Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarships
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 3, 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.
2026–2027 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.
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.
Transferring from Legacy Carson Smith
Legacy Carson Smith students who wish to transfer to the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship must complete an application and answer “Yes” to the question:
“Is your student a current legacy Carson Smith student?”
Transfer applications will follow the approval timelines listed above. However, if approval occurs after August 15, the scholarship award will be prorated based on the amount of funding USBE has already paid toward the student’s tuition through the legacy Carson Smith Scholarship.
Please note:
- Acceptance of the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship award serves as withdrawal from the legacy Carson Smith Scholarship.
- Once you accept the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship, you will lose your grandfathered legacy status and cannot return to the legacy Carson Smith Scholarship program.
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 based solely upon whether an applicant has a qualifying disability. The scholarship amount for the 2026-27 school year is being finalized and will be announced soon.