Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST)

Students are eligible if their family income is at or below 100% of the FRL limit. Renewing students whose family continues to fall under the income limit are entitled to vouchers, with priority for siblings of participating students, as long as funding allows. For 2025–2026, only $9 million was budgeted, just 0.76% of Maryland’s total K–12 spending, limiting participation to about 3,000 students. Vouchers may cover up to the statewide average per-pupil expenditure or private school tuition, whichever is lower. Students with special needs are typically eligible for larger scholarships, which must be approved by the BOOST Advisory Board. Awards are based on a ranked list of applicants, compiled and certified by the department. Unused funds are carried forward. 

Funding Mechanism: Legislative appropriation 

Universal Eligibility: ❌
Universal Usage: ❌
Universal Funding: ❌
Truly Universal: ❌

(Last updated December 16, 2025)

Qualifying expenses include tuition and fees at qualifying private schools. 

(Last updated December 16, 2025)

View program requirements for parents, schools, and scholarship granting organizations by clicking on each hyperlink.

(Last updated December 16, 2025)

Senate Bill 190 § R00A03.05

(Last updated August 13, 2024) 

On December 10, 2021, the U.S. District Court of Maryland in Bethel Ministries, Inc. v. Salmon held that the state board administering the BOOST voucher program violated the First Amendment free speech rights of Bethel Christian Academy when it removed and excluded the school from the voucher program. The Court opined that the state violated the constitution when it “conditioned government funding on a viewpoint-based restriction of speech” and violated the Unconstitutional Conditions doctrine.  

Schools participating in the BOOST program are prohibited from discriminating against students in the admissions process based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Bethel did not violate this nondiscrimination law. The case began when the school was nonetheless disqualified due to statements in its parent/student handbook that marriage is “a covenant between one man and one woman,” and that gender is bestowed by God “at birth as male or female to reflect His image.” The Court declined to rule whether the BOOST program is constitutional. This case was not appealed by the state. Bethel Ministries, Inc. v. Salmon, Civil Case No.: SAG-19-01853 (D. Md. 2021). 

(Last Updated December 6, 2023)