Overview
Paying for homeschooling or private school options can be a challenge for a lot of Montana parents. However, there are some modest scholarship opportunities available in Montana to many families who fit particular student profiles.
Montana’s largest K-12 scholarship program is supported by Montana Tax Credits for Contributions to Student Scholarship Organizations. This Tax Credit Scholarship Program allows individuals and corporations to claim a 100% tax credit for contributions to approved student scholarship organizations (SSOs), nonprofits that provide scholarships to families to pay for private school tuition and tutoring.
There are also numerous privately sponsored scholarship opportunities available to Montana families. And not just for private schools, there are scholarship programs for homeschoolers too.
Interested in finding a scholarship to support your K-12 student’s education options? We’ve put together this ultimate guide to K-12 education scholarships in Montana to answer your questions:
Statewide or Local Scholarship Providers
Ace Scholarships
Types of Options Supported: Private Schools, Microschools
Student Eligibility: Income-Based
Scholarship Amounts: “Standard ACE award amounts are $2,000 for K-8 and $3,000 for high school, and no greater than 50% of private school tuition, yet may vary depending upon unique circumstances. Families are responsible for working out a payment plan with the school for the remainder of the tuition.” Note that the application period for ACE opens on the first Monday of February and closes at 11:59 pm on Tax Day in April.
Tax Credit Scholarship Participant: Yes
Website
Phone: (856) 746-6521
Email: mtsupport@acescholarships.org
Local
We have checked with numerous private and microschools around Montana and nearly all of them offer some sort of financial assistance or scholarships for students. We encourage parents to talk directly to the private school or microschool you are interested in to find out more.
There are also a number of SSOs registered with the state Tax Credit Scholarship program that are set up to support students attending particular individual schools, such as Butte Catholic Schools. Check out the Department of Revenue’s Tax Credit Scholarship website to review a list of all SSOs participating in the Tax Credit Scholarship program.
National Scholarship Providers
The Cooke Young Scholars Program
Types of Options Supported: Private Schools, Microschools for 7th grade or going into 8th grade, to support educational studies through high school.
Student Eligibility: Academic ability and achievement, Leadership, Persistence and Financial Need
Scholarship Amounts: Recipients will receive an Individualized Learning Plan from an education expert from the Foundation and provide programs for summer enrichment. Inquire directly with Jack Kent Cooke Foundation for scholarship amounts.
Tax Credit Scholarship Participant: No
Website
Phone: 571-799-8064
Email: scholarships@jkcf.org
Davidson Institute Scholarship for Gifted Students
Types of Options Supported: Private Schools
Student Eligibility: “Scholarships are awarded on the basis of significant work. Significant work is an accomplishment that experts in the field recognize as meaningful and has the potential to make a positive contribution to society.”
Scholarship Amounts: $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000 to be awarded to an individual or team of two.
Tax Credit Scholarship Participant: No
Website
Phone: (775)852-3483
Email: info@davidsongifted.org
HSLDA Grants
Types of Options Supported: Homeschool
Student Eligibility: Income-Based
Scholarship Amounts: $100-200 per child to be used toward educational expenses
Tax Credit Scholarship Participant: No
Website
Phone: (540) 338-5600
Email
