For students with a physical or intellectual disability, getting an education through traditional means can be challenging. Public schools are designed to provide an education en masse. While this universal approach to education may work for some students, it frequently overlooks your child’s unique needs—and their potential, too.
In Montana, families like yours can discover new educational pathways for their children with the help of the Montana Special Needs Equal Opportunity Education Savings Account Program. This state-managed program offers funding—estimated up to $8,000 per child, per school year—to support the educational needs of students with disabilities.
Montana’s ESA funds can be used for private school tuition, one-on-one tutoring, educational therapies, homeschool curriculum, resources, and so much more. For many families like yours, this resource can make the difference between struggling through a public school education and finding academic freedom beyond its walls.
Program Eligibility
There is no income limit to apply for the Montana Special Needs ESA. To qualify, your child must have an identified special need due to a disability included in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The IDEA covers a wide range of disabilities that can impact a child’s learning, including:
- Intellectual Disability
- Hearing Impairment, including Deafness
- Speech or Language Impairment
- Visual Impairment, including Blindness
- Emotional Disturbance
Orthopedic Impairment - Autism
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Specific Learning Disabilities
- Other Health Impairment
- Multiple Disabilities, Including Deaf-Blindness
In addition, your child must be:
- Between the ages of 5 and 19 as of September 10;
- Not be enrolled in a Montana public school, educational programs for incarcerated youth, or the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind; and
- Be eligible for kindergarten, or, in the previous academic year, have been counted for district ANB (Average Number Belonging) funding or been enrolled in a Montana school for the previous year.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, we recommend visiting the official website for the Montana Education Savings Account program.
According to the 2024 reporting guidelines from the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI), the Student Count for ANB includes children who are enrolled in a Montana public school full or part-time, as well as several “special enrollments.” These specially enrolled students include, among several other categories, homeschooled students who participate in extracurricular activities provided by the school or school district, as well as anyone participating in the Montana ESA program.
How to Apply for the Montana ESA
The Montana education savings account program is managed by the Office of Public Instruction. As of the publishing of this blog, applications are received between May 1 and June 1 or between November 1 and December 1. You will need to apply for funding on behalf of your child.
The application process should be completed online, although you can request a paper copy if necessary. Simply visit the Montana ESA webpage and click the application link when available.
You will be required to provide your name (or the name of your child’s parents), as well as the following information related to your child:
- Name
- Birthdate
- Student State School ID Number
- Resident District
- District Enrolled in Previous Year
Once your application is approved, you will be notified and asked to sign a contract with OPI. You will also need to submit a W-9 form. The OPI will notify your local school district of your participation.
Reimbursement Process
The Montana ESA works on a reimbursement system, meaning that you will be expected to cover your child’s educational expenses upfront. You will need to keep your receipts for every eligible expense. You’ll be given access to an Electronic Management System, where you can submit your receipts to OPI for review and reimbursement.
Families can submit reimbursement requests as early as July 1. Expenses for the upcoming school year must have been incurred on or after that date as well.
The first round of approved reimbursement requests is paid out in September, and additional requests can be made throughout the school year. Any requests submitted by the 25th of the month will be reviewed and paid after the 10th of the following month.
*This information is subject to change, for the most accurate information visit the official Montana ESA website.
Benefits of the Montana ESA Program
For families of children with special needs, the funding available through the Montana Special Needs Equal Opportunity Education Savings Account Program program can be life-changing.
Not only does it provide key educational therapies and resources, but it also allows families like yours to customize their child’s education, providing them with a unique learning experience to maximize their academic potential, even with learning disabilities and other special needs.
Financial Support for Montana Families of Children with Learning Disabilities
The costs of education and extracurricular activities, even in a public school, can quickly add up for any parent. For parents whose children have unique needs, those expenses can grow even more quickly. Many parents are not able to give their children the unique educational experience they need—and deserve—due to the cost of educational therapies, tutors, and more.
With ESA funding through OPI, parents have more financial freedom to support their children’s special needs. These funds can be used to pay for a wide range of expenses related to your child’s education:
- Qualified school tuition (including in-person, online, or distance learning), fees (including for cooperative educational programs), textbooks, software, curriculum, and other educational materials and services
- Tutoring
- Occupational, behavioral, physical, speech, and audiology therapies from a licensed or certified provider
- Fees for assessment tests, advanced placement exams, and college entrance exams
- Fees and expenses incurred for classes and extracurricular activities provided by a Montana public school
- Up to $50 worth of school supplies, including paper, pens, and markers, up to $50.
- Transportation costs to get your child to and from an educational provider
The funds cannot be used for expenses that are not directly related to your child’s education or that have other purposes, such as entertainment devices, travel, home theater equipment, home furnishings, and video games. They also cannot be used for medical expenses such as dental exams, medical provider visits, massage, and more. Information may have changed, we advise you to look at the full list of allowable and unallowable expenses in the Montana ESA Parent Handbook.
Flexibility in Educational Choices
Students enrolled in Montana’s public schools are not eligible for funding through the Special Needs Equal Opportunity ESA. This funding is specially designed for students seeking alternative means of learning. That fact alone indicates the state’s support for educational choice, giving families the freedom to find the right educational options for their children.
No two children in the Montana education savings account program are the same: their needs, personalities, goals, and learning styles are all unique. The program allows each of these children to design an educational pathway that works best for them.
Your child’s Montana Special Needs Equal Opportunity Education Savings Account Program funds can be used for an online homeschool program, whether for a single subject or a whole course load, private homeschooling curriculum and service providers, individual tutors to help your child succeed, and various educational materials. By curating your child’s educational experience and framework, you can help maximize their academic potential beyond their disability and uniquely prepare them for life after high school.
Parent Responsibilities
As a parent, you are responsible for both your child’s educational needs and for the thoughtful management of your child’s ESA funding.
Through participation in the Montana ESA program, you are required to:
- Use the account funding for educational expenses intended to support your child’s academic potential;
- Submit your qualifying receipts to OPI;
- Take responsibility for your child’s education and instruction (whether through home, private, or online school, or a combination of the three), ensuring that your child remains enrolled in your chosen educational provider and follows all rules of the school
- Release the resident school district from any obligation to educate your child; and
- Alert OPI if you decide, at any time, to re-enroll your child in public school, which ends your participation in the Montana ESA program.
Get Started Homeschooling with Bridgeway Academy
For many parents with a disabled child, homeschool programs for learning disabilities offer an ideal solution to the challenges of traditional public and even private schools.
With homeschooling, you have full control over your child’s educational experience, from the subjects they study to the things they encounter during the day. You decide how they will receive instruction, what therapies they will engage in, and when. You can also reduce your child’s exposure to bullying in public school, experiences that are, unfortunately, more common for children with disabilities. Many parents cite bullying in school as one of many reasons to homeschool.
Even with these benefits, deciding to homeschool a child with disabilities isn’t easy, but Bridgeway Academy can help. As a reimbursement-eligible service provider for all areas of the Montana Special Needs Equal Opportunity Education Savings Account Program, we offer resources and support to help you provide your children with a high-quality education that meets your child’s and family’s unique needs.
As a parent, you will find a wealth of support and resources at Bridgeway to guide your child through their K-12 education. Our homeschool Admissions Counselors can help you design custom curriculum plans that work with your child’s disability and learning style, focus on the most important subject areas, and help them reach their full academic potential.
Your child will have access to their dedicated counselor to support them on their educational journey. They can participate in numerous clubs, communities, and virtual activities, take online classes with live teachers, engage in peer collaboration opportunities, and even walk in an in-person graduation ceremony, ensuring that they’re never alone in their education—no matter where it takes them.
Ready to explore homeschool programs for learning disabilities? Learn more about Montana’s homeschooling laws and requirements, and connect with our Bridgeway Academy team to learn how we can help.
To connect with our homeschooling experts, call us toll-free at (800) 863-1474, join our next virtual open house, or fill out a contact form to schedule a meeting with us.
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