Pick up or request the Montana Homeschool Information Packet from your school superintendent's office.
If no packets are available at the local office, write or call:
Office of Public Instruction
P.O. Box 202501
Helena, MT 59620-2501
(406) 444-3095.
Read the requirements for homeschooling, and arrange to meet all of the demands. Requirements include maintaining a suitable environment, keeping attendance records, maintaining a certain number of hours of instruction and using a suitable curriculum that meets Montana's standards.
Prepare the Letter of Intent in a business-letter fashion.
Start with your name and address and date.
Include the name and address of the county school superintendent.
Note in the regards that this is a Letter of Intent.
Begin the letter with a salutation.
Start the letter by stating your intent to homeschool your child. For example, write: "It is my intention to homeschool my child for the school year 2010-2011." Follow the sentence with your child's identification information, including name, address, birth date and grade level. Include the same information for each of your children being homeschooled.
Cite the statute of law regarding homeschooling in Montana, which is Mont. Code. Ann. 20-5-102 (2). The law gives an exception to school enrollment for children between the ages of 7 and 16. You can also mention Sec. 20-5-111 that gives parents the right to homeschool their children, stepchildren or wards. Consider the following: "In accordance with Mont. Code Ann. 20-5-102 (2) and 20-5-111, this Letter of Intent is presented to the (name of county) school district superintendent for review and acknowledgment."
Close the letter with a request for written acknowledgment of the receipt of the Letter of Intent as an approval from the office of the superintendent. For instance, "Please forward a written response to...". All guardians should sign the letter at the bottom.