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Enlightium Academy is a private Christian school that is accredited by Cognia and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Enlightium has served homeschool, online, and co-op school students in K-12 since 2003. As K-12 education policies are different in each state, it is a parental responsibility to check on their state’s homeschool requirements and fulfill them as applicable. To assist parents with this process, Enlightium provides basic information about each state’s requirements. Parents are also encouraged to review their state’s requirements at hslda.org/legal and/or the Montana Office of Public Instruction, as educational policies are subject to change over time.
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and Washington D.C. With this freedom comes a responsibility to understand and fulfill legal requirements. This can be worrisome, but you’re not alone in this endeavor. Enlightium Academy is here to help!
Please note that the resources below serve as a starting point for your family; it is important that you research Montana’s homeschooling requirements.
Homeschooling Options
Enlightium students are considered homeschoolers under Montana law since Enlightium is not a Montana-registered private school.
Montana’s Homeschooling Requirements at a Glance
Notifying the State
The Montana Office of Public Instruction requires homeschooling families to inform the county’s superintendent of schools of their intent to homeschool. Your family needs to do this every year and can do it as early as the start of the school fiscal year (July 1) for the upcoming school year.
State Educational Funds
The state of Montana provides qualifying families of students with special needs with approximately $5,000-$8,000 in scholarships through the Special Needs Equal Opportunity Education Savings Account.
Academic Calendar
Students in PreKindergarten-Kindergarten:
The Montana Office of Public Instruction does not appear to have any academic calendar requirements.
Students in 1st-3rd Grade:
The Montana Office of Public Instruction requires at least 720 hours of instruction each school fiscal year (July 1 - June 30); this is four hours of instruction each day for 180 days.
Students in 4th-12th Grade
The Montana Office of Public Instruction requires at least 1,080 hours of instruction each school fiscal year (July 1 - June 30); this is six hours of instruction each day for 180 days.
Enlightium’s school calendar has 180 school days (around 210 days with summer school). Additionally, students have access to the courses 24/7 for most days of the school year, including weekends and holidays.
Age Requirement
Ages six or younger:
Students are not required to attend school, but can enroll in primary school at Enlightium Academy to have a head start and be ready for Kindergarten.
Aged seven on or before the first day of public school:
Students must continue their education at a school of their parent’s choice until they either graduate or turn 16 years old. This includes homeschooling with Enlightium Academy.
Instructor Qualifications
The Montana Office of Public Instruction does not require students to have teachers with specific credentials or qualifications.
As a part of Enlightium Academy’s dual accreditation, Enlightium teachers are state and/or ACSI-certified. A number of our faculty members have Master's and Doctorate degrees in their fields.
Students in the Book-Based Program (grades PreK-9) use textbook Christian curricula from AOP or BJU Press, while students in the Online Program (grades 3-12) use Ignitia digital Christian curriculum. Students in the Sapphire Live program (grades 1-12) use a collection of the best-vetted curriculum options by our curriculum department. Each curriculum includes Bible, English, math, science, social studies, and electives courses. Click here to learn about the curriculum used at Enlightium Academy and to find the curriculum option that works best for your family.
Required Subjects
The Montana Office of Public Instruction requires the following subjects:
The first four bullet points are core courses at Enlightium Academy and should be assigned by your student’s counselor. The latter three bullet points are electives available at Enlightium Academy.
Standardized Assessment
The Montana Office of Public Instruction does not require a standardized test for homeschooled students. However, Enlightium Academy requires students to take an annual assessment to keep track of how students are progressing. Enlightium provides the following options per grade level:
Grades PreK-8: IXL diagnostic assessments or Iowa Complete Annual Assessment. We recommend the IXL diagnostic assessment, as it provides more flexibility in scheduling and does not have an additional fee.
Grades 9-12: Guidance for college-preparatory assessments such as the PSAT, SAT and/or ACT
Health and Safety Regulations
The Montana Office of Public Instruction requires that as your student is learning from home you must ensure that your home complies with local health and safety regulations.
Keep a Portfolio
The county may request the following records:
Attendance - Enlightium provides your family with progress reports via email. You can screenshot the details in these emails to show attendance.
Immunization records or exemption form - See “Immunization Requirement” below for details.
You may need to provide your state with additional information, so we recommend keeping a digital record every year you are enrolled at Enlightium Academy, which should include the following:
Curriculum information and samples - Enlightium provides its families with both curriculum overviews by grade level and samples by course.
Academic plans - Enlightium Academy counselors provide academic plans during the admission process for each of our four divisions of grades: primary school (PreK-2), elementary school (3-5), middle school (6-8), and high school (9-12).
Grades - Enlightium provides report cards for all students at the end of each quarter. Transcripts are available upon request.
Test scores - This can include occasional screenshots of test scores and/or standardized assessment scores.
Academic Awards - Enlightium provides qualifying students with certificates for Honor Roll, Scholar’s List, Dean’s List, Outstanding Improvement, and the Presidential Award.
Social/Competition Achievements - Enlightium holds social events and competitions throughout the school year, such as art competitions and involvement in the Student Council.
Immunization Requirement
Immunization is required in the state of Montana; therefore, parents are required to keep their children’s immunization records or exemptions for medical or religious reasons and must be made available to the county superintendent upon request. Enlightium Academy does not require student immunization but may request a copy for our records, as we serve homeschooled students and must abide by state regulations. You may find the Montana state exemption form here.
Enlightium Parents App with Group for Montana Families
Enlightium Academy has an app and desktop platform for families of currently enrolled students. Within this app is a group just for families living in Montana to inform and support each other in fulfilling your state’s homeschooling requirements. Your family will be provided a link to download the app after enrolling.
Ready to Enroll at Enlightium Academy?
If you have any questions:
Call (866) 488-4818 option 2
Ready to enroll? Click here to start the enrollment process, and select the “Enroll Now” button.
Since 2003, Enlightium faculty and staff have served partner schools, hybrid, online, and homeschool K-12 students. With parental support, excellent instruction, and a personalized approach to learning, Enlightium equips students with the academic, spiritual, physical, social, and emotional skills they need to succeed in life. For any other questions about Enlightium, please call (509) 319-2288, or visit EnlightiumSchool.com.
We review state requirements and regulations annually; however, each state may update its guidelines more frequently. If you have additional questions, please contact your state board of education.
Sources reviewed in May 2025: