Montana — Special Needs Equal Opportunity Education Savings Account

What this means for homeschool families

Does not fund homeschooling. Struck down in December 2025 and on appeal. There is no Montana ESA for 2026-27 unless the Supreme Court or the Legislature changes that.

Historical Conquest is still sold directly in our shop, and the homeschool page lists the states whose programmes do fund home education. The note under “Who qualifies” has more detail.

How it works

Created by the 2023 Legislature (HB 393, the Students with Special Needs Equal Opportunity Act). It reimburses parents for approved education expenses rather than paying a school directly, so you buy first and claim afterwards.

Programme: Special Needs Equal Opportunity Education Savings Account
Administered by: Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPIESA@mt.gov)
Amount: Based on the student’s district funding amount, less 5% for administration, so it varies by district. Paid as reimbursements.
For homeschoolers: Does not fund homeschooling

Who qualifies

A child with a disability under the IDEA definition, aged 5-19 on 10 September, who was counted for public school funding the previous year or is eligible to enter kindergarten. Expect to supply an evaluation report, IEP or private service plan.

STRUCK DOWN, ON APPEAL. In December 2025 the Lewis and Clark County District Court ruled in Montana Quality Education Coalition and Disability Rights Montana v. State of Montana that HB 393 lacks a valid appropriation, and blocked it. A stay let enrolled families keep claiming to the end of the 2025-26 fiscal year (30 June 2026). The State has appealed to the Montana Supreme Court (DA 26-0179; State’s opening brief filed 17 June 2026), and no ruling had been published by 18 September 2026. Unless the Supreme Court reverses or the Legislature fixes the funding, there is no Montana ESA for 2026-27. Ring OPI before you spend anything you expect to claim back.

How to apply

Confirm your child is eligible for this year — see "Who qualifies" above.
Check this year's window. OPI’s page still lists windows opening 1 May and 1 November. But the programme has been struck down and the stay that kept it running ended on 30 June 2026. Do not count on a 2026-27 account unless OPI confirms one in writing. Dates move every year, so confirm on the official page before you plan around them.
Create a parent account on the official portal and start the application.
Have your documents ready. Most programmes want proof of residency, the child's birth certificate, and an IEP or eligibility determination if the programme is disability-based.
Once you're approved, spend it. Keep every receipt. This is a reimbursement programme, so documented spending is the whole mechanism.

Official Montana application page → Ask us a question

Official programme page: opi.mt.gov/Families-Students/Parent-Resources/Education-Savings-Account. Amounts, deadlines and eligibility are set by the state and change every year — always confirm there before you plan around them.

Sources

Checked 18 September 2026 against these sources:

Historical Conquest in Montana

Using it with Historical Conquest

Montana’s programme does not pay for home education, so a homeschooling family here buys Historical Conquest directly. The card game, the Monthly Adventure Boxes, the textbooks and the digital game are all in the shop.

If your child attends a school that takes part, ask the school about Historical Conquest as a classroom resource, or ask us about classroom sets.

ESA Overview

What these programmes are, who they are for, and every state we cover.

Start here

Homeschool funding by state

Which states’ programmes a homeschooling family can use, and which they cannot.

See the list

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