School Options/Programs

Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship

The Special Needs Scholarship is a state funded program that provides private school scholarships to K-12 students with disabilities. Scholarship amounts range from $3,865 to $6,442 depending on the amount of special education services that the student requires.  Currently, over 45 private schools across the state participate in the program.

COSTS
The Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship is funded by the State with tax dollars. Parents are responsible for the remaining tuition, if any.

SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNTS
Scholarship amounts range from $3,865 to $6,442 and are based on the amount of special education services that a student would qualify for under IEP guidelines.

If a student qualifies for less than 3 hours of special education services per day, the scholarship will be worth a maximum of $3,865 per year.

If a student qualifies for 3 or more hours of special education services per day, the scholarship will be worth a maximum of $6,442 per year.

SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE
Since the Carson Smith Scholarship is awarded in quarterly amounts, parents may submit applications throughout the year. However, in order to receive the full scholarship amount, you must submit your application by July 1st prior to the start of the school year.

TEACHERS
The qualifications of teachers at Carson Smith schools vary from school to school.  By law, teachers at Carson Smith schools must either hold baccalaureate or higher degrees, have at least three years of teaching experience in public or private schools, or have special skills, knowledge, or expertise that qualifies them to provide instruction in the subjects taught.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE
To be eligible, a student must:

• Be a Utah resident
• Be of K-12 school age (5 to 21)
• Apply and be conditionally accepted by an eligible private school
• Be eligible for an IEP (Individual Education Plan) from the local school district.  A current IEP is not required.
  
  To be eligible for an IEP, a K-12 student must have a disability covered by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act:
  • Speech or language disability
  • Hearing disability
  • Visual disability
  • Orthopedic disability
  • Developmental delay
  • Specific learning disability
  • Emotional disturbance
  • Autism
  • Intellectual disability
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Other health impairment

HOW TO ENROLL
An application can be downloaded online from either of the following websites:

• www.CarsonSmithScholarship.org>>
  
• www.schools.utah.gov/admin/specialneeds.html>>

If your child currently attends a public school, you must submit your application to the special education department of the school district or charter school where your student is currently enrolled.

If your student is not enrolled in a public school, submit the application to the Special Education Department of the school district in which the private school your student will be attending is geographically located.

NOTIFICATION TO PARENTS
A 2009 amendment to state law requires school districts and charter schools to notify parents who have a child with an IEP about the Carson Smith Scholarship.  The notification must be in writing and must happen each year before February 1st and within 30 days after a student first qualifies for an IEP. 

School districts and charter schools that serve students with IEP's must also place a link on their website to the State Office of Education's Carson Smith Scholarship website.

If your school district or charter school is not in compliance, please contact Laura Anderson at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (801) 637-4111.

• Read the new law requiring better notification>>

AUDIT OF PROGRAM

In January 2008, the Legislative Auditor General released an audit of the scholarship and found that the "Carson Smith Scholarship is meeting its program goals."  The audit included surveys of current and past Carson Smith parents, 100% of whom felt that the program should continue.  89% of parents felt that their child's academic performance improved while at a Carson Smith school. 

• Learn more about the audit>>
• Read the full audit>>

For More Info

• Learn more about applying>>
• Parents for Choice in Education: www.CarsonSmithScholarship.org
  
• Utah State Office of Education: www.schools.utah.gov/admin/specialneeds.html

NEWS

• Scholarship offers choice for parents of kids with special needs>> Standard Examiner (Ogden) - June 26, 2009
• Special-needs scholarship sails through Senate>> Deseret News - March 13, 2009
• Bill would educate parents about Carson Smith scholarship>> Deseret News - February 28, 2009