New Applicants
Information and FAQs for new scholarship applicants for the 2026-27 school year
Jump to Section
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
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.
- Students cannot receive funding from both the CSOS and Utah Fits All during the same academic year
Application Process
All new applicants must complete the online application through the CFEF Portal.
2026–2027 Scholarship Approval & Funding Timeline
Applications are reviewed and approved based on eligibility and fund availability. Please review the timelines below for estimated award and funding dates.
| Application Approved By | Estimated Award & Funding Date |
|---|---|
| June 15, 2026 | The week of July 1, 2026 |
| August 15, 2026 | The week of September 1, 2026 |
| October 15, 2026 | The week of November 2, 2026 |
| December 15, 2026 | The week of January 4, 2027 |
Please Note:
- All approvals and scholarship awards are dependent on fund availability.
- Funding may close at any time once available funds have been exhausted.
- Scholarship funds may be prorated based on the date of scholarship approval.
Scholarship Acceptance Required
Once your scholarship has been approved, you must log into your account and sign the scholarship acceptance. Failure to accept the scholarship award may result in your application being closed.
Required Documents
When submitting an application, you will need:
- Proof of student’s age
- 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.)
For full application instructions, refer to the official 2026-27 Application Guide (PDF)
Scholarship Awards
Scholarship awards are determined by Utah State code based on a factor of the annual weighted pupil unit for the state.
2026–2027 Scholarship Award Amounts
| Program Type | Award Amount |
|---|---|
| Homeschool Grades K–6 | $6,000.00 |
| Homeschool Grades 7–12 | $8,000.00 |
| Private School PreK (Part-Time) | $2,600.00 |
| Private School PreK (Full-Time) | $4,800.00 |
| Private School Grades K–12 | $12,175.00 |
* Grade-based funding is determined by the grade the student would be enrolled in within the public school system.
Please watch for an official email regarding scholarship award amounts, additional program details, participation requirements, important timelines, and any relevant changes for the upcoming school year. These updates will also be reviewed during the following Zoom meetings:
Private School Parent Meeting: June 3, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM {Meeting Link}
Homeschool Parent Meeting: June 4, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM {Meeting Link}
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 on behalf of enrolled scholarship students for payment of school tuition and fees.
- For homeschool students: Parents request reimbursements from CFEF by submitting receipts for approved 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.
- 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.