Assistance
Eligibility

Assistance Eligibility

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The right place for your child can make a world of difference

Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship

Our private school is approved to receive the Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship through the state office of education and the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship through Children First Education Fund. Tuition could be free if your child or someone you know qualifies for special education services or has an (IEP) Individual Education Plan.

What Is the Carson Smith Scholarship?

The Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship is a state-funded program that provides private school scholarships to Pre-K through 12th grade students with disabilities. The Scholarship was signed into law on March 10, 2005 by Governor Jon Huntsman and is now administered by Children First Education Fund.

Utah State Office of Education/Carson Smith Scholarship (CSS) Website

OR

Children First Education Fund

How To Qualify for Carson Smith

  1.  The student’s custodial parent or legal guardian must reside within the State of Utah.
  2. The student must be at least three years of age before September 2 of the current school year and less than 19 years of age on the last day of the school year or, if the student has not graduated from high school, less than 22 years of age on the last day of the school year (refer to IDEA and Utah State Board of Education Special Education Rules).
  3. The student must meet one of these two conditions:
    a. The student was enrolled in a Utah public school in the previous school year, had a current IEP during the school year, and has been admitted to an eligible private school; or
    b. The student has enrolled in, or has been admitted to an eligible private school designated as a “School that has Previously Served Students with Disabilities” and an assessment team, consisting of representatives from the private school, local education agency, or public schools, and parents (Utah Code Sec. 53A‐1a‐ 704(7)) has determined that the student would qualify to receive special education and related services if enrolled in a public school.
  4. A Carson Smith Scholarship application must be completed and submitted as directed in the instructions on the application.
  5. Be eligible for an IEP (Individual Education Plan) from the local school district. A current IEP is not required.

How to Apply

Submit the Parent Application below.

Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship Parent Application

Application Deadlines

Apply by this date and...

Aug 15
Oct 15
Jan 15
March 15
Aug 15

First scholarship payments will be received by September 22.

You will receive: Full Amount

Oct 15

First scholarship payments will be received by November 22.

You will receive: 3/4 Amount

Jan 15

First scholarship payments will be received by February 22.

You will receive: 1/2 amount

March 15

First scholarship payments will be received by April 22.

You will receive: 1/4 amount

IEP Eligibility

The student must have one or more of the following disabilities:
a. Autism
b. Deafblindness
c. Developmental Delay (applicable to children between 3‐8 years of age)
d. Emotional Disturbance
e. Hard of Hearing/Deafness
f. Intellectual Disability
g. Multiple Disabilities
h. Orthopedic Impairment
i. Other Health Impairment
j. Specific Learning Disability
k. Speech/Language Impairment
l. Traumatic Brain Injury
m. Visual Impairment (including blindness)

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Located in Taylorsville, Utah

1328 W 6170 South
Taylorsville, UT 84123

(801) 243-4991

Hours of Operation

Monday - Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Closed

New Year's Day • Memorial Day • Fourth Of July • Labor Day • Thanksgiving • Christmas

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Thank you for your interest. For questions or comments, please use the information below. We look forward to hearing from you soon.