Children's Scholarship Fund facts for kids

The Children's Scholarship Fund helps kids in the United States go to private schools. It gives money, called scholarships, to children from families who don't have a lot of money. This way, more kids can choose the school that is best for them. Over 25,700 students from Kindergarten to 8th grade get these scholarships. Theodore J. Forstmann and John T. Walton started this fund in 1998.

How the Children's Scholarship Fund Started

The Children's Scholarship Fund began because two men, Theodore J. Forstmann and John T. Walton, saw a big need. They both supported the Washington Scholarship Fund (WSF). This fund helped families in Washington D.C. pay for school.

Seeing a Big Need for School Choices

In 1998, over 8,000 families asked the WSF for help. This showed Ted and John that many families wanted different school options. They realized that parents everywhere wanted to choose a private school for their kids. Even if it meant paying some of the cost themselves, they wanted that choice.

Making the Fund National

Ted and John decided to create a program for the whole country. They wanted to open up school choices for many more kids. On June 9, 1998, they announced the Children's Scholarship Fund in New York City.

Getting the Word Out

After that, Ted, John, and the new staff traveled around the country. They worked with groups in different cities and states. These groups helped tell parents about the scholarships. Soon, applications started coming in. Many more families applied than they expected. By March 31, 1999, over 1.25 million children had applied!

First Scholarships Awarded

On April 21, 1999, the first Children's Scholarship Fund scholarships were given out. About 40,000 children across America received them. Ted Forstmann explained his goal. He said every child should get a good education. This is true no matter how much money their parents make. A good education helps kids succeed and build strong communities.

The Fund Today

When the Children's Scholarship Fund first started, it was planned for four years. But it quickly became clear that kids needed support for longer. To help children get a strong education, the funding needed to continue through 8th grade.

Continuing to Help Students

So, after the first four years, the fund asked its partners and donors for help. They wanted to extend the scholarships through 8th grade. They also wanted to give scholarships to younger brothers and sisters. Most partners agreed to do this. They even started offering brand new scholarships.

Impact of the Scholarships

Today, many partners of the Children's Scholarship Fund still offer new scholarships each year. The main office in New York City manages over 8,000 scholarships there. It also helps support programs all over the country.

Since it began, the Children's Scholarship Fund has given out $654 million in scholarships. This has helped 152,000 children in need. In the 2012-13 school year, over 25,700 children used these scholarships. They attended private schools through 30 partner programs. The scholarships truly make a difference. About 92 percent of students who get CSF scholarships finish high school on time. Also, 90 percent go on to college.