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New Applicants

Information and FAQs for new scholarship applicants for the 2025-26 school year

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About the Program

The Children First Education Fund (CFEF) administers the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship (CSOS) – a Utah-based scholarship program for students with disabilities.

CFEF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit scholarship-granting organization contracted by the state of Utah to manage this program. Scholarships help families cover tuition, curriculum, therapy, and other qualified education expenses for private school or homeschooling.

Scholarships are awarded based on:

  • Family income
  • Household size
  • The student’s degree of special need

 

Funding is made possible through donations from individuals and businesses, all of which are eligible for a 100% Utah State income tax credit.

Who Is Eligible?

To qualify for the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship, your student must meet the following criteria:

  • Residency: The student and parent/guardian must be Utah residents.
  • Disability: The student must have a documented disability as defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
  • Age and Grade:
    • Students in K-12 may apply for private school or homeschool scholarships.
    • Students in preschool may apply for private school only (homeschooling is not eligible for pre-K).
  • Enrollment: The student must be enrolled or planning to enroll in a qualifying private school or homeschool, and must not be enrolled in any public or charter school when the scholarship is awarded.
  • Income: Family income will be verified to determine the scholarship amount.

Students cannot receive funding from both CSOS and Utah Fits All during the same academic year.

Application Process

All new applicants must complete the online application through the CFEF Portal.

Key Dates for 2025–26:

  • Application Opens: February 3, 2025
  • Application Closes: April 30, 2025
  • Award Notifications: By June 30, 2025

 

Please check back in January for updates on the 2026–27 application cycle.

Required Documents

When submitting an application, you will need:

  • Two proofs of Utah residency
  • A valid disability determination (Must include a valid IEP, ATMR, or MDT form. The triennial re-evaluation date, or, for MDTs, the signed date, must be current as of July 1 of the program year.)
  • Income documentation (most recent tax return)

 

For full application instructions, refer to the official 2025–26 Application Guide (PDF)

Scholarship Awards

Scholarship amounts are set annually by the Utah State Legislature and vary based on income level.

For the 2025–26 school year:

  • $11,685 for students from families earning below 185% of the federal poverty level
  • $9,348 for families above that threshold

Scholarship funds can be used for:

  • Private school tuition and fees
  • Instructional materials and approved educational supplies
  • Educational therapies or treatments
  • Other approved educational expenses (see Parent Handbook for details)

How Funds Are Used

  • For private school students: Schools submit invoices directly to CFEF for payment.
  • For homeschool students: Parents may request reimbursements or submit pre-approvals for direct purchases.

 

Parents manage all requests through the secure online parent portal.

Important Considerations

  • Students cannot participate in multiple state scholarship programs at the same time, including Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship, Utah Fits All, or the Legacy Carson Smith Scholarship. They also must not be enrolled full-time, part-time, or online in a public or charter school (including programs like MyTech High or Harmony Ed) while receiving a CSOS award.
  • Accepting this scholarship means you are opting out of IDEA services offered through public and charter schools.
  • Sibling scholarships may be available only when all students with disabilities have been funded.
  • Students currently in public or charter school must withdraw before accepting a CSOS award.

Need Help?

Visit our Parent Resource Center for:

  • Forms and guides
  • The Parent Handbook
  • Pre-approval, MDT, and withdrawal forms
  • Contact information for CFEF staff

 

Still have questions? Review our Frequently Asked Questions or contact us at [email protected] or 801-406-9080.