Montana vs Wyoming: Homeschool Laws Compared

Montana is the more regulated of the two: it requires notice but no testing or evaluation, while Wyoming requires no notice to homeschool. They differ on 4 of the 9 rules compared: notice of intent, hours or days per year, required subjects, and ESA funding.

Rules compared

9

Differences

4

Same in both

5

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 Wyoming

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

1. There is no notice to file in Wyoming. Before you leave, send Montana's district a short withdrawal note so its attendance record closes.
2. Wyoming sets no hour or day minimum. Keep the log anyway; it is what you show if anyone asks, and what you build a transcript from.
3. Wyoming's required list adds reading, writing, math, civics, history, and literature and drops english language arts, mathematics, social studies, health, arts, and career education compared with Montana's. Match Wyoming's wording in your records.
4. Wyoming runs Wyoming Education Savings Account. Check whether your family qualifies; Montana had no comparable program.

Moving from Wyoming to Montana

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

1. File a notice of intent with the local school district once you are a Montana resident. Wyoming did not ask for one, so this is new paperwork.
2. Start logging from your first day: Montana counts 720 hours (1,080 for grades 7-12) a year, and Wyoming set no minimum.
3. Montana's required list adds english language arts, mathematics, social studies, health, arts, and career education and drops reading, writing, math, civics, history, and literature compared with Wyoming's. Match Montana's wording in your records.
4. Montana has no ESA program. Wyoming's Wyoming Education Savings Account is for Wyoming residents, so budget without it.

What stays the same

Montana and Wyoming match on testing or evaluation, the portfolio, progress reports, compulsory school ages, and public school sports access. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither Montana nor Wyoming 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

• Colorado vs Wyoming 6 rules differ
• Idaho vs Montana 3 rules differ
• Montana vs North Dakota 3 rules differ
• Montana vs South Dakota 5 rules differ
• Nebraska vs Wyoming 5 rules differ
• South Dakota vs Wyoming 5 rules differ
• Utah vs Wyoming 3 rules differ
• States That Require a Homeschool Notice of Intent All 36 states in one table
• States With Homeschool Hour and Day Requirements All 21 states in one table
• Required Homeschool Subjects by State All 34 states in one table