Demand for Maryland BOOST scholarships is at record levels according to data shared in a July 31 public meeting. Maryland Matters reported the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) received about 7,000 applications from low-income families for $9 million in scholarships.
Garrett O’Day, deputy director of the Maryland Catholic Conference, told the BOOST advisory board that total need, based on the number of certified applicants for the 2023-24 school year, is double the $9 million appropriated by the state legislature.
“This year, we had an equal number of first-time and returning applicants. With the public interest and unprecedented demand for scholarships, we need to urge our state elected officials to recognize this demand from parents and continue to support BOOST,” O’Day said.
MSDE is expected to notify parents in the next couple of weeks if they have received a scholarship to send their children to a Maryland Catholic or other nonpublic school for the upcoming school year.
Join the Catholic Advocacy Network – or make sure you have signed up for Education alerts to join in the effort to support BOOST scholarships for Maryland families.