Parent Resource Center
Scholarship Awards
Utah state law allows Children First Education Fund to award a full-year scholarship award to qualified applicants up to the following amounts based upon the weighted pupil unit (WPU) as defined by the state as the amount established each year in the enacted public education budget. Based upon the Utah
Student Qualifications
The Utah state law governing the CSOS program requires that CFEF verify each applicant’s eligibility in key areas. The scholarship application will request a variety of information from the parent or guardian that must verify eligibility for a scholarship. The criteria below will be included in the application.
What is the Carson Smith Scholarship Opportunity Program?
History The Utah state legislature passed original legislation in 2019 called the Special Needs Opportunity Scholarship program and updated this legislation in 2024 by merging the program with the legacy Carson Smith Scholarship program. The new program is called the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship (CSOS). The legislation requires that a
2026-27 Scholarship Award Amounts
Scholarship award for students in kindergarten through grade 12: The scholarship amount for the 2026-27 school year is being finalized and will be announced soon. Scholarship award for Pre-school Students The scholarship amount for the 2026-27 school year is being finalized and will be announced soon. Sibling Scholarships The
Eligible Use of Scholarship Funds
Scholarship funds are awarded to eligible students by CFEF for the purpose of paying for qualified educational expenses. A qualified scholarship expenses means an expense that a parent or eligible student incurs in the education of the eligible student for goods or services that a qualifying private school or homeschool
Conflict of Interest Verification
A scholarship applicant is not eligible for a tuition scholarship if their parent or legal guardian is an administrator or board member of the qualifying school they will attend Children of employees of a qualifying private school are eligible to apply and receive a scholarship if they are approved A