A state built for small schools
Utah has written microschools into law more fully than most states. 2023 SB 166, sponsored by Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, defined a micro-education entity as serving 150 students or fewer and a home-based education entity as serving 25 or fewer from the operator's home. 2024 SB 13 made both a permitted use in every zoning district and gave them first-priority land-use processing. In practice, a small program can open in a Murray office park or a Riverton home without a rezoning hearing.
How many families are doing it
The Sutherland Institute counted 23,003 Utah private-school students in its January 2024 data, about 3% of students, and found that 25% of Utah parents would choose private school if they could. In its 2025 survey, 53% of Utah parents said they want their children taught at home at least one day a week. In 2025-26, 6,953 home-based students used Utah Fits All, close to the 7,569 private-school students who did.
Which award applies to you
If the microschool is on Odyssey's approved private-school list, the student receives $8,000 and the school bills Odyssey. If it is not, or if the family homeschools, the student applies as home-based and receives $4,000 at ages 5 to 11 or $6,000 at ages 12 to 18. The family then pays approved marketplace providers, which must deliver services themselves; brokers and intermediaries are not allowed, and a parent can never be paid to teach.
What home-based money buys
Odyssey's 2026-27 guide covers curriculum and textbooks, educational software, STEM kits, manipulatives and instrument rental, tutoring, fine-arts instruction, after-school and summer education programs, educational therapies and internet service. Laptops, desktops, tablets and printers are capped at $1,500 each, monitors at $500 and headphones at $200. Extracurriculars and physical education are each limited to 20% of the award.
The concurrent enrollment catch
Concurrent enrollment lets Utah high school students earn college credit, but USHE's handbook says homeschooled students are not eligible unless they enroll in a public high school and count in its membership, and private-school students are not eligible for state concurrent-enrollment money either. Doing that would end Utah Fits All eligibility, so home-based teens usually take regular college classes and pay tuition directly, or choose a private school that has its own agreement with Salt Lake Community College or the University of Utah.
Montessori programs in the valley (9)
| School | Type | Community | Grades | Utah Fits All list | Carson Smith lists | Students* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell Canyon Montessori School 1690 E 11400 S, Sandy 84092 | Independent Schools | Sandy & Draper | PK-2 | Not found | None found | 17 |
| Dancing Moose Montessori River Park 10995 S River Front Pkwy, South Jordan 84095 | Independent Schools | West Jordan, South Jordan, Riverton & Herriman | PK-2 | On the list | 1 USBE Carson Smith eligible-school list | 81 |
| Dancing Moose Montessori School 4428 W Links Dr., West Valley City 84120 | Independent Schools | West Valley City, Kearns & Magna | PK-3 | On the list | 1 USBE Carson Smith eligible-school list | 47 |
| Montessori at Riverton Riverton · from published lists only | Independent Schools | West Jordan, South Jordan, Riverton & Herriman | Not reported | Not found | 1 USBE Carson Smith eligible-school list | — |
| Montessori Childrens House 1303 S 1100 E, Salt Lake City 84105 | Independent Schools | Salt Lake City | PK-K | Not found | None found | 3 |
| Montessori Community School of Salt Lake City 2416 E 1700 S, Salt Lake City 84108 | Independent Schools | Salt Lake City | PK-6 | Not found | None found | 24 |
| Montessori of Salt Lake 2806 E 3300 S, Salt Lake City 84109 | Independent Schools | Millcreek, Holladay & Cottonwood Heights | PK-2 | Not found | None found | 25 |
| Pinyon Montessori 515 E 100 S Ste 100, Salt Lake City 84111 | Independent Schools | Salt Lake City | PK-5 | On the list | None found | 4 |
| Willow Creek Montessori 7839 S Highland Dr., Salt Lake City 84121 | Independent Schools | Millcreek, Holladay & Cottonwood Heights | PK-K | Not found | None found | 9 |
* Enrollment reported to the NCES Private School Survey (2023-24 or 2021-22). "Utah Fits All list" means the school appears on the published Utah Fits All Scholarship participating-school list (Oct 2026). "Carson Smith lists" counts the organizations whose published school list included the school (Oct 2026).
Next step
Ready to see which award fits? Take the short funding check and a School Funding Advisor will call to go over Utah Fits All, Carson Smith and school aid for your child, with the dates that matter.
Common questions
How big can a Utah microschool be under state law?
Utah's 2023 SB 166 defines a micro-education entity as serving 150 students or fewer and a home-based education entity as serving 25 or fewer students from the operator's primary home. Under 2024 SB 13, both kinds of program are a permitted use in every zoning district. Salt Lake and Tooele operators follow the same statewide rules as the rest of Utah.
Can a homeschooled Salt Lake teen take concurrent enrollment college classes?
A homeschooled Salt Lake teen is not eligible for Utah's state-funded concurrent enrollment unless the student enrolls in a public high school and counts in its daily membership, according to the USHE handbook. Doing so would end Utah Fits All eligibility. Most home-based families instead pay for regular college courses at Salt Lake Community College or another campus.
Can Utah Fits All pay a Salt Lake microschool that is not an approved private school?
Utah Fits All can pay a Salt Lake microschool that is not an approved private school only if the microschool is an approved provider in the Odyssey marketplace, and only from a home-based award of $4,000 or $6,000. Marketplace providers need an EIN, must comply with Title VI and must deliver services themselves rather than acting as brokers.