Story perspectives

Montana Judge Blocks Education Savings Program for Disabilities

12/11/2025

Summary

Story summary

A Montana district court judge blocked the state's education savings account program for students with disabilities, ruling funding unconstitutional.
The decision followed nonprofits' arguments that the program lacked funding and did not meet statutory requirements.
House Bill 393, passed in 2023, allowed parents to redirect funding to accounts for private education.
Lawmakers must fix funding for the program to proceed, or the ruling may be appealed, risking rural districts' funding.

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Story summary

A Montana district court judge blocked the state's education savings account program for students with disabilities, ruling funding unconstitutional.
The decision followed nonprofits' arguments that the program lacked funding and did not meet statutory requirements.
House Bill 393, passed in 2023, allowed parents to redirect funding to accounts for private education.
Lawmakers must fix funding for the program to proceed, or the ruling may be appealed, risking rural districts' funding.