Friday, Mar. 15, 2024
Courtesy graphic/Utahfitsall.com
This chart indicates income levels for qualifying for the Utah Fits All Scholarship program.
SALT LAKE CITY — More Utah students will have the opportunity to enjoy a Catholic education thanks to recent action by the Utah Legislature.
Last year the legislature launched the Utah Fits All Scholarship program, which offers education savings account scholarships to private school and home-schooled students. Funding for the program’s first year was $42 million, but during the 2024 legislative session, lawmakers increased that amount to $82.5 million, which will fund approximately 10,000 scholarships valued at $8,000 each.
Among those who advocated for the initial scholarship and for the legislature to increase funding was Dr. Galey Colosimo, principal of Juan Diego Catholic High School. He also serves as chairman of the board of the non-profit organization Utah Education Fits All.
More than 40,000 students have preregistered their interest in applying for a scholarship through Utah Fits All, Colosimo said.
“The Utah Fits All Scholarship program, passed by the Utah Legislature in January 2023, is a boon for Utah Catholic schools,” he added. “It provides families with the financial support they need to afford a Catholic education. With an initial allocation of $82.5 million, the program supports Catholic and other private school and homeschool families. These scholarships are tax free and will be renewed every year a child is in a K-12 private school.”
Through advocacy and information, “Utah Education Fits All is committed to helping empower families to take control of their children’s education,” he added. “UEFA is dedicated to supporting families by advocating for policy support, helping families navigate the scholarship system, and empowering them to make informed educational choices for their children.”
Since the UFA portal began accepting applications on Feb. 28, 14,000 have been received, according to information provided to Utah Catholic Schools Superintendent Mark Longe. However, the scholarships will not be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, he stressed. Instead, family size and income will be the determining factors. Recipients will not be chosen until after the application portal closes on April 15.
“There’s obviously demand in our greater Utah community, especially in our Utah Catholic Schools,” Longe said. “I’m hopeful that people that need the scholarship the most will be able to apply and receive a scholarship. I would encourage people in our schools to apply for the scholarship.”
The number of applications “also demonstrates to our lawmakers and to the state that this is something that parents want, and they want the right to choose what type of education they want for their children,” he said.
The first tier of scholarships will be awarded to students from families whose income is at 200 percent or below the poverty level ($62,000 for a family of four). About 630 of current Utah Catholic School students would qualify at that level, Longe said.
“Now there is even a better chance for people that fall into that category – those in most need of scholarship assistance – of securing a scholarship for their children,” Longe said. “That also allows Catholic schools to welcome people who may not have considered a Catholic education for their child before because they didn’t believe they could afford to pay the tuition.”
If scholarship funds remain after disbursement to families at that income level, students whose family income is at 555 percent of the poverty level would be considered. Close to 1,500 current Utah Catholic Schools students could potentially qualify for the scholarship, Longe said.
Once all scholarships have been awarded, a wait list will be established for the remaining students who qualify.
Utah Catholic Schools have 1,787 openings across the system, and schools are excited to welcome new students who might qualify for the UFA scholarships, Longe said.
For information about the Utah Fits All Scholarship, or to apply, visit ufascholarship.com.
