School choice allows K-12 public education funds – the pool of money all Montanans pay into via tax dollars – to follow students to the schools and educational models that best fit their unique needs. Expanding School Choice policies in Montana will give all families, regardless of income level or zip code, access to all K-12 education options, from traditional public school to charter school to homeschool to private school.
Across the country, a revolution in education has taken root – led not by policymakers, but by parents, educators and visionaries who believe school should look different today. School choice is about addressing the needs of the individual student and giving all families all education options. It’s the power to choose to direct your tax dollars to the education model that best suits your child.
Parents Know Best. Expanding K-12 School Choice in Montana gives parents like you more options for how and where to educate your children. Public, private, charter school, homeschool…it’s your choice.
Choice Levels the Playing Field. Expanding K-12 School Choice in Montana gives every child access to more educational options and resources, regardless of a family’s income level or zip code.
Individualized Education Works. When we customize K-12 education versus pursuing a one-size-fits all approach, our children benefit. Expanding School Choice in Montana means supporting an individualized approach to meet every child’s unique needs.
Healthy Competition Breeds Healthier Schools. When families have more options for K-12 education, school innovation, student-to-teacher ratios, performance and accountability improves.
School choice is a parent-led movement—and a top priority for many conservatives. It’s a central pillar of the Republican Party platform and has been championed by President Trump as a key issue. Parental rights organizations across the country have also rallied behind school choice as a way to restore family decision-making in education. In fact, recent polling by EdChoice found that 74% of teachers who are also union members support education savings accounts—a popular tool in many states that puts funding directly into the hands of parents.
Throughout Montana and the nation, more parents are seeking education options that are more individualized, and reflect their values and priorities. At Ed Navigate, we regularly hear from families who are exploring alternatives to their assigned district public school—not because they’re anti-public education, but because they want a greater say in how their children are educated. While every family’s story is unique, consistent themes have emerged in the feedback we receive. The list below reflects common concerns and motivations parents share with us —these are real voices from the Montana families we serve.
Challenges Navigating Special Education
Student Safety and Discipline
One-Size-Fits-All Classrooms Don’t Work for Every Child
Parental Rights
Ideological Overreach
Gender & Sexuality Teaching in the Curriculum
Desire for Values-Aligned Curriculum
Academic Decline/Lack of Rigor
Health & Medical Autonomy
EdChoice puts it succinctly: Every Student. Every Dollar. Every Option.
Universal school choice refers to allowing all the public education dollars collected through local and state taxes to be directed to any educational model the parent chooses for all students, regardless of income, disability, or zip code. Due to each state constitution being unique, a universal school choice program may take the form of an Education Savings Account or Tax Credit Scholarship program.
Open Enrollment allows families to enroll their children in a public school outside of their pre-assigned neighborhood school. According to Reason Foundation, strong open enrollment policies include four main criteria: mandatory participation of all school districts, transparent reporting of school capacity and transfer data, allowing all students to transfer regardless of race, income level, or academic ability, and without charging an additional tuition fee for transfer students.
Montana public schools allow all students to transfer to schools outside their home district at no additional cost. Transfers within the same district—known as intra-district open enrollment—are handled differently. While many larger districts offer this option, it’s entirely up to each district to approve transfer requests. Students who are homeschooled or enrolled in private school may attend public schools part-time and can also participate in extracurricular activities like sports. Dual enrollment through the Montana University System allows high school students to take college courses while still in high school, helping them earn credits early and save on tuition. Learn more about your enrollment options in our Guide to Traditional Public Schools.
Yes. Homeschool and private school students can enroll part time in their local school districts for core or elective courses. Learn more about your enrollment options in our Guide to Traditional Public Schools.
Yes. Under Montana law, homeschool and private school students may join extracurricular programs—like sports, band, or drama—in their resident public school district, without attending classes there. They must meet the same eligibility requirements as public-school peers, such as academic standing, attendance, and tryouts, verified without curriculum oversight. Many homeschool families also participate in independent homeschool leagues or community-based sports.
No. In Montana, preserving the freedom of homeschool families is a top priority. Legislators and school choice advocates are well aware of concerns about government overreach and have consistently rejected proposals that would impose new regulations on homeschoolers. A recent study by the Johns Hopkins Homeschool Research Lab found that in states with school choice programs, there has been no increase in regulation for homeschool families—in fact, many have seen a trend toward greater flexibility and deregulation.
Greater educational freedom for all strengthens our collective ability to preserve parental rights, and elevate parental decision-making in education. Expanding School Choice reinforces the fundamental right of parents to make education decisions, including the right to homeschool, and the right to choose whether or not to participate in School Choice programs. Additionally, ample statewide education freedom laws fortify states from federal mandates that may affect public schools, such as Title IX. If parents have a choice other than the public school system, they can steer clear of onerous regulations.
Charter schools are tuition-free, independently operated public schools designed to serve the unique needs of their students and communities. They are granted great flexibility to develop learning environments and curricula that reflect local priorities. In exchange for this autonomy, charter schools are held to high standards of accountability by the state, their authorizers, families, and the public. Charter schools are known as Community Choice Schools in Montana and are not yet available.
Yes, Montana now has public charter school laws, thanks to two bills passed in the 2023 legislative session. HB 562, known as the Community Choice Schools Act (CCSA), is considered the state’s first true charter school law. It aligns with the widely accepted national definition of a charter school and has been praised by several national organizations for its strong structure and bill language. These schools are designed to operate independently under a new state-run authorizing commission. However, CCSA is currently blocked by a partial injunction due to pending litigation. HB 549, known as Public Charter Schools, allows for district-run “charter” programs created and overseen by local school boards, making them more similar to district programs rather than independent charter schools. |
An Education Savings Account allows parents to direct a prescribed amount of state money toward portion of the public education dollars allocated to their student to reimburse payments for a variety of educational options of their choice outside of the traditional public school system. While some states now authorize ESAs for all students (universality), Montana’s ESA program is exclusively for students with disabilities and is a reimbursement mechanism. Learn more about Montana’s Special Needs ESA in our Guide to Education Savings Accounts.
In private school choice programs, accountability is driven by parents, not government mandates. Families can choose the school that best fits their child’s needs—and if a school isn’t meeting expectations, they can take their tuition dollars elsewhere. Unlike public schools, private schools in Montana aren’t required to be accredited or to conduct standardized testing, though many voluntarily choose to do so to demonstrate quality and to attract families.
Currently, Montana does not offer a tax credit for personal education costs like tuition, tutoring, homeschool curriculum, or supplies. In 2025, the Montana Academic Prosperity Program for Scholars (HB 320)—which would have established such a credit—was introduced but ultimately did not become law. It is likely the legislature will try again in 2027.
The TCS allows individuals or businesses to make donations to a qualified Student Scholarship Organization and receive a dollar‑for‑dollar tax credit (100%), up to $200,000 per taxpayer ($400k for married couples filing jointly) and up to a total state aggregate of ($7.25M) annually. The tax-credits are available on a first-come-first served basis. Contributions support scholarships for students attending private schools. Read more in our Guide to Scholarships.
Student Scholarship Organizations (SSOs) accept donations annually through the Tax Credit Scholarship program and use the donations to manage scholarships for students. Each year, the SSOs award scholarships to qualifying families based on the SSOs mission statement. See the Montana Department of Revenue’s website to find the registered SSOs.
No, tax credit programs do not use state funds in the same way as traditional government spending. Instead of allocating money from the state’s general fund, these programs allow individuals or businesses to redirect a portion of their state taxes to approved scholarship organizations. These organizations then use the funds to help families pay for private school tuition or other educational expenses. It’s not a direct appropriation but a way to use the tax code to support school choice.
Fact: True school choice means public education funding follows the student, not just those who can afford alternatives. Montana’s options are highly limited, lacking access to broad ESA, voucher, or independent charter school laws as available in other states. Expanding choice programs would give more families real alternatives. And, most families cannot readily afford to homeschool or to pay for private school.
Fact: School choice programs like ESAs or vouchers are optional, and homeschoolers who opt out of these programs remain unaffected by government regulations. Many states explicitly protect homeschooling from oversight tied to public funding, ensuring that homeschoolers maintain their freedom to choose educational methods and materials. No state with school choice has forced homeschoolers into compliance with new regulations simply because choice programs exist.
Fact: School choice programs do not require homeschooling families to participate. Homeschooling remains a distinct educational model, and families who choose not to participate in public funding programs continue to have full control over their children’s education without interference from the government. |
Fact: Participation in school choice programs like ESAs is optional. Families who accept funding may follow certain guidelines, but homeschoolers who don’t participate remain under existing homeschool laws—unchanged and independent. Every state has its own homeschool laws, and no state has added new homeschool regulations just for passing school choice. In fact, Wyoming recently passed a universal ESA while also passing a separate bill to deregulate homeschooling. In Montana, our goal is the same—protect homeschool freedom with no added oversight, curriculum approval, or testing requirements.
Fact: Some laws may include testing or curriculum requirements for students who use the choice program but not for homeschoolers. Many school choice programs are specifically designed to keep homeschooling separate and independent from the choice programs. Homeschoolers should not use choice program funding if the law does not align with their family’s educational values. Additionally, many states have laws that explicitly prevent state interference in homeschooling.
Fact: School choice does not inherently diminish homeschooling independence. While some programs might require additional oversight, well-crafted laws ensure that homeschooling remains a distinct educational choice. It’s important to scrutinize each law to ensure it includes protections against unnecessary regulation while providing families with more educational options. |
Fact: The false assumption is that students who are already out of the public schools can readily afford to be there. Most families cannot afford private or homeschooling outright, but rather, they rely on scholarships, borrowing or bartering to make private tuition payments. And, sustaining private school tuition over time is difficult for many families. Many private schools offer scholarships, financial aid, and tuition assistance, making them more accessible to low- and middle-income families. School choice programs like ESAs and tax-credit scholarships can help expand access.
Fact: Market forces prevent widespread tuition inflation, and the more private schools that enter the market, the better for families. In states with ESAs, private schools compete for students, keeping tuition in check. Research shows that private schools in states with universal ESAs make an effort to set the tuition just under the ESA amount, making schools affordable rather than pricing out families.
Fact: Private and charter schools are held accountable by parents—if they don’t perform, families leave. Many also undergo accreditation and standardized testing. Additionally, charter schools may lose their charter, and therefore their funding, if they do not meet the standards in their performance framework with the state authorizer, making charter schools the most accountable of the three.
Fact: Private and charter schools often hire experienced professionals and subject-matter experts even if they don’t have traditional teaching licenses or a current teaching credential of the state in which they work. The lack of a teacher’s license does not equate to being “less qualified.” In fact, professors at universities also teach without licenses.
Fact: Charter schools are public schools that operate independently of traditional district schools. Charter schools apply for a charter issued by a state sanctioned authorizer. Every state’s charter law mandates that charter schools are tuition free and open to all students in the state. Private schools are allowed to have selective admissions, and district schools prioritize enrolling students living in their zoned jurisdiction, another form of selective admissions.
Fact: Charter schools must accept all applicants and use a lottery system if they are over-enrolled. They cannot screen students based on academics or disabilities or disciplinary record. Unlike traditional public schools that only serve students in their district boundaries, charters are open to all students of a state.
Fact: Funding for school choice programs is centered on the student.Regardless of choice programs, public schools retain local, state, and federal funding based on their enrollment.
In rural areas, school choice can provide more options, such as online classes or microschools, benefiting families who may have specific educational needs or preferences for their children, such as a religious education. And contrary to the myth, studies show that statewide choice programs often lead to improvements in public school performance and more innovation for rural families.
Fact: While often associated with the Republican party, many Democrats, independents, and civil rights groups support school choice, especially for underserved communities. DFER is a great example.
Fact: Tax credits are not government appropriations. Unlike direct public funding, which have rules and regulations (e.g., mandates on curriculum or testing… “strings attached”), tax credits allow individuals to redirect their own tax dollars to support educational initiatives without ever collecting or appropriating the money directly. In other words, the money stays in private hands.
Fact: Tax credit programs are structured to minimize government control. Since tax credits are private funding incentives and not direct public spending, they do not give the government any additional control over private or homeschooling decisions. These programs empower families, allowing them to choose their preferred, private education options.
Fact: The idea that school choice is a UN/UNESCO conspiracy to take over private schools is completely unfounded. School choice programs, such as vouchers and tax credits, are local, state-based initiatives designed to give families more control over education. These programs are created by elected state officials and education freedom advocacy organizations. School choice is about expanding educational freedom and giving parents the ability to choose the best option for their children, not about imposing an international educational agenda. The teacher’s unions, however, have been working with UNESCO to pressure the participating countries to develop public education systems like the one found in the United States and to abandon what is known as Education Pluralism. 83% of UNESCO countries have plural education systems, and America is not one of them. In America, the teacher’s unions continue to wield great power over public education laws. School choice programs are a way out of government controlled schools. Search the Abidjan Principles to learn more.
Fact: School choice programs are designed to increase educational options, not to centralize control. Private schools remain independent and are not subject to government curricula unless their state’s private choice programs require it. Even then, many school choice programs protect the autonomy of private schools and allow them to maintain their educational philosophies without being subject to federal controls or certainly not to UN or global standards. The goal of school choice is to empower families and to provide diverse options for education, not to align schools with global agendas. School Choice programs are a fortification for a state against such intrusions from globalization, which is largely promoted by the teacher’s unions.