Blaine County Superintendent of Schools, Valerie White, reported that her office has recently been receiving an increase in the number of calls regarding homeschooling. White wants Blaine County residents to know that families considering homeschooling should not only understand Montana’s homeschool requirements but know the laws governing this academic option and the significant commitment required.

The coronavirus pandemic, which thrust the country into a mass homeschooling experiment, may be the cause of that uptick in calls and may even have inspired some parents to continue this form of education once the crisis passes. Whether that materializes is yet to be seen, but fears about safety concerns and the impact of social distancing guidelines may be putting homeschooling on the radar of more parents.

“What parents and students recently experienced isn’t traditional homeschooling,” White stated. “It was schooling at home that was guided by certified teachers with curriculum training. Rather than following plans developed by parents, students were adhering to guidance from their local schools through virtual learning and lessons sent home. In traditional homeschooling, all the help, planning, and locating of suitable learning materials will be on the parents.”

For families who may be wondering how to continue at-home instruction, White explained that Montana is basically a homeschool-friendly state. Parents are not required to have any specific qualifications in order to teach their children, nor do students have to take part in yearly standardized testing. Montana homeschool laws only have a handful of requirements that families must comply with, and her office or the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) in Helena can answer questions and provide support.

OPI can provide a summary of Montana law pertaining to homeschooling. Statutes governing this educational option can be found in the 2019 Montana Code Annotated and have been in effect for many years. In essence, Montana law states: “Except as provided in [Mont. Code Ann. §20-5-102(2)], any parent, guardian, or other person who is responsible for the care of any child who is 7 years of age or older prior to the first day of school in any school fiscal year shall cause the child to be instructed in the program prescribed by the board of public education pursuant to 20-7-111 until the later of the following dates: (a) the child’s 16th birthday; (b) the date of completion of the work of the 8th grade.”

If a child is currently enrolled in private or public school, it is advisable that the parents first formally withdraw him or her in order to avoid any conflicting issues. Next, Montana homeschool laws require parents to do the following:

• Notify the county superintendent of intentions to homeschool your child(ren).

• Maintain attendance and immunization records and make these records available to the county superintendent of schools upon request.

• Homeschool in a location that complies with local health and safety regulations.

• Provide an organized course of study that includes instruction in the subjects required of public schools for a basic instructional program.

• Teach the required hours of instruction each year.

In addition to teaching for 720 hours per school year for grades 1-3; and 1,080 hours for grades 4-12, families must also teach the same subjects as public schools for their student’s grade. These typically include

• English Language Arts

• Math

• Social Studies

• Science

• Health

• Arts

• Career Education

Parents are free to choose any curriculum and/or materials to meet these requirements for a basic instructional program.

“Homeschool curricula, across all grade levels, can be found in abundance online and can be tailored to family preferences. The options range from educational giants like Pearson to lesser-known organizations that emphasize religious education,” White explained. “Really, what it basically comes down to is the willingness of the parent to invest the time, because that’s what you’re asking of a school teacher – to invest the time. Staying organized is also critical to the process.”

Because of Governor Steve Bullock’s Stay at Home Directive issued in mid-March, Blaine County parents were forced to experience first-hand what homeschooling might be like. If Facebook posts reflecting frustration are a valid indicator, a large majority of parents came to a deeper appreciation of what local schools do to serve children.

However, some parents found themselves attracted to a form of schooling they would never otherwise have considered. For these parents, White hopes they will consult her office and examine the policies and the homeschooling supports available.