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Panel weighs future of Boost scholarship, special‑education awards and health‑and‑security grants
Summary
Department of Legislative Services analysts and Maryland State Department of Education officials briefed the Education and Economic Development Subcommittee on the Boost scholarship and nonpublic school health and security programs, with MSDE confirming obligations of existing NSHS funds and describing changes to special‑education awards while DLS recommended changes to the FY26 allowance and a report requirement.
Department of Legislative Services analyst Laura Hyde told the Education and Economic Development Subcommittee that the state’s Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST) scholarship program and related nonpublic school health and security (NSHS) and textbooks/technology appropriations grew rapidly and that DLS had recommended reductions to some FY 2026 special‑fund allowances.
Why it matters: Boost provides tuition scholarships to students eligible for free or reduced price meals to attend participating nonpublic schools; proposed reductions or changes could affect student awards, provider participation and school programming.
DLS frame and recommendations. Hyde said fiscal 2026 funding for educational organizations as a whole decreased $4.6 million to $55.8 million and highlighted the NSHS and Boost programs. Hyde told the committee that fiscal 2025 BOOST…
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