Homeschool Montana

Flathead Valley Homeschoolers

By Faith Homeschool Collective Opens This Fall to Serve Growing Educational Needs in the Flathead Valley

Kalispell, MT. — By Faith Homeschool Collective is pleased to announce its opening for the Fall 2026 semester, offering educational opportunities and community support for homeschooling families throughout the greater Flathead Valley.

The launch comes at a time when homeschooling continues to experience unprecedented growth both nationally and locally.

The Flathead Valley has experienced this trend firsthand. Data from the Flathead County Superintendent's Office shows that homeschooling has become one of the fastest-growing educational sectors in the region. Over the past decade, the number of homeschooled K-8 students in Flathead County has increased by nearly 100%, while homeschooled high school enrollment has grown by approximately 88%.

As more families explore educational options that align with their values and meet the unique needs of their children, the demand for quality homeschool resources and community support has never been greater. We are excited to provide a place where students can learn, families can connect, and parents can be encouraged in their homeschooling journey.

By Faith Homeschool Collective will offer weekly academic and enrichment classes, workshops, special events, and opportunities for students and families to build meaningful relationships within a supportive Christian community.

The collective's mission is to partner with parents by providing high-quality educational experiences that complement home education while fostering academic growth, character development, and a love of learning.

Open enrollment for Fall 2026 is now underway. Families throughout Kalispell, Evergreen, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Bigfork, and the surrounding communities are invited to learn more about available homeschool enrichment classes and programs.

For additional information,

Call Crystal Clark 406-607-0574

visit www.byfaithhomeschool.com

Our very own Lindsey Vroegindewey shares about the 2026 Montana Homeschool Convention on the Montana Family Foundation podcast. Check it out!

Did She Put Together One The Largest Conferences In Montana? How? Lindsey Vroegindewey and her team built what became the largest hom...

See you on Thursday!

What does the research actually show about homeschooling?

A major new peer-reviewed review of homeschool research has just been released in the Peabody Journal of Education.

This updated review examines 45 years of homeschool research, including:
• academic achievement
• social and emotional development
• adult outcomes
• family and demographic factors

Read the full article here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0161956X.2025.2605900

Feel free to share with homeschool friends and groups.

Have you heard of the CLT?

As an alternate to the ACT or SAT, the CLT (Classic Learning Test) offers assessments that strengthen a traditional education, providing a meaningful metric of students’ abilities and helping them pursue a fulfilling future.

Unlike mainstream exams aligned with Common Core public school standards, the CLT pulls its reading passages from the "Great Books" and the Western intellectual tradition (e.g., writings by Plato, Aristotle, and historical philosophers).

Check it out and let us know what you think!

CLT3-8 Registration Closes June 18 Parents can administer CLT3-8 exams online at home to assess their children's growth in reading, writing, grammar, and mathematics.

Montana Homeschool Families:

The public school fiscal year ends on June 30, and a new school fiscal year begins on July 1.

Montana law requires homeschool families to notify the county superintendent each school fiscal year. If you will be homeschooling in 2026–2027, submit your Notification of Intent after July 1.

Remember:
✅ You are required to notify the county superintendent.
✅ You are not required by law to use a specific form provided by the superintendent or school district.
✅ If a superintendent or district requests something beyond what the law requires, seek guidance before complying.

If you have concerns about a request from your county superintendent or school district, contact HSLDA, Steve White at the Montana Coalition of Home Educators, or Homeschool Montana.

Knowing and understanding your rights helps preserve homeschool freedom for all Montana families.

Disclaimer: We are not attorneys, and this post is not legal advice.

Vigilance is crucial! If this can happen in Connecticut, it can happen in Montana. Sign up for ongoing updates at https://homeschoolmt.com/

Update on H.B. 5468: Yesterday, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed this terrible bill into law, marking a notable turning point in homeschool freedom: https://hslda.org/post/hb-5468

H.B. 5468 profoundly transforms Connecticut from a state where parents had significant freedom, to the only state that imposes mandatory background checks by DCFS on every parent before they can homeschool. Not after evidence of abuse. Not in response to a specific concern. But as a condition of carrying out a basic responsibility of parenthood—choosing the best education for your child.

The signing of H.B. 5468 marks the first regression of homeschool freedom in the modern homeschool movement.

While we are deeply disappointed by this legislation, the battle is not over. We have been working hand-in hand with our allies Connecticut to oppose this bill since it was introduced and will continue to pursue appropriate legal action now that it has been signed into law.

Opponents of homeschool freedom in other states could certainly be emboldened by Connecticut, and redouble their attempts to add layers of regulation, restriction and bureaucracy to homeschooling families.

When HSLDA was founded over 40 years ago, homeschooling was illegal in most of the nation. Parents were regularly threatened with arrest, and children were threatened with removal from the safety of their homes and forced enrollment in public schools.

This is a sober reminder that freedom cannot be taken for granted. While H.B. 5468 is a setback, our work—in partnership with many of you—continues. We remain committed to standing beside courageous parents in defense of homeschool freedom for generations to come.

ALERT! Connecticut House Bill 5468 would require families to register with their school district, submit annual continuation forms, and demonstrate their child’s education through state-approved methods.

This bill passed the Senate last night and is headed to the Governor's office.

PRAY for a veto by the Governor and contact friends in CT to ask them to contact the Governor directly!

Connecticut House Bill 5468 Get the latest updates on Connecticut H.B. 5468 and learn how you can help

Homeschooling Freedom is under increasing attack. Research from NHERI (National Home Education Research Institute) is so important!

Read the article online: https://nheri.org/homeschool-students-academic-achievement-research/
A debate about homeschooling has been simmering for years, but what does the actual research say?

A new overview from the National Home Education Research Institute looks at more than 30 years of studies on homeschool students’ academic achievement and test scores. The findings are surprising to many.

In 62% of peer-reviewed or representative studies, homeschool students outperform their institutional school peers. The summary also examines claims made by critics such as Elizabeth Bartholet, the Coalition for Responsible Home Education, James Dwyer and Shawn F. Peters, Robert Kunzman and Milton Gaither, and explains why test scores alone may not tell the whole story about education, learning, and family goals.

If you care about education, policy, or the future of homeschooling, this short summary raises some important questions worth exploring.

Read the overview here: https://nheri.org/homeschool-students-academic-achievement-research/