Montana Homeschool Planning: Creating Your First Year Timeline

Successful homeschooling starts with planning. This guide walks you through creating a comprehensive first-year plan, from initial decision to year-end review. A solid plan removes stress and keeps you compliant while letting your family thrive.

Key Takeaways

• Plan 2-3 months before your start date (more time = less stress)
• Break planning into phases: Decision → Setup → Launch → Running → Evaluate
• Create a simple yearly timeline showing major milestones
• Write down goals (academic and family)
• Track compliance requirements (notice filing, attendance records)
• Plan to adjust — first year isn’t final; refinement is healthy

Phase 1: Decision and Assessment (Months -3 to -2)

Clarify Your Vision

Why are you homeschooling?
– Educational philosophy preference
– Accommodation for learning differences
– Escape from negative school situation
– Flexibility for family circumstances
– Religious or values-based education
– Other?

Write it down. Your “why” guides curriculum choices and approach.

Assess Your Family Reality

Honest questions:
– What’s your teaching style? (Structure-loving vs. flexible?)
– How much time can you realistically dedicate to teaching?
– What’s your budget? ($300-$1,500 first year?)
– Will one or both parents direct homeschool?
– What’s your child’s learning style?
– What subjects are you confident teaching?
– Where do you need support (math? science? special needs?)
– What’s your community’s homeschool landscape? (Co-ops available? Groups?)

Assessment tool: Write 2-3 sentences for each. This clarity matters for everything that follows.

Determine Realistic Scope

Be honest:
– Can you do everything yourself, or do you need co-op/tutor support?
– Is this sustainable for your work/family situation?
– Do you need to adjust work arrangements?
– What’s your backup plan if it’s not working?

Principle: Start sustainable, not perfect. You can add later.

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Phase 2: Research and Planning (Months -2 to -1)

Learn Montana’s Legal Requirements

Must-knows:
– Age 7-16 compulsory (MCA 20-5-109)
– Required subjects: Reading/ELA, math, science, social studies, health, arts, career education
– Minimum annual hours: 360 (half-day K) to 1,080 (grades 4-12)
– Annual notice required before first week of school
– Attendance records kept at home (not submitted)
– No testing, curriculum approval, or credentials required

for detailed breakdown.

Explore Curriculum Options

Research process:
– Read curriculum reviews (Homeschool.com, Cathy Duffy Reviews, Facebook groups)
– Sample free resources (Khan Academy, Outschool free trials)
– Talk to local homeschoolers about what they use
– Preview sample lessons online
– Check library for books on curriculum selection
– Identify 2-3 top choices

Decision timeline: Decide by Month -1 (6 weeks before school starts)

Identify Local Resources

Find:
– County superintendent contact info (for annual notice)
– Homeschool co-ops in your area (MCHE chapters, local groups)
– Sports opportunities (MHSA for high school age)
– Library programs and resources
– Community learning opportunities (museums, nature centers, classes)
– Potential tutors or specialized instructors (if needed)

This research informs your approach and support systems.

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Phase 3: Concrete Planning (Month -1)

Create Your Yearly Timeline

Major milestones for traditional August start:

JULY 1 — Fiscal year begins; start tracking hours if desired
JULY 15 — Finalize curriculum selection
JULY 20 — Set up school space and materials
JULY 25 — File annual notice with county superintendent
AUGUST 1 — School year begins
AUGUST 1-30 — Establish routines, observe how things are working
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER — Full schedule, make adjustments
NOVEMBER — Light week (Thanksgiving)
DECEMBER — Light weeks (winter break)
JANUARY-MARCH — Full schedule, maintain consistency
APRIL — Light week (spring break)
MAY — Wind down, review, prepare for end
JUNE 1-30 — Finish year, prepare for next, assess

Adjust dates based on your start date.

Write Annual Goals

Academic goals:
– Complete [Curriculum Name] for math
– Read [number] books for literature
– Master [specific skills] in writing
– Cover [broad topics] in science and history

Family goals:
– Have regular family read-aloud time
– Take [number] field trips
– Participate in co-op 1-2 days/week
– Build homeschool friendships
– Keep school stress-free and joyful

Keep goals realistic and measurable. Not “be good at math” but “complete Saxon 6.”

Set Up Record-Keeping System

Decisions:
– Attendance: Calendar + weekly log? Spreadsheet?
– Hours: Track daily? Weekly? Estimate?
– Work samples: Digital portfolio? Physical folder?
– Grades: Letter grades? Narrative? Pass/fail?
– Curriculum completion: Checklist? Pacing guide?

Simple systems work best.

Plan Your Daily and Weekly Structure

for detailed scheduling.

Quick decisions:
– What time does school start/end?
– How many days per week?
– Which subjects when?
– When are breaks?

Create sample week showing your rhythm.

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Phase 4: Pre-Launch Setup (Last 2 Weeks Before Start)

Finalize Legal Compliance

Checklist:
– ☐ Identify county superintendent’s contact info
– ☐ Draft annual notice letter
– ☐ Prepare to file by first week of school
– ☐ Gather child’s basic info (name, DOB, grade)
– ☐ If transitioning from school: draft withdrawal letter

for notice template

Set Up Your Physical Space

• Clear/organize table or desk
• Gather curriculum and materials
• Set up shelf or filing system
• Create comfortable learning environment
• Test any technology (printer, online access, etc.)

Doesn’t need to be fancy. Kitchen table works.

Prepare Materials

For each subject:
– ☐ Curriculum books arrived and reviewed
– ☐ Workbooks and consumables gathered
– ☐ Required supplies (pencils, paper, manipulatives, etc.)
– ☐ Teacher guide printed or accessible
– ☐ Supplemental materials identified (library books, online resources)

Plan Your First Week (Easy Week)

First week goals:
– Establish routine
– Build comfort with schedule
– Start building positive habits
– Not perfect instruction; relationship-building

Sample first week:

Light schedule: 3-4 hours instead of full 6
Focus on: Math and ELA, easy wins
Avoid: New hard concepts, lots of testing
Include: Read-aloud, fun activities, bonding
Goal: Child feels good about homeschooling by Friday

Adjust pace up starting week 2.

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Phase 5: Running Your Year (August-June)

Monthly Check-In Process

First day of each month:
– Review how last month went
– Check hour tracking (are you on pace?)
– Assess what’s working/not working
– Make small adjustments
– Preview next month’s plans

Quarterly Review (Every 3 Months)

Bigger picture assessment:
– Are you meeting annual goals?
– How’s your child’s progress in each subject?
– Are you hitting hour targets?
– How’s family dynamic? Is homeschooling sustainable?
– Do you need to adjust approach?
– Are you seeing learning progress?

Be ready to adjust. Curriculum not working? Switch. Schedule not working? Change it. You have flexibility.

Monthly Record Maintenance

• Calendar marking: Keep attendance calendar current
• Work collection: Save work samples regularly
• Hour tracking: If tracking, update as you go (don’t let it pile up)
• Notes: Any significant learning moments, concerns, adjustments

Spend 30 minutes/month on records. Don’t let it build up.

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Phase 6: End-of-Year Review (May-June)

Academic Year Completion

Assessment:
– Did you complete curricula as planned?
– What did your child master this year?
– Where are gaps that need addressing?
– What worked well? What didn’t?
– Were goals met?

Documentation:
– Gather year’s work samples
– Calculate total hours (if tracking)
– Write brief narrative of year (1-2 pages)
– Compile any standardized test results (if used)

Plan Year 2

Before summer:
– Decide on curriculum for year 2
– Identify improvements/changes
– Assess whether approach is sustainable
– Adjust goals for year 2
– Plan summer learning (if any)

Prepare for Next Fiscal Year

By June 30:
– Wrap up year 1 records
– Start new binder/folder for year 2
– Plan notice filing date for next year (July 15-20 ideally)
– Communicate with county about continuing (optional but good relationship-building)

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Sample First-Year Planning Documents

Planning Template You Can Use

Goal Setting:

ACADEMIC GOALS FOR YEAR 1:
- Complete [Math Curriculum Name]
- Read [#] books from [reading list]
- Master [specific skills]
- Learn about [history/science topics]

FAMILY GOALS:
- School Monday-Friday, 4-hour days
- Have family read-aloud 4x/week
- Join MCHE co-op for science 1x/week
- Maintain joyful, low-stress approach

Monthly Planning Template:

MONTH: September
- Week 1: Establish routines, start curriculum
- Week 2-3: Full schedule, observe what's working
- Week 4: Assess and adjust
- Notes: Adjust math curriculum if too hard

TARGET HOURS: ~90 hours (if tracking)
CHECK-IN: Is schedule working? How's child feeling?

Quarterly Check-In:

QUARTER 1 REVIEW (Aug-Oct):
- Math: On track with [curriculum]
- ELA: Behind on writing; need to refocus
- Science: Enjoying [topic]; good engagement
- Overall: Good start; child adjusting well
- Adjustment: Add more writing practice

PROGRESS TOWARD GOALS: [% complete]

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Common Planning Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Mistake	Why It Happens	Solution
Too ambitious curriculum	Want best for child	Start simple; add complexity year 2
No buffer/flexibility	Try to plan every detail	Build in 20% flexibility in schedule
Not tracking hours	Forget to monitor	Simple calendar on wall; easy tracking
Skip record-keeping	Seems unnecessary until needed	Spend 30 min/month; prevents scramble
Don’t adjust when failing	Stick with original plan	Check monthly; adjust if not working
Overcommit to co-ops/classes	Want all benefits	Start with 1 thing; add if working
Perfect curriculum search	Want ideal match	Good enough is fine; adjust year 2

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Your First-Year Planning Checklist

By Month -3:
– ☐ Clarify your “why”
– ☐ Assess family reality
– ☐ Determine scope

By Month -2:
– ☐ Learn Montana legal requirements
– ☐ Research curriculum options
– ☐ Identify local resources

By Month -1:
– ☐ Create yearly timeline
– ☐ Write annual goals
– ☐ Set up record system
– ☐ Plan daily/weekly structure

By Month -2 weeks:
– ☐ Finalize curriculum
– ☐ Prepare legal documents
– ☐ Set up physical space
– ☐ Gather all materials

By Month -1 week:
– ☐ Review everything once more
– ☐ Plan first easy week
– ☐ Build excitement
– ☐ Take a breath

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FAQ: First-Year Planning

Q: How much time should I spend planning?
A: 20-30 hours total spread over 3 months (includes research, setup, decision-making).

Q: Can I start without a detailed plan?
A: You need curriculum and notification filed; everything else is flexible.

Q: What if my plan doesn’t work out?
A: Adjust it. Plans are guides, not laws. Most families adjust significantly year 1.

Q: Should I involve my child in planning?
A: Age-appropriate involvement is great. Older kids should have some voice in approach.

Q: What if I missed the ideal planning timeline?
A: Start where you are. Even 2 weeks of planning beats none.

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Bottom line: Planning your first homeschool year doesn’t require perfection—just intentionality. Know your “why,” understand Montana’s requirements, choose your curriculum, set up simple systems, and launch. The year will teach you what works for your specific family. Year 2 will be so much smoother because you’ll actually know how your family homeschools.

Most successful first years prioritize joyful learning and sustainable rhythm over perfect execution.

For detailed legal requirements, see . For startup steps, see .

More homeschooling resources: Homeschooling by State (All 50 States) | Complete Montana Homeschooling Guide