Funds are awarded to students using the weighted pupil unit (WPU) as defined by the state as the amount established each year as in the enacted public education budget. Scholarship award amounts are distributed as follows:
- Scholarship students whose family income is at or below 185% of the federal poverty level will receive the value of the WPU multiplied by 2.5.
- Scholarship students whose family income is above 185% (no matter how far above) of the federal poverty level will receive the value of the WPU multiplied by 2.0.
- Scholarship students who have documentation stating that the child would receive Level 2 special education resources (180 minutes or more per day of special education services in a public school) will receive the value of the WPU multiplied by 2.5 regardless of the family size and income. Either an IEP or an ATMR is required to verify Level 2 status.
- For eligible students attending a formal preschool in a qualified private school the value of the WPU for full time preschool students, and half the value of the WPU for part-time preschool enrollment.
- For eligible siblings (see below for definition of eligible) of qualified students in kindergarten through grade 12, who attend the same private school as the eligible student, the value of the WPU multiplied by 0.5.
Sibling Scholarship Applicant Verification
NOTE: The sibling scholarship is only available for siblings without a disability. If a family has more than one child with a qualifying disability, both children are able to apply for a full scholarship as a special needs student and not as a sibling. If a family has two or more children with disabilities, both children with disabilities are eligible for full scholarship awards as described above
Qualifications for a sibling scholarship
- Sibling scholarships are only available if all applicants with disabilities have been funded, and if there are available funds
- The sibling applicant is eligible to participate in kindergarten or grades 1-12 in public school
- The sibling applicant is a resident of the state of Utah
- The sibling applicant resides in the same household as a recipient of a scholarship awardee
- The sibling applicant has verified enrollment or the intent to enroll to attend the same qualifying school as the scholarship awardee with a disability
- CFEF has not awarded any sibling scholarships in the past two years because there have been more students with disabilities than available funding
