New private school choice program created in Maryland
Today, Maryland became the nation’s 25th school choice state after passing its first K-12 scholarship program as a part of the state’s annual budget.
“We would like to thank Gov. Larry Hogan and the Maryland legislature for their commitment to students in the state,” said Betsy DeVos, chairman of the American Federation for Children. “Maryland has now joined the movement spreading across the country that embraces school choice and offers options to students who do not have the means to access a quality education.”
The budget appropriates $5 million to go towards a scholarship program to send students from low-income families to the private school of their parents’ choice. Scholarships will be no more than the yearly per pupil average statewide cost and the program will be administered by the Maryland State Department of Education.