As the Maryland legislature convenes for its 2025 session, an unprecedented opportunity lies ahead: the chance to expand educational choice for families across the state. The growing demand from parents for more control over their children’s education underscores the urgency of this issue.

A recent statewide survey revealed that 74 percent of Maryland voters support giving parents the freedom to choose the best educational setting for their children. Among Democrats, 64 percent backed such legislation, while an overwhelming 84 percent of African Americans expressed their support. These numbers make it clear: educational choice is not a partisan issue but a shared priority among Maryland’s diverse communities.

This is an important moment for Maryland’s Democratic leaders to take note, especially given the party’s trifecta and triplex, which provide a unique opportunity to lead boldly on this issue. With strong support from the Democratic base and key demographics like African Americans, lawmakers are well-positioned to champion policies that reflect the priorities of Maryland families and create meaningful change across the state.

However, this discussion also comes at a time when Maryland faces a daunting financial challenge. The state legislature is grappling with a combined structural and cash deficit exceeding $1 billion, with state budget analysts warning that this gap could grow to $2.7 billion by fiscal year 2026. Additionally, a recent report from the Local News Network at the University of Maryland cautions that progress toward the Blueprint for Maryland’s future – a 10-year education reform effort aimed at creating a “world-class education system” – is already depleting state reserves, which are projected to run out by 2027.

To address these challenges, lawmakers should consider giving counties greater flexibility to prioritize aspects of the Blueprint that are more meaningful for their local school systems. This approach could reduce costs and make the plan more feasible for both state and local governments. Furthermore, advancing education choice programs could help alleviate overcrowding in Maryland public schools by allowing families to select schools beyond their assigned zones. Overcrowding is a significant issue in many parts of the state, especially in Baltimore and Howard counties, where schools are struggling to accommodate growing student populations.

The BOOST (Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today) Scholarship program, established in 2016, clearly exemplifies the benefits of education choice. Since its inception, the program has generated approximately $27.4 million in cost savings for the state. Enacting similar programs or expanding BOOST could not only help to address looming budget shortfalls but also offer families more educational opportunities while reducing strain on overcrowded public schools.

The BOOST Scholarship program has also transformed lives. Take, for example, one eighth-grade scholarship recipient, Jaidon Contreras, who said, “BOOST has helped me and my family actually provide a good education for myself.”  Nefarti Lee, a parent whose two sons were recipients of the scholarship program and graduated in 2022 and 2016, said, “I believe in school choice, and BOOST gives these children opportunities that will help them later in life,”  she also said BOOST is an “invaluable program” and a “lifeline” that “changes lives and helps children thrive.”

Beyond the financial and logistical benefits, education choice programs bring a host of positive outcomes. Studies have shown that such programs improve school safety and climate, foster accountability among schools, increase academic achievement and attainment and promote racial integration. By adopting policies that embrace education choice, Maryland’s leaders can meet the needs of families, strengthen the state’s educational landscape, and ensure that Maryland remains a leader in innovation and opportunity.

The time to act is now. Maryland lawmakers should seize this opportunity to expand educational choice, address fiscal challenges, and give every family the freedom to choose the best path for their child’s success. Maryland’s families are counting on it.

The post 2025: A Turning Point for Educational Choice in Maryland? appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.

Maryland lawmakers will return to Annapolis today, facing crucial decisions for parents and children. Among them is how they will continue to address calls from parents who want more education options and from those who want to escape the state’s failing schools.

In 2022, 23 Baltimore public district schools did not have a single student who was proficient in math. At one high school, 77 percent of students tested at an elementary school reading level. In a recent education report card, Maryland ranked 40th out of 51 states in its combined fourth-grade and eighth-grade math and reading scores. Parents have also sued the city of Baltimore and Baltimore Public Schools because of what they view as a significant failure in educating children, coupled with a substantial misuse of taxpayer funds.

The solution to that problem? Preserving scholarship funding for BOOST, Maryland’s sole private school choice program.

Having successfully preserved the BOOST program through bipartisan work last year after Governor Wes Moore tried to cut funding, lawmakers now have the opportunity to solidify its permanence and address the growing demand from parents within the state. Ahead of the 2023-2024 school year, the program faced a surge in applicants and needed double the amount of funding than previously appropriated to meet parents’ demands. This is particularly pertinent considering the findings in a recent report, which underscores the cost savings for the state, the substantial demand for BOOST scholarships among parents, and the broader benefits that education choice policies can bring families.

As we delve into the transformative impact of BOOST Scholarships on individual lives, the stories of appreciative parents further highlight the program’s positive influence. Nefertari Lee, whose two sons recently graduated from Calvert Hall College High School in Towson with the help of BOOST Scholarships, attended the rally and said this about the program, “I believe in school choice, and BOOST gives these children opportunities that will help them later in life.” She later went on to say that BOOST is “an ‘invaluable program’ and a ‘lifeline’ that ‘changes lives’ and helps children thrive. ”

A grandparent, Sherry, whose three grandsons are receipts of the program, said, “My grandsons have grown leaps and bounds at Calvary Christian Academy… We live in a rural area where the [local public] school has closed, so it is detrimental they [can] have this BOOST program…Our kids deserve a chance to be in the best environment for their situation…” report4ed The Baltimore Sun.  Rabbi Yochman Stengel, the high school principal of Bnos Yisroel, an orthodox Jewish School for girls in Baltimore, said the BOOST program offers vital assistance to hardworking parents. He said, “This [the BOOST program] is huge; it literally allows schools to keep these children who otherwise would not be able to pay the tuition fees.”

There are numerous benefits to families in adopting education choice policies, some of which are allowing access to safer learning environments, creating accountability among schools, empowering parents to select learning environments that align with their values, and increasing academic achievement and attainment among students.

When lawmakers return to the state capitol today, there are four simple ways they can meet the demand of parents who want better and more robust education options for their children: secure BOOST’s permanence and increase funding to meet current demand, shift the funding model to be based on the state per-pupil allocation, convert the program into an Education Savings Account (ESA), and expand program eligibility to students of all income backgrounds.

Integrating BOOST scholarships into the state’s K-12 funding formula, rather than a separate appropriation, would streamline processes, reduce political fluctuations, and ensure a fairer distribution of funds, particularly benefiting students with special needs compared to Maryland public and charter schools. It would also cement education freedom as a permanent facet of what the state of Maryland has to offer families and children.

Converting the scholarship into an ESA offers families flexibility and allows them to choose more than one education option or service at a time for their child. For example, they could pay for textbooks, online classes, educational therapy, and private school tuition, all with their ESA. Furthermore, removing income restrictions promotes universality, allowing families from various backgrounds to access the program and fostering increased engagement from private schools and the broader community.

By securing BOOST’s permanence, adjusting the funding model, and expanding eligibility, lawmakers have the opportunity to enhance the program’s impact, providing greater educational options and support for families across the state.

The post State Lawmakers Should BOOST the Maryland’s School Choice Scholarship Program to Match Parents’ Demand appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.