Education Savings Account

On June 19, 2024 schools were notified via email that student's within their district applied and were found eligible for the program. The OPI will notify school districts of the qualified students who are participating in this program by August 1st, 2024.  OPI will provide guidance how to reconcile accounts for any eligible students in the resident school district.  Parents may re-enroll their student in public school at any time, which would effectively terminate the student’s participation in the ESA.  For more information schools may view the bill here.

The amount families receive in their savings account is determined by the ANB formula for students. This varies slightly from district to district. You may find the amount per student per district on this table entitled: Education Savings Account Student.

Here is an FAQ document for questions.

District Webinar:

August 22, 2024: Agenda | Recording 

To qualify, students must be identified as having special needs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) definition of a "child with disabilities." 

A "Qualified student" means a resident of the state who meets the requirements of (a) (b), and (c):  (a)   In the current school year: is identified as a "child with a disability" under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. 1400, et seq.; and is between the ages of 5 and 19 on September 10.  (b) is not currently enrolled in a school operating for the purpose of providing educational services to youth in department of corrections commitment programs or in the Montana School for the deaf and blind; and (c) was counted during the previous school year for purposes of school district ANB funding; or was enrolled during the previous school year in a program listed in subsection (7)(b); or is eligible to enter a kindergarten program pursuant to 20-7-117, MCA.  

Applications for this new program are open May 1, through June 1st, 2024. A link will be available here on the ESA website. Paper information or application will be available upon request. 

The student amount is a preliminary calculation.  The final student amount will be adjusted by 5% to provide for the administrative amount, 20-7-1709, MCA.  Preliminary Allocation Table.  

Here is a PDF of our FAQ's

Here is a link to HB 393

Families will work directly with the OPI for reimbursement of eligible expenses.  In 20-7-17, MCA, the amount families receive in their savings account is determined by the ANB formula for students. This varies slightly from district to district. You may find the amount per student per district on this table entitled: Education Savings Account Student.

(1) In order for a qualified student to participate in the Montana special needs equal opportunity education savings account program during the time periods designated by the superintendent of public instruction pursuant to 20-7-1706, the superintendent of public instruction shall require parents of qualified students who wish to participate in the program to notify the superintendent of public instruction and sign a contract with the superintendent of public instruction to do the following:

(a) utilize account funds to procure allowable educational resources under 20-7-1704 to develop the qualified student's full educational potential;

(b) release the resident school district from all obligations to educate the qualified student, including any requirements that the district provide a free and appropriate education to the qualified student or develop an individualized education program for the qualified student;

(c) submit to the superintendent of public instruction copies of receipts for allowable educational resources for reimbursement;

(d) if the qualified student is re-enrolled in a public school, immediately notify the superintendent of public instruction; and

(e) if the qualified student enrolls at a qualified school, ensure that the qualified student:

(i) remains in attendance unless excused by the qualified school for illness or other good cause; and

(ii) complies with the qualified school's published policies.

(2) If a qualified student re-enrolls full-time in a public school district, the superintendent of public instruction shall terminate payments for the student to the Montana special needs equal opportunity education savings account.