fill in the boxes and copy the letter. It is built from what we found above for Montana: Montana does not list required contents, so it covers the basics. Check it against the state office before you send it.

[today's date]

To: The county superintendent of schools of the county where I live [name and address]

Re: Notice of intent to home school, [child's full name]

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am the parent of [child's full name], born [date of birth], who is currently enrolled in grade [grade] at [name of current school]. Under Mont. Code Ann. 20-5-102(2)(e) and 20-5-109(2), I am notifying you that I will be providing a home education program for my child beginning [start date].

Please also treat this letter as my notice that my child is withdrawn from [name of current school] effective [start date].

I also request a copy of my child's education records, including the cumulative file, attendance and any testing records. Please send them to the address below.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

[your name]
[your address]

Who to ask in Montana

Montana Office of Public Instruction, Legal Division (no state home school page found; notice goes to the county superintendent), last checked October 2026.

A plain-language summary of public sources, not legal advice. Laws and forms change, so confirm the current rules with the state office before you send anything.

Questions