Utah Board of Education drops ACE Scholarships contract

The Utah Board of Education has ended its contract with ACE Scholarships, the organization managing the Utah Fits All scholarship program. This decision was made shortly after lawmakers approved changes to the program's rules. Governor Spencer Cox signed the new legislation on March 6, 2025. ACE Scholarships had been chosen to run the program for five years, with a budget of $9 million. However, Scott Jones, the contract administrator for the program, announced that the contract was terminated "for convenience" and did not provide further details. He emphasized that the board can end contracts as needed and has done so before. The updated legislation establishes clearer guidelines for selecting a new program manager. Jones indicated that despite this change, there should be no delays in the scholarship program. ACE Scholarships has expressed its willingness to compete for the new contract, ensuring that services will continue until the transition is complete by May 15, 2025. The new law includes a ban on charging fees to students and sets strict rules for spending scholarship funds, including a 20% cap on extracurricular expenses. It also prevents overlapping benefits across different scholarship programs. Lawmakers hope these changes will address issues that arose during the first year of the program, improving the overall experience for families. As the state prepares to issue a new request for proposals for a program manager, there will be enhanced income verification processes and better definitions for what qualifies as a private school. The scholarship amounts vary based on students' education levels, offering up to $6,000 for homeschooled students aged 12 to 18.