General Information

Q: What is the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship (CSOS)?

A: The CSOS program provides educational opportunities for children with qualifying disabilities by covering a portion of expenses associated with tuition, textbooks, and other educational needs at private schools, private providers within the community, or home-based instructional settings.

Q: Who administers the CSOS program?

A: The Children First Education Fund (CFEF) is the designated Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) responsible for managing donations and awarding scholarships.

Eligibility Criteria

Q: Who is eligible for the CSOS program?

A: To be eligible, a student must meet residency, age, and disability status criteria which includes having a qualifying disability as defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that negatively impacts their academic and/or functional performance and requires support through the provision of specially designed instruction.  

Q: Is any child with a disability eligible for the CSOS program? 

A: Not every child with a diagnosed medical or psychological condition automatically qualifies for the CSOS program. Eligibility requires a comprehensive evaluation to determine if the student meets the criteria for having a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Q: Can a student with a Section 504 plan qualify for the CSOS program?

A: No, students with Section 504 plans do not qualify. The CSOS is for students who require specially designed instruction.  This can be determined through an existing Individualized Education Program (IEP) or the completion of an Assessment Team Meeting Record (ATMR) or Multidisciplinary Team evaluation (MDT).

Application Process

Q: How do I apply for the CSOS program?

A: Parents/guardians must apply through the Children First Education Fund website at cfe-fund.org.

Q: What documents are needed to submit an eligibility determination evaluation request through the Alpine School District?

A: Documents include the child’s birth certificate (and, where applicable, any legal documents outlining who has legal authority to make educational decisions on behalf of the child), proof of Utah residency, and verification of the child’s qualifying educational setting.

Qualifying Educational Settings

Q: What are the qualifying educational settings for the CSOS program?

A: Qualifying settings include (1) qualifying private schools approved by the Utah State Board of Education and (2) home-based instruction with educational goods and/or services provided by qualifying providers, which include various vendors, service providers, and tutors.  All qualifying providers must be approved by the Children First Education Fund. 

Q: Is any private school eligible for the CSOS program? 

A: Not every private school is eligible to participate in the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship (CSOS) program. To qualify:

• The private school must be approved by the Utah State Board of Education.

• It must meet specific criteria outlined in Utah Code 53E-7-401.

• The school must be willing to comply with the requirements set forth by the Children First Education Fund, which administers the CSOS program.

Parents should verify a private school's eligibility status with the Children First Education Fund before considering enrollment under the CSOS program.  A list of qualifying private schools can be found on the Children First Education Fund website by clicking here.  

Q: What is required for a private school student to participate in the CSOS program? 

A: The student must be enrolled or accepted into an approved private school.  The parent/guardian making the application must provide a letter to parents confirming the student's enrollment status in the CSOS program.

Q: What is required for a homeschooled student to participate in the CSOS program?

A: Parents must file a signed affidavit with the school district, indicating they assume sole responsibility for the education of their child (see Utah code 53G-6-204.2.a.ii).

Eligibility Determination Process

Q: What is an eligibility determination evaluation? 

A: An eligibility determination evaluation is a process conducted by the Local Education Agency (LEA), which includes public school districts and public charter schools, to determine if a student meets the criteria to participate in the CSOS program. It involves assessing the student's educational and functional needs to determine eligibility for special education services.

Q: What is involved in an eligibility determination evaluation?

A: The evaluation includes assembling a multidisciplinary team, conducting assessments, reviewing educational and medical history, and determining the need for special education services.

Q: Who conducts the eligibility determination evaluations?

A: Local Education Agencies (LEAs) oversee the evaluation process.  Parents, private school representatives, service providers, and others who have an appropriate firsthand knowledge of the student contribute their input to the evaluation to ensure a comprehensive review of the student’s needs.

Q: What criteria are considered during the eligibility determination evaluation? 

A: The evaluation considers whether the student has a qualifying disability as defined under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), experiences adverse academic and/or functional performance due to the disability, and requires specially designed instruction to access the curriculum.  Answers to these questions are sought through a comprehensive evaluation process conducted by a multidisciplinary team. This team reviews the student's educational history, conducts assessments, and collaborates with parents and other stakeholders to determine eligibility.

Q: What assessments are typically included in the eligibility determination process? 

A: The eligibility determination process may include cognitive assessments, academic assessments, social/behavioral assessments, adaptive behavior assessments, and domain-specific assessments (e.g., speech and language evaluations, occupational therapy assessments).

Q: What is an Assessment Team Meeting (ATM)? 

A: An Assessment Team Meeting is convened to review evaluation data, discuss findings, and determine eligibility. The team includes professionals such as LEA representatives, special education experts, parents/guardians, and sometimes private school representatives.

Q: What documentation is provided to parents after the eligibility determination evaluation? 

A: After the evaluation, parents receive an Evaluation Summary Report and an Assessment Team Meeting Record (ATMR) documenting the findings and eligibility determination. 

Q: How can parents request an eligibility determination evaluation for their child? 

A: Parents can request an eligibility determination evaluation by completing a formal request form through the Alpine School District.

Q: How long is eligibility for the CSOS program valid once determined? 

A: Eligibility for the CSOS program is valid for a period of three years from the date of the eligibility determination, unless it was determined through a current special education eligibility. In that case, the CSOS eligibility expires concurrently with the expiration of the existing special education eligibility.

Scholarship Amounts

Q: Who manages the scholarship payments for the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship (CSOS) program? 

A: The scholarship payments are managed by the Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) designated for the CSOS program, which is the Children First Education Fund (CFEF). As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CFEF is responsible for managing donations, awarding scholarships, and overseeing compliance with program requirements set by the Utah State Legislature and Utah State Board of Education.

Q: How are scholarship amounts determined?

A: Scholarship amounts are based on household size, family income measured against the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), and whether a student with a disability qualifies for 180 or more minutes per day of special education in a public school.  

Q: Are siblings of eligible students also eligible for scholarships?

A: Siblings living in the same household and attending the same private school may be eligible for a scholarship equal to 0.5 multiplied by the weighted pupil unit (WPU).  The awarding of such funding is contingent upon the availability of program funds.

Special Conditions

Q: Can a student receive the CSOS and another state-sponsored educational scholarship simultaneously?

A: No, a student cannot receive the CSOS and another state-sponsored scholarship, such as the legacy Carson Smith Scholarship or the Utah Fits All Scholarship, in the same year.

Q: What are the implications of accepting the CSOS?

A: Acceptance of the CSOS is equivalent to a parental refusal of services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), meaning parents are responsible for finding and securing appropriate educational services through private means. 

Q: Can a student return to the public school district after accepting the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship? 

A: Yes, a student can return to the public school district at any time. However, accepting the CSOS scholarship has specific implications: it is considered a parental refusal of special education services under federal law (34 C.F.R. Sec. 300.300). This means that upon returning to the public school system, the student's eligibility for special education services will need to be re-evaluated according to district policies and federal law. Accepting the scholarship also means the public school district is not responsible for providing or funding the special education services that would have been available if the student had remained enrolled in public school.

Contact Information

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the CSOS program in the Alpine School District?

A: For questions about the eligibility determination evaluation process, contact the district Special Education Department at (801) 610-8200.