UPDATES

01.05.2008

Report finds Carson Smith Scholarship a success

In an official report prepared for state policy makers, the Legislative Auditor General found that parents are highly satisfied with the Carson Smith Scholarship, a state-funded program that provides private school scholarships to K-12 students with disabilities.

For supporters of parent-empowering reforms, this comes as no surprise. We’ve always known that when parents are empowered to make meaningful education decisions for their children, test scores go up, and parental satisfaction goes through the roof.

Here are few findings from the Auditor’s report:

• 89% of Carson Smith parents say their child's academic performance increased while at a Carson Smith private school
• 91% say their private school provides services specifically for their child’s disability.  Only 21% felt the same about their former public school
• 89% are satisfied with their child’s Carson Smith school.  Only 9% were satisfied with their child’s former public school
• 100% feel the program should continue (this includes parents who have put their kids back into public school)

The report also verified that scholarship funding is going towards its intended recipients – children with disabilities who need another option.

>Read the full report

>Learn more about the Carson Smith Scholarship and how to apply