Montana vs North Dakota: Homeschool Laws Compared

North Dakota is the more regulated of the two: it requires notice and a periodic assessment, while Montana requires notice but no testing or evaluation. They differ on 3 of the 9 rules compared: hours or days per year, required subjects, and testing or evaluation.

Rules compared

9

Differences

3

Same in both

6

The rules, side by side

Rows where the two states differ are marked. Tap a state name for its full guide, deadlines, and sources.

Figures are the same verified compliance data shown on each state's page. Requirements change; confirm with your state before you rely on one.

Moving from Montana to North Dakota

Once you are a North Dakota resident you homeschool under North Dakota's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. The annual target changes from 720 hours (1,080 for grades 7-12) a year in Montana to 700 hours over 175 days a year in North Dakota.
2. North Dakota's required list adds language arts, math, physical education, music, art, and computer science and drops english language arts, mathematics, arts, and career education compared with Montana's. Match North Dakota's wording in your records.
3. North Dakota requires standardized testing, at specified grade levels. Montana had no assessment rule, so plan for it in your first year.

Moving from North Dakota to Montana

Once you are a Montana resident you homeschool under Montana's rules. These are the ones that change.

1. The annual target changes from 700 hours over 175 days a year in North Dakota to 720 hours (1,080 for grades 7-12) a year in Montana.
2. Montana's required list adds english language arts, mathematics, arts, and career education and drops language arts, math, physical education, music, art, and computer science compared with North Dakota's. Match Montana's wording in your records.
3. Montana requires no testing or evaluation. Keep North Dakota's past results with your records; colleges may still ask for them.

What stays the same

Montana and North Dakota match on notice of intent, the portfolio, progress reports, compulsory school ages, ESA funding, and public school sports access. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither Montana nor North Dakota takes homeschool records from another state, and there is no transfer process between them. You keep your own: the hours or attendance log, work samples, and any grades or transcripts. Those are what the new state, and later a college, may ask to see. Homeschool Fox keeps them in one account that moves with your family.

Keep comparing

• Idaho vs Montana 3 rules differ
• Minnesota vs North Dakota 4 rules differ
• Montana vs South Dakota 5 rules differ
• Montana vs Wyoming 4 rules differ
• North Dakota vs South Dakota 6 rules differ
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• Required Homeschool Subjects by State All 34 states in one table
• States That Require Homeschool Testing or Evaluation All 19 states in one table