Carson Smith Scholarship 
Continuing To Provide School Choice To Children With Special Needs

Finding an educational environment that is a good fit for a special needs child is no easy task.  Their needs are very specific and unique.  Public schools try their best.  For many children they do a great job and that option is a good fit.  However, for many others it is not.  Parents should be able to choose the best educational environment for their child in order to help that child progress and flourish.  They know their child better than anyone and are best equipped to make those decisions.  

The great news is that here in Utah parents of children with special needs do have a choice.  They can choose a public school or they can choose a private school with the help of the Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship (learn more here ).  This scholarship was signed into law by Governor Huntsman in 2005 and allows children with a qualifying IEP (Individualized Education Program) to receive a scholarship to be used at one of nearly 50 private schools (see schools here) serving special needs students across the state.

As more and more parents have been made aware of this option, the program has grown.  This year it will serve approximately 650 children.  Satisfaction for the Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship is extremely high.  According to a mandatory 2008 legislative audit (see here ), "Parents of students currently receiving, or who have received the Carson Smith Scholarship are overwhelmingly in favor of the program and find it a success."  The audit found that 100% of parents who have used the program feel that it should continue, and 89% of parents said their child's academic performance has improved while at the private school they chose to attend with the scholarship.

Because of the great value this program provides to the children of our state, Parents for Choice in Education continually makes it a top priority to protect, improve, promote, and educate the public and lawmakers about the Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship.  This year we worked in partnership with Representative Merlynn Newbold to improve notification requirements to ensure that parents are empowered with the proper information about their school choice options.  We amended the state law (see here ) to require public schools to notify parents of children with an IEP about the Carson Smith Scholarship annually.  Students receiving an IEP for the first time are to be notified within 30 days.  The bill passed with over 2/3 majority and was signed into law by Governor Huntsman on March 24, 2009 (see how your legislator voted here).

Parents and students who support the Carson Smith Scholarship joined us at the Capitol during the legislative session to let their legislators know how much this program means to their child and family and to lobby them to support the bill.  They were there participating in the first annual Carson Smith Scholarship Day on the Hill.  Special guest, Lt. Governor Gary Herbert, spoke to them during the lunch telling them, "Carson Smith, I know, is a great blessing to you and your family...but I'm here to tell you it's a blessing in other ways because it's a visionary thing.  It has taken some courage by some of our legislators, and it's something that's going to open the door to other opportunities for us for parental choice."

We encourage parents of children with special needs to learn more about the Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship to determine if it is a good option for their child.  The scholarship application process is taking place now.  In order to receive a full year's scholarship for the 2009-10 school year, applications must be received no later than July 1.

Print an application and apply today (links open a PDF document):

• Application Form>>
• Application Instructions>>

For assistance, contact Laura Anderson at laura@carsonsmithscholarship.org or (801) 637-4111. 

Learn more at UtahEducationFacts.com>>

Graduation Rates - Utah Students Falling Behind

In 2004, we were number one.  A year later we were number 8.  Now, in Education Week's most recent report on U.S. high school graduation rates, Utah ranked 26th at 72.2%, just three percentage points above the national average.  In fact, Utah's graduation rate has fallen more than any other state, save one, since 1996. 

Unfortunately, state officials spent most of their efforts disputing Education Week's calculations (see here and here) rather than explaining what they were doing to improve education so that fewer students fall through the cracks and become permanently relegated to low-skill and low-paying jobs.

In 2006, the Utah State Office of Education (USOE) reported a graduation rate of 83%, eleven points higher than Education Week's figure.  Even if the USOE's calculation is more accurate, it still means that nearly 1 out of 5 students didn't finish high school. 

Quoting a Deseret News editorial, "The Utah State Office of Education can quibble all it wants with the numbers in the latest Education Week Diplomas Count report. The truth is, whether the number for the state's graduation rates in 2006 was [83] percent, as state officials say, or 72.2 percent, as the report says, it's far too low."

And it's not as if Utah has excessively high graduation standards.  24 states require students to pass an exit exam in order to graduate.  Utah does not.  On average, US high school students must earn 2.9 credits in math, 3.9 in language arts, and 2.6 in science in order to graduate.  Utah students only need 2 in math, 3 in language arts, and 2 in science (see here).*

It will be interesting to see how the USOE's numbers and Education Week's compare in 2007.  That's the first year that the USOE started to calculate graduation rates by tracking each individual student through high school.  Since implementing the new system, the USOE has reported a graduation rate of 88% in both 2007 and 2008. 

Given the nation's dismal graduation performance, those numbers seem impressive.  But, unfortunately, the USOE's new graduation formula only tracks students from 10th through 12th grade.  Those who drop out before 10th grade are excluded completely from the calculation.  Making matters worse, the definition of "graduation" is so broad that students who are expelled, suspended, or simply on the 12th grade rolls on the last day of class are counted as graduates (see here).  Education Week, on the other hand, includes 9th graders, although they don't track students individually, and only counts students who earn a "standard diploma" as graduates (see page 6 here ).

In an article covering the graduation report, Brenda Hales of the USOE stated that "We will not be totally satisfied until we have 100 percent of our students graduate."  Well, in order to do this, you need a graduation formula that actually includes 100 percent of high school students.

But regardless of the differences between how the graduation rates are calculated, Education Week's is the only one out of the two that uses a national standard allowing us to compare Utah to the rest of the U.S.   And in this regard, we're not doing well.  As mentioned already, Utah has experienced some of the biggest drops in the last few years.  If this trend continued in 2007 and 2008, we'll find ourselves at the bottom of the barrel.

Already, minority students in Utah fare worse than the national average.  According to last year's report,** Utah Hispanics had a graduation rate of 53.6% while the national average for Hispanics was 57.8%.  Utah's 30 point difference in graduation rates between whites and Hispanics was 50% larger than the national average (see here).  In fact, Black and Hispanic males in Utah were more likely to drop out than graduate.

If Utah can barely compete against the rest of the U.S., how do we plan on competing against the rest of the world in a 21st century, global economy?

While you're pondering that question, head over to www.UtahEducationFacts.com/graduationrates where you can learn more about Utah's graduation rates as reported by both Education Week and the Utah State Office of Education.

Interim Committee Studies Key Education Issues
Excellent Way For Citizens to Participate

Parents for Choice in Education has always been a strong voice on Capitol Hill advocating for children and parents.  It is our goal to engage you in the legislative process and assist you in letting your voices be heard as parents, taxpayers, voters, and citizens.

Although the majority of K-12 state education policy happens during the 45-day General Legislative Session, the Education Interim Committee studies key education issues ( 2009 education interim topics here) facing the state and recommends legislation for the upcoming session.  These committees, comprised of State Senators and Representatives ( list of committee members here ), meet jointly on the 3rd Wednesday of every month between sessions from April - November and serve as an opportunity for the public to speak and give their input to the legislature concerning matters being considered.  Offering valuable information and opinions regarding issues being considered in the interim committees is an excellent way for citizens to participate in the lawmaking process.  Committee meetings are open to the public and your input is welcome. They provide a great opportunity for you to participate and voice your views on education issues that matter to you. 

We are all stakeholders in the quality of education being delivered to the children of Utah.  It is important to be aware of and involved in the policy discussions taking place by our lawmakers.  During the Education Interim committee meetings critical decisions are made that will have an impact on the future of all Utah citizens.

Be sure to check the meeting agendas and attend if you can.  We strongly encourage you to contact your legislators (list here) and members of the committee (list here ) to state your position and share your views on the policy issues that are important to you.

Next Meeting:  Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - 9:00 AM - State Capitol, RM 445

• Visit the Committee's Webpage>> For a complete schedule of meetings, agendas, minutes, audio, and a list of committee members.
• Learn more at UtahEducationFacts.com>>

June's Featured Scholarship Recipient
Lottie Wall - By her mother Liz Wall

"Lottie came to our family with Down Syndrome, among other gifts.  Like most mothers I was excited for her to start school.  It seemed that we had a terrific special needs preschool program here in Park City, and as Lottie approached that age we were thrilled that she would have the opportunity to attend.  Soon after Lottie entered our hopes fell.  Don't misunderstand when I say this was a great program, it just wasn't great for our daughter.  The classroom had no "typical" peers for our daughter to emulate.  At the time she was attending, the children in her class were in wheelchairs and in need of constant attention.  Lottie did not require this type of attention and therefore she was on her own quite a bit and her individual needs seemed to come secondary. Lottie was less than thrilled with going and was crying every time we tried to drop her off.

Along came the Carson Smith scholarship allowing us to explore options outside of the public system.  We found [a private school] and due to the funds that are given to our family we can send Lottie to a program that truly fits her needs and continues to make us proud as we watch our little gal thrive.

Kids of all ages love her and make her feel welcome and included.  She loves her school.  She can't wait to get there in the morning and always has a hug goodbye for us signaling it is time for us to go as she is ready to start her day with friends and teachers...so nice to know she is comfortable where she is ...no more tears.

She is thriving in speech as she tries to imitate all her friends around her.  She has tasks to perform just like the rest of her peers and whenever she has difficulty the other children don't skip a beat to help her.  She has learned to socialize.  She sits by herself during the "appreciation" circle and most days tells how she appreciates going outside!  She has her routine down!" 

PCE | 124 S 400 E #230 | SLC UT 84111 | www.ChoiceInEducation.org | www.UtahEducationFacts.com

Board Members: Robyn Bagley (Chair), Mark Cluff, Dr. Galey Colosimo, Lincoln Fillmore, Doug Holmes, Jodi Holmgren, Dr. Jeremy Kidd, Morgan Philpot, and Randy Smith

Trustees: Paul Ahlstrom, Andy Barfuss, Patrick Byrne, Doug & Erin Holmes, Jim Jenkins, Tricia McGarry, Diana Peterson, Taylor Satterthwaite, Jed & Misti Stevenson, Lew Swain, Scott & Kathy Tenney, Don & Nancy Wilson, and Seldon Young

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