Funding saved for BOOST non-public school scholarships

By On Mar 31, 2023

LAWMAKERS CAME TO AN AGREEMENT LATE THIS AFTERNOON. TIM: THE BUDGET COMPROMISE WAS REACHED AS STUDENTS AND PARENTS WERE IN THE MIDST OF MAKING LAST MINUTE PLEAS >> I WANT TO SAY, TAKING ALL THIS MONEY AWAY IS BAD BECAUSE WE NEED IT, NOW OR NEVER. TIM: GREGORY BUTLER BEGAN HIS DAY IN ANNAPOLIS FIGHTING TO HELP SAVE THE BOOST SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. THE 8TH GRADER IS A STUDENT AT BALTIMORE CITY’S MOTHER MARY LANGE CATHOLIC SCHOOL. HE WAS ONE OF THE GUESTS INVITED TO THE CAPITAL BY SENATE PRESIDENT BILL FERGUSON >> WE REPRESENT PEOPLE, WE REPRESENT FAMILIES, WE REPRESENT CHILDREN. > TIM: A FEW HOURS LATER, LAWMAKERS MET AND AGREED TO KEEP IN PLACE $9 MILLION IN BOOST SCHOLARSHIPS, THAT’S A MILLION DOLLARS LESS THAN PREVIOUS YEARS. THEY ALSO REMOVED BUDGET LANGUAGE WHICH WOULD HAVE EVENTUALLY PHASED OUT THE PROGRAM. BUT SUPPORTERS SAY EVEN WITH THE PROGRESS MADE THIS SESSION, THE MEASURE STILL FALLS SHORT FINANCIALLY. >> THE FACT THAT THERE IS A DECREASE OF A MILLION DOLLARS IN THE FUNDS MEANS THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF KIDS WHO AREN’T GOING TO HAVE SCHOLARSHIPS NEXT YEAR WHO OTHERWISE WOULD. SO IT’S UNFORTUNATE THAT CHILDREN ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO LOSE OUT. TIM: AS PART OF THE BUDGET COMPROMISE, NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS CAN EXPECT AN ADDITIONAL $2.5 MILLION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. EVEN THOUGH THE BOOST PROGRAM SURVIVED THIS SESSION UNDER A DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION, THIS PARENT OF EIGHT IS PLANS TO CONTINUE LOBBYING FOR MORE SCHOLARSHIP INCREASES. >> BEFORE BOOST, BEING ABLE TO COVER THAT TUITION AND PROVIDE OUR KIDS WHAT THEY SO DESPERATELY NEED, IT WAS CHALLENGING AND SOMETIMES PAINFUL. TIM: SO WHAT’S NEXT? NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS NOW HAVE A GREEN LIGHT TO APPLY FOR BOOST SCHOLARSHIPS THIS SPRING. AT THE STATEHOUSE IN ANNAPOLIS, TIM TOOTEN, WBALTV ELEVEN NE

Lawmakers agree to save BOOST scholarship funding, but at $1M less than years past

Maryland lawmakers came to an agreement Friday afternoon over a popular scholarship for non-public school students that faced cuts this legislative session.Lawmakers reached a budget compromise as students and parents were in the midst of making last-minute pleas in Annapolis.Gregory Butler, an eighth-grade student at the Mother Mary Lange School in Baltimore, started the day fighting to help save the BOOST (Broadening Options & Opportunities for Students Today) program. “I want to say, taking all this money away is bad because we need it, now or never,” Butler said. He was one of the guests invited to the State House by Senate President Bill Ferguson, D-District 46.”We represent people, we represent families, we represent children,” Ferguson said.A few hours later, lawmakers met and agreed to keep in place $9 million in BOOST scholarships, which is actually $1 million less than in previous years.They also removed budget language that would have eventually phased the program out. But supporters said even with the progress made this session, the measure still falls short financially.| RELATED: Senate votes to keep $10M in state budget for BOOST”The fact that there is a decrease of $1 million in the fund means there are hundreds of kids who aren’t going to have scholarships next year who otherwise would. Unfortunately, it’s children that are going to lose out,” said Ariel Sadwin, president of the Maryland Council for American Private Education.As part of the budget compromise, non-public schools can expect an additional $2.5 million for administrative costs. Even though the BOOST program survived this session under a Democratic administration, some parents plan to continue lobbying for more increases in scholarship funding.| RELATED: Non-public school students protest proposed budget cuts”Before BOOST, being able to cover that tuition and provide our kids what they so desperately need, it was challenging and sometimes painful,” said Shlomo Goldberger, a parent of eight children.Non-public school students now have a green light to apply for BOOST scholarships this spring.| RELATED: Maryland GOP caucus pushes Right to Learn Act of 2023 | 11 TV HILL: Right to Learn Act calls on funding scholarship program

ANNAPOLIS, Md. —

Maryland lawmakers came to an agreement Friday afternoon over a popular scholarship for non-public school students that faced cuts this legislative session.

Lawmakers reached a budget compromise as students and parents were in the midst of making last-minute pleas in Annapolis.

Gregory Butler, an eighth-grade student at the Mother Mary Lange School in Baltimore, started the day fighting to help save the BOOST (Broadening Options & Opportunities for Students Today) program.

“I want to say, taking all this money away is bad because we need it, now or never,” Butler said.

He was one of the guests invited to the State House by Senate President Bill Ferguson, D-District 46.

“We represent people, we represent families, we represent children,” Ferguson said.

A few hours later, lawmakers met and agreed to keep in place $9 million in BOOST scholarships, which is actually $1 million less than in previous years.

They also removed budget language that would have eventually phased the program out. But supporters said even with the progress made this session, the measure still falls short financially.

“The fact that there is a decrease of $1 million in the fund means there are hundreds of kids who aren’t going to have scholarships next year who otherwise would. Unfortunately, it’s children that are going to lose out,” said Ariel Sadwin, president of the Maryland Council for American Private Education.

As part of the budget compromise, non-public schools can expect an additional $2.5 million for administrative costs. Even though the BOOST program survived this session under a Democratic administration, some parents plan to continue lobbying for more increases in scholarship funding.

“Before BOOST, being able to cover that tuition and provide our kids what they so desperately need, it was challenging and sometimes painful,” said Shlomo Goldberger, a parent of eight children.

Non-public school students now have a green light to apply for BOOST scholarships this spring.

| 11 TV HILL: Right to Learn Act calls on funding scholarship program

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