Press Release: BOOST Scholarship Program Now Accepting Applications For Fall

Provides Financial Aid To Attend Nonpublic Schools

For Immediate Release                                      Contact: Bill Reinhard, 410-767-0486

Baltimore, MD (June 1, 2016)

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) today announced applications are now online to apply for a new scholarship program designed to help income eligible students attend nonpublic schools.

The Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST) Program, which was supported and signed into law by Governor Larry Hogan this past legislative session, will provide a limited number of scholarships for students who are eligible for the free- or reduced-price lunch program.

“Every child deserves access to a world-class education,” said Governor Hogan. “Our administration is proud to support a program that is a much-needed step in the right direction to provide expanded opportunities for students across the state.”

The application deadline is Monday, July 11, 2016.  A list of potential participating schools is available by following this link.

The BOOST program is available for students either already attending or hoping to attend one of the participating schools.  Students must be enrolled in – or have applied to a potential participating school – before completing the BOOST application. Nearly $5 million in scholarship funds are available for kindergarten through 12th grade.

All applications will be reviewed by MSDE to ensure completion. MSDE will then compile a list of applicants that ranks eligible students by family income expressed as a percent of the most recent federal poverty levels. Finally, MSDE will forward the list to a BOOST Advisory Board that will determine how the scholarship funds are allocated among eligible applicants.

Under the legislation governing the program (Senate Bill 190, 2016), the advisory board will have members appointed by the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Delegates.

For more information about the BOOST program, please visit this link.

 ###