Frequently Asked Questions

for parents

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Can I use my child’s scholarship to help pay for after-school tutoring?

The Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship is designed to replace, not enhance, a public school education.  The scholarship student “may not participate in a dual enrollment program in a public school, including participation in extracurricular activities.”

If my child receives a scholarship, can they still receive services from the school district regarding their disability?

Accepting the scholarship is the same thing as refusing to consent to Special Education Services.  You, as parents, would be responsible for any and all costs associated with the education of your child that are not covered under the scholarship.  This includes payment for services that the private school may not offer your child, but services that were previously offered to you through the public school system.

Some services offered by the services to students regardless of where they are educated, such as speech therapy, would still be available to Carson Smith Scholarship recipients.  However, in many cases parents may need to provide transportation for their student to and from a district school to receive these services.

Where do I submit my scholarship application?

“Submit your application to the Special Education Department of the school district or charter school where your student is currently enrolled or was enrolled in 2006-2007.  If your student did not attend public school in 2006-2007, submit the application to the school district in which the private school your student will be attending is geographically located.  If you have questions about where to submit your application, contact Travis Rawlings, Utah State Office of Education, at (801)538-7601 or at travis.rawlings@schools.utah.gov.”

My child does not have an IEP, but I feel he/she qualifies for the scholarship.  Can my child still get a scholarship?

Possibly.  You may still apply for the scholarship.  Shortly after your scholarship application is processed, the private school will contact you to set up a meeting with the assessment team to determine whether or not your child is eligible for the scholarship.  Any and all documents or input you have will be useful for the team to determine whether your child qualifies under the scholarship requirements.  Testing through the school district or private school may need to take place prior to the meeting.  The private school should coordinate all of that with you.

I missed the July 1st deadline.  Did I miss out on receiving a scholarship for this school year?

No.  The July 1st deadline is the date by which you must submit your application in order to receive 100% of the amount your child is eligible for.  Applying after the July 1st deadline means that your child will receive a partial scholarship for this school year.  The scholarship is paid out in four equal quarterly payments.  So if you miss the first deadline, you miss the first payment, but are still entitled to receiving 75% of the scholarship your child is eligible for.  Applying after September 1st and by November 1st, your child would be able to receive a scholarship of 50% of the amount they would have originally been eligible for, and so forth throughout the year.

If my child’s tuition is higher than the scholarship amount he/she is eligible for, am I responsible for that amount?

Yes.  The scholarship is not designed to serve as complete payment for tuition to the eligible private school of your choice.   You are financially liable for any difference between the two amounts.

Where can I use the scholarship?

The scholarship may be used at any eligible private school.  To see a list of currently elgible schools, click here.

The school we would like to use isn’t on the eligible school list, or there are no schools eligible in our area.  What can we do?

The scholarship program is relatively new, and many private schools may not realize it’s available.  The best way to ensure that you can use the scholarship at your favorite school is to talk to the school and let them know of the scholarship and your interest in it.  Have them call Kristi Saunders at (801)557-6507 or contact her through kristi@choiceineducation.org. 

Schools must have their applications in for the following school year by May 1st.  If it is after May 1st and your favorite school has not submitted an application, you will not be able to use the scholarship this year, but may get them to apply by next year.  When parents let schools know of their interest in using the scholarship, they are more likely to apply for eligibility.

Is the scholarship awarded based on income?  Are enough funds set aside for all eligible scholarship applicants?

The scholarship has no income-based criteria.  Families from all incomes may participate in the scholarship.  Families with more than one eligible student may receive a scholarship for each eligible student.  There has been more money set aside, to date, than there have been scholarship applicants, but it is impossible to predict whether there will be enough funds for every eligible applicant next year.

I haven’t heard about whether or not my child received the scholarship.  When will I find out whether we received it?

The Utah State Office of Education will notify parents of their application status within 30 days of receipt of the application to the Utah State Office of Education.  School districts/charter schools are required to complete Part D of the application and forward it to the Utah State Office of Education within 10 days of receipt of the application.  Therefore, you should receive notification approximately 40 days after submitting your application.

My child received a scholarship.  Is my child guaranteed a scholarship for the next two years?

The Special Needs Scholarship is funded by annual appropriations by the Utah Legislature.  Scholarships are not guaranteed, but are subject to the availability of funds.  You will be required to inform the Utah State Office of Education that you still want to receive the scholarship for the following year. 

Unless the scholarship has not been funded by the legislature, you will receive the scholarship for a total of three years.  After this time, an assessment team meeting will be held to consider the child’s eligibility status.  If the child still meets the eligibility requirements, the scholarship will be renewed for another three year period.  On a side note, this is why it is important to continue to let your legislature know that you depend on this scholarship, and want to see it continue.  A few parents can make a huge difference!

How can I get involved in your organization, Parents for Choice in Education?

There is a lot you, as parents, can do to help support the school choice movement in Utah.  Our organization believes every parent should have the right to choose the best educational fit for their children.  We need more parents like you to let their voices be heard that you want more educational options for your children, and you want continued support of the school choice programs like the Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship. 

It is easy to get involved, and a lot can be accomplished in as little as a few minutes per month.  To find out more about school choice and how you can get involved, click here or call our office at (801)532-1448. 

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