The Beehive State: Overall A-
Utah is one of the strongest states in the country for education freedom. Microschools and homeschooling face almost no barriers, and the state runs a universal education spending account (ESA) program. The catch is that the ESA program is capped, leaving thousands of eligible families on a waitlist.
Microschools – A
Microschools are small, independent schools averaging around 15 students. They operate with full control over schedule and curriculum.
- Utah was the first state to allow microschools in every zoning district, including residential neighborhoods
- In addition to zoning freedom, Utah’s law allows microschools to operate in commercial buildings
- No teacher licensing, curriculum approval, or accreditation required
- If full time, microschool students qualify for the full $8,000 Utah Fits All scholarship
Improvements
- Keep refining facility rules and help cities pass legally compliant ordinances
School Choice Policy – B
School choice covers ESAs, charter schools, and open enrollment, the policies that let parents find the right school for their child.
- Utah Fits All gives every scholarship student an ESA worth up to $8,000 a year for tuition, tutoring, curriculum, and therapies
- Over 26,000 families applied for 10,000 spots in year one; funding now covers about 20,000 students leaving a little over 7500 students without a scholarship
- However, in 2025, the Utah legislature created a two tiered scholarship amount; $4,000 for elementary homeschoolers, $6,000 for secondary homeschoolers, and $8,000 for private school students
- More than 130 charter schools serve 11% of Utah students
- Open enrollment lets students enroll in any public school
Improvements
- Remove the enrollment cap so every eligible family gets the scholarship
Homeschooling – A
Homeschooling in Utah ranges from parents teaching at home to families mixing online courses, co-ops, and microschools.
- One-time notice of intent to the local school district, a simple email is enough
- No required curriculum, no testing, no parent credentials
- Homeschoolers have access to public school sports and activities
Improvements
- Revert back to the $8,000 amount for all students
Extra Credit: First in the Nation on Microschool Zoning and Facility Reform
Utah was the first state to open every zoning district, including residential neighborhoods, to microschools. In addition, they modified the building code to permit small schools in commercial buildings.
Helpful Links for Parents
- Utah Fits All Scholarship
- Utah Homeschool Information
- Utah Charter School Locator
- Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship
- Libertas Institute Utah School Choice Guide
This is part of a series where we review and rate education access in every state in the country. Get more information here.
Author: Jon England is the Senior Education Policy Analyst at Libertas Institute. He is a fourteen-year veteran of public schools. He taught both fifth and sixth grades, receiving Weber District’s E+ Team Award. He proudly homeschools his children with his wife.
Jon received his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Utah and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Western Governors University. He spent time in the Marine Corps and separated as a sergeant in 2006.
During his time in public schools, Jon increasingly understood the importance of parental empowerment in education. This increased understanding led him to join Libertas to provide educational freedom for families. Jon enjoys spending time with his wife and five children traveling, skiing, and playing games.
Published: June, 2026