Special education in Montana

What Montana calls special education, how long each step takes, who to call, free help, paying for services, and how the state scores.

Special education in Montana

Special education is called

Special Education

The IEP meeting

IEP team meeting

Eligibility team

Evaluation team

Evaluation timeline

60 calendar days. From return of signed consent (ARM 10.16.3321)

IEP timeline

30 days (federal)

Transition planning starts

16 (being checked)

Rights transfer to the student at

Developmental delay category

3 to 8 (child count)

Dyslexia law

yes: SB 140 (2019), MCA 20-7-14xx: dyslexia screening in first year of enrollment K-3

Find your district and schools

476 districts and charter districts. 6 special education schools and 0 public charter schools.

Get your Hall Pass Schools in Montana Services for children in Montana (on Disability Atlas)

The state office and your options when you disagree

State special education office

Montana Office of Public Instruction, Special Education Division (406) 444-5664

Procedural safeguards (your rights notice)

Read the state's notice

Mediation

Ask for mediation

State complaint

File a state complaint

Due process

Ask for a due process hearing

Free help for families

Parent centers

Montana Empowerment Center, Inc
Parent Center (type not stated on CPIR list), Great Falls
(877) 870-1190

Disability rights agency

Disability Rights Montana
Protection and Advocacy Agency, Helena
(406) 449-2344

Advocacy groups in Montana

Paying for it

Medicaid for children

Healthy Montana Kids Plus (Medicaid)

CHIP

Healthy Montana Kids

Apply

Apply for coverage

Medicaid for children with disabilities, whatever the family's income

no (KFF 2026)

Schools bill Medicaid for health services

Autism insurance law

yes. 18 and under; $50,000 (8 and under), $20,000 (9 to 18) per year

Scholarship or ESA for students with disabilities

unclear: Special Needs ESA (HB 393, 2023) ruled unconstitutional by district court Dec 2025, appeal/operating status unclear; Montana tax-credit scholarship (general)

How school, Medicaid and insurance fit together

How Montana scores

First edition. These grades are new (November 2026) and the weights may still change. Texas graduation data is being confirmed with the state.

State of Schools

D+

Rank 49 of 51

State of Support

C+

Rank 28 of 51

Combined

C-

Rank 36 of 51

Pillar	Grade
Following the law	D+
Learning together	C-
Results	D+
School funding	D+
Family protections	C
Options and transition	F

IDEA determination 2026: Needs Assistance (2 or more years). How we grade.

Sources for this page are listed in the K12 Atlas research tables (state terms, state help, paying for it). Items marked "being checked" are waiting on a primary source.

Last reviewed: November 2026. Rules, programs and phone numbers change. Check with the office named on this page. Report outdated or wrong information.