Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarships
The application portal for the 2025-26 school year will close as of December 19, 2025.
Scholarship applications for the 2026-27 school year
Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship. Children First Education Fund administers the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship program.
Current Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship Students. Students who have previously received a scholarship from Children First Education Fund will continue to be funded in the 2026-27 school year, but these students are required to update their eligibility information. Beginning March 1, 2026 current scholarship students can log into the parent portal and update their financial information and disability verification information. This will help CFEF determine the scholarship award amount for next year.
Transferring from Legacy Carson Smith to the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship (CSOS). Legacy Carson Smith students may transfer to the new Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship (CSOS) program, and will be automatically approved for the 2026-27 school year as long as they continue to meet eligibility standards. Legacy Carson Smith students are required to complete the CFEF application by the deadlines listed below. 2026-27 legacy Carson Smith scholarship application review will begin April 1, 2026. Scholarships will be prorated based on the quarter in which the transfer occurs.
Quarterly Transfer Deadlines:
- Quarter 1: Application due by August 15
- Quarter 2: Application due by October 15
- Quarter 3: Application due by January 15
Important Notes:
- No new transfer applications will be accepted after January 15, 2027 as a new application for the following school year will be released.
- Once a CSOS application is awarded, parents must submit a withdrawal request to Legacy Carson Smith by the last day of that quarter’s deadline month.
CFEF requires an application from all transferring legacy Carson Smith students to create a CFEF account. Students with a current determination of eligibility are automatically approved and scholarship awards will be based on household size and income or the service minutes in a student’s determination (if applicable).
Legacy Carson Smith families can begin the CSOS application by clicking the button below.
New Applicants. Applications for the 2026-27 school year will open on April 1, 2026. Scholarships will be awarded based upon when applications are approved by CFEF.
IMPORTANT DATES
- Continuing student re-enrollment opens: March 1, 2026
- Current student Re-enrollment closes: March 31, 2026
- New Legacy Carson Smith transfer application opens: April 1, 2026
- Open application for all others April 1, 2026
- Open application closes: May 31, 2026
- Applicants will be notified of scholarship status by June 30, 2025
Children First Education Fund Availability
Utah law now allows CFEF to receive funding from two different sources. We will continue to receive funds from donations from individuals and businesses. All donations are eligible for a 100% Utah State income tax credit. Anyone who pays Utah state income taxes is able to donate and receive the tax credit. Please consider redirecting your state tax dollars to CFEF.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for a scholarship under the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship Program, a student must meet all of the following requirements:
1.The student and the student’s custodial parent or legal guardian must reside within the State of Utah throughout the entire school year.
2.The student must have a qualifying disability as defined under the federal Individual with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA). The disability must be verified within the prior 36 months by one of the following documents:
a. Individual Education Plan (IEP)
b. Assessment Team Member Record (ATMR)
c. Multidisciplinary Team Evaluation (MDT)
3. The student must be eligible to participate in preschool or kindergarten through grade 12 in public school. According to Utah State Law, preschoolers are allowed to use scholarship funds only at an approved private school preschool program. Preschoolers who are homeschooled are not eligible to participate in the CSOS program
4.The student must not be attending public or charter school when the scholarship is awarded. An application can be submitted while a student is enrolled in public school, but before the award can be received, the student must have unenrolled from public school and have been accepted at a private school or declared to be homeschooled.
5.The student cannot receive the legacy Carson Smith scholarship or the Utah Fits All scholarship in the same year of this scholarship.
Have additional questions about the application process? Please review our comprehensive Application Guide below.
Participating Private Schools
CFEF is currently partnered with over 80 schools across the state that have been approved by the Utah State School Board (USBE) to receive students awarded with the Special Needs Opportunity Scholarship.
Scholarship Award Estimates
CFEF approved applicant scholarship amounts are awarded based on financial need. To learn more about award amounts, click below to view our complete award estimates.