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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 appropriation was $9,000,000 with $8,500,000 awarded and a remaining balance of roughly $700,000. DLS recommended deleting the $2,500,000 special fund allowance for the nonpublic school health and security program in fiscal 2026 and adding language to reduce Maryland School for the Blind’s allocation contingent on enactment of certain Foundation Program adjustments. DLS also recommended restoring language from the fiscal 2025 budget bill about special education awards and a Boost program report.
MSDE response and program details. State Superintendent Carrie Wright told the committee the department supports the governor’s fiscal 2026 budget and confirmed MSDE had obligated available health and security funds for fiscal 2025. On Boost special‑education awards, MSDE said the Boost board provided an additional $250 per special‑education student to meet a $700,000 directive, though some special‑education students could not receive the extra $250 because a nonpublic school’s financial package already covered full tuition.
Hyde’s analysis also showed assessment outcomes: Boost students scored about two percentage points lower than non‑Boost students in school‑level standardized testing in 2023–24. MSDE said Boost schools are not required to report how they close the gap between Boost and non‑Boost students, so that specific comparative information is not centrally collected.
Uptake and declines. MSDE told the subcommittee that some students decline Boost awards; DLS reported 452 declined awards (89 renewals and 363 new applicants). MSDE said the 2025–26 application for the BOOST scholarship will open in March 2025 and that it will hold information sessions for schools and families.
Public testimony. Representatives from faith‑based education groups and parents spoke in favor of maintaining or restoring Boost, NSHS and textbooks/technology funding. Sarah Mirsky McGee of the Baltimore Jewish Council, parents of Boost recipients and representatives of Maryland nonpublic school coalitions emphasized student access, special‑education supports and community benefits. Garrett O’Day of the Maryland Catholic Conference and others urged keeping NSHS language in the FY26 bill; advocacy groups also asked legislators not to reduce Boost awards or provider reimbursement levels.
What comes next: DLS recommended restoring fiscal‑year 2025 bill language requiring a Boost program report and clarifying special‑education award treatment, and recommended reductions to the NSHS fiscal 2026 special fund appropriation. MSDE said it supports the DLS recommendation to require a Boost report and indicated planned outreach and program administration steps for fiscal 2026.
