Enacted 2005 • Launched 2005 • Voucher
Most Utah students who have disabilities are eligible to receive vouchers to attend private
school. However, participation is limited by the amount of money appropriated to the $3.75
million program fund.
Latest Stats (2012-13)
- Students participating: 714
- Schools participating: 40
- Average voucher value: $4,733
Program Details
Average voucher value as a percentage of
Utah’s total per-student spending ($6,452)
Student Funding
Vouchers are based on the state’s weighted pupil unit, an element of its school financing
formula. Students who receive more than three hours of special education services per day
get vouchers worth 2.5 times the weighted pupil unit, whereas students receiving fewer than
three hours per day get vouchers worth 1.5 times the weighted pupil unit. In 2011-12, those
values worked out to $7,040 and $4,224. The voucher may not exceed the private school’s
actual tuition and fees.
Student Eligibility
Public school students between ages five and 21 identified as disabled under federal
disability rights law are eligible to receive vouchers, as well as students with special needs
in private schools that served students with disabilities prior to participating in the program.
Participation is limited by the amount of money appropriated each year, with applications
subject to random lottery.
Legal Developments
No legal challenges have been filed against the program.
Rules & Regulations
- Income Limit: None
- Geographic Limit: Statewide
- Enrollment Cap: None
- Voucher Cap: Conditional
- Testing Mandates: Yes
Governing Statutes
Utah Code Sections 53A.1a.701-53A.1a.710
Friedman Contact
Michael Chartier | michael@edchoice.org
Additional Links
See http://www.schools.utah.gov/sars/Quick-Links/Carson-Smith-Scholarship.aspx for a list of eligible schools. Utah’s House Bill 2 (2011) expanded funding, and is available here: http://le.utah.gov/~2011/bills/hbillenr/hb0002.pdf.
