Understanding the Maryland BOOST Scholarship Program
The Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST) Scholarship Program in Maryland offers a lifeline to families seeking alternative educational settings for their children. Established in 2016, BOOST provides scholarships for eligible students to attend participating nonpublic schools. This article details the eligibility requirements, application process, award specifics, and other important aspects of the BOOST program.
BOOST Program Overview
The BOOST program acknowledges that while traditional public schools serve many students well, some children may thrive better in a different educational environment. It aims to create opportunities for disadvantaged children by providing them with scholarships to attend approved private schools that can better meet their learning needs. Over the past eight years, approximately 20,000 low-income children in Maryland have benefited from BOOST scholarships. In the 2021-2022 school year alone, the program provided 3,268 scholarships. Notably, about a third of the scholarship recipients were English language learners, and the average household income of BOOST families was just $35,488, highlighting the program's focus on supporting disadvantaged children.
Eligibility Requirements for Students
To be eligible for the BOOST Scholarship Program, a student must meet the following criteria:
- FARMS Eligibility: Qualify for free and reduced-price meals (FARMs). All Maryland students wishing to attend a nonpublic school - or those already enrolled in a nonpublic school - were eligible to apply for a scholarship as long as their family’s income level did not exceed the eligibility criteria for the federal “free or reduced price school lunch” program.
- Enrollment Status: Be enrolled or accepted at a participating nonpublic school.
- Grade Level: Be entering grades kindergarten - 12th grade for the 2026-2027 school year.
Application Process and Required Documents
Prospective families interested in the BOOST Program scholarships should carefully review the application requirements. While the application window has a short timeframe, preparing the necessary documents in advance is crucial. To apply for the program, a K-12 student must qualify for free and reduced price meals and must be accepted at a participating nonpublic school.
The application requires the submission of two types of documents:
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- Federal Income Tax Return: The applicant's 2025 Federal 1040 tax returns (all pages, including schedules) are required to verify annual income and household size. As part of the application, parents will be asked to upload their 2025 Federal 1040 tax returns so that their annual income and household size can be verified. Parents/Guardians must meet the following criteria:Demonstrate that the household income reported on Federal Income Tax return tax year 2021 forms must be within the FARMS threshold limits for household size and income.
- School Documentation: Documentation from a participating nonpublic school confirming that the student is enrolled or has applied for admission. Provide documentation that the student has submitted an application, been accepted, or enrolled at a BOOST participating nonpublic school. The list of potential participating schools is available in a link on the main BOOST webpage.
In specific circumstances, alternative documentation may be accepted:
- Informal Kinship Care: If the student is in Informal Kinship Care, an affidavit verifying this arrangement must be submitted. If the student is in Informal Kinship Care, provide an affidavit verifying Informal Kinship Care must be submitted.
- No Federal Income Tax Return: *ONLY if by law you are not required to file a federal income tax return and have not submitted a federal income tax return to the IRS, you may complete and submit an alternative income verification form with supporting documentation necessary to verify income. BOOST Alternative Income Verification form with supporting documentation necessary to verify income.
Participating Nonpublic Schools
The scholarship can only be used at a nonpublic school that participates in the BOOST program. A list of nonpublic schools participating in the BOOST Scholarship Program can be found on the Maryland State Department of Education website. Only nonpublic schools who were approved to participate in the Nonpublic Textbook Program are eligible to apply to participate in the BOOST Scholarship Program. Nonpublic Textbook Program webpage to see a list of schools that were approved to participate in that program. This funding opportunity is designed for nonpublic schools registered to operate in the state of Maryland.
To be eligible to participate, a nonpublic school must:
- Hold a certificate of approval from or be registered with the State Board of Education.
- Be approved to participate in the Nonpublic Textbook Program.
- Provide at least a 1st grade level program.
- Complete an application to the BOOST Scholarship Program.
- Comply with all reporting requirements by the specified date.
Nonpublic Schools must confirm enrollment of students approved for a BOOST Scholarship by logging into the BOOST Scholarship application and confirming each individual student’s enrollment.
Award Amounts and Distribution
The award amounts are dependent on several factors, including household income, the academic level of the student, and any financial assistance that the school provides to the student. The BOOST Advisory Board will meet in Summer 2025 to determine award amounts. Awards are granted based on household income, with the lowest income served first. Due to limited funding, the program is unable to provide scholarships to every qualified applicant. Priority is given to students who were recipients of a BOOST award in the previous year.
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The check is sent to the school, and the parent/guardian must come to the school to sign the back of the check. The BOOST scholarship award may be reduced if it exceeds the tuition owed to the school. For example:
The school’s annual tuition is $10,000 and the school offers the student a discount of $4,000. The parent is only responsible for paying $6,000 in annual tuition to the school.
\$10,000 - \$4,000 = \$6,000
If the BOOST award value comes out to be $7,750, it will be reduced to $6,000 because it can’t be higher than the amount owed to the school.
The school will receive a check for $6,000 to credit the student’s tuition. If the parent already made tuition payments over the summer, then the school will owe the parent a refund.
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Accessing Information and Support
Information about the BOOST program can be accessed in several ways:
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): A comprehensive list of FAQs is available on the Maryland State Department of Education website. See the list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the left-hand side of this webpage.
- Virtual Customer Service Support Sessions: MSDE offers virtual customer service support sessions for parents/guardians and nonpublic schools. MSDE personnel will review program requirements and walk through the application. MSDE will also be offering virtual customer service support sessions. Parent/Guardian Customer Service Support SessionsMSDE personnel will review program requirements and walk through the application. Nonpublic Schools Customer Service Support SessionsMSDE personnel will review program requirements and walk through the application.
- Program Manager: Allison Sanborn, Program Manager Office: (410) 767-3575
A Celebration of Success and Increased Funding
On Tuesday, December 13, Governor Larry Hogan visited Baltimore to celebrate the success of the BOOST scholarship program with the Jewish day school community. He announced an increase in the budget allocation for the BOOST program from $5 million up to $10 million over the next three years, a testament to the program's positive impact and the state's commitment to supporting educational opportunities for disadvantaged children. He then surprised the crowd by publicly announcing for the first time that he will be increasing the budget allocation for the BOOST program from $ 5 million up to $10 million over the next three years. The response from the crowd was deafening as they all stood and cheered at the news of the increased funding.
tags: #Maryland #Boost #Scholarship #requirements
