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. In general, state institutions recognize Enlightium Academy as an out-of-state private school that allows students to transfer in or transfer out to public and private schools. Enlightium Academy provides our families with standard information about their state’s requirements, and parents are 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! As you review your state’s homeschooling requirements, please keep in mind that Enlightium Academy holds dual accreditation from Cognia and ACSI. This enables the Enlightium team to serve students in all 50 states, providing an accredited education that leads to a high school diploma recognized nationwide.
Please note that the resources below serve as a starting point for your family; it is important that you research Montana’s requirements.
Homeschooling Options
Because Enlightium Academy is not registered as a Montana public or private school, families enrolling from Montana typically operate under the state’s homeschool laws.
Montana’s Requirements at a Glance
Parent Notifies State = Yes
State Educational Funds = Yes
Academic Calendar Requirement = Yes
Age Requirement = 7-16
Instructor Qualifications = No
Required Subjects = Yes
Standardized Assessment = Required by Enlightium
Immunization Requirement = No; see notes below
Keep a Portfolio = Yes
Enlightium Parents App with Group for Montana Families = Yes
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
No state educational funds are available for Enlightium families at this time.
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 parents’ choice until they either graduate or turn 16 years old. This includes enrolling at Enlightium Academy.
Instructor Qualifications
Montana does not require parents providing home instruction to hold teaching credentials.
Families may choose to use programs like Enlightium Academy for curriculum and instruction; however, the parent or guardian remains responsible for overseeing the home education program and ensuring compliance with state requirements.
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.
*For students living in the U.S., this does not necessarily mean that their teachers are certified in the student’s state of residence, but instead in the teacher’s state of residence. For most states, this distinction is not important to the student’s academics.
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 students enrolled at Enlightium. 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.
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 records are not required for homeschooled students. However, proof of immunization or a valid exemption may be required if a student participates in public school programs or activities.
Enlightium Parents App with Group for Montana Families
Enlightium Academy has an app and a 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 requirements. Your family will be provided a link to download the app after enrolling.
Ready to Enroll at Enlightium Academy?
- Explore Enlightium Academy’s website
- If you have any questions:
- Chat with a team member
- Email consultants@enlightiumacademy.com
- 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 Academy has supported K–12 students in online, book-based, and partner schools. Our dedicated faculty and staff, in collaboration with parents, deliver high-quality instruction and individualized learning. We focus on developing each student’s academic, spiritual, physical, social, and emotional well-being.
To find out if Enlightium is the right school for your family, schedule an appointment, call (509) 319-2288, or visit EnlightiumAcademy.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 April 2026:
