Catholic students promote support for nonpublic school students in Maryland

ANNAPOLIS – More than 300 students representing schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore as well as other Catholic and nonpublic schools across Maryland gathered March 5 at Lawyer’s Mall near the State House in Annapolis, waving posters and chanting in support of educational initiatives as part of Nonpublic Schools Advocacy Day.

“B, O, O, S, T. Come join us in our advocacy,” Nicholas Ferraioli, 12, a sixth grader at St. Mark School in Catonsville, shouted with confidence as he led the crowd in two rounds of chants.

“Everyone deserves an education,” Nicholas said, as he rejoined his group.

Students were advocating for the BOOST (Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today) scholarship program, which provides financial assistance to help children from low-income families attend Catholic and other nonpublic schools.

Gov. Wes Moore’s (D) proposed budget includes $9 million for the program – the same amount approved by the General Assembly in the previous legislative session. The funding must again be given a thumbs-up by lawmakers.

“In continuously tough fiscal climates for our state government, we are thankful that the governor has proposed level funding for low-income students for BOOST scholarships,” said Garrett O’Day, deputy director of the Maryland Catholic Conference, the legislative advocacy organization of the state’s Catholic bishops.

O’Day said advocates also hope lawmakers recognize the potential benefits of a new federal education tax credit when meeting with students.

President Donald J. Trump signed into law a bill passed last year by the U.S. Congress that includes a provision creating a new federal tax credit for individuals who make donations to 501(c)(3) public charities providing scholarships to elementary or secondary school pupils.

The provision may encourage greater donations to Catholic nonprofit organizations that fund K-12 scholarships, which could expand the number of scholarships offered and improve access to Catholic education.

“We hope that a big takeaway for legislators when talking with their students this year was how much the federal education tax credit could help both public and nonpublic school students,” O’Day said. “If Maryland opts into that program, at least $500 million in education dollars could come to Maryland students and, this year, our students were thus advocating for all of their peers, both public and nonpublic, in that regard.”

Students also met with lawmakers to advocate for continued support for programs that help maintain aging school buildings and provide funding for nonreligious textbooks and technology.

“Our students are the best lobbyists,” O’Day said. “I’m always surprised how willing the students are to engage with their law makers.”

Nonpublic Schools Advocacy Day has taken place in some form for about 15 years, O’Day said.

“Students advocate for the schools with our state legislators,” O’Day said. “It’s really important that both sides of the aisle hear the everyday concerns of all their constituents.”

Ashley Davis, advancement director at Mother Mary Lange Catholic School in West Baltimore, called it “extremely important to bring students to the annual event. Nearly a quarter of her school’s students receive BOOST funding, and the school relies on state support for the purchase of nonreligious textbooks and curriculum updates.

“It’s a good learning moment,” Davis said. “Just advocating and keeping it going. We have to be able to move with what’s going on and there are a lot of changes with the Department of Education.”

When Delegate LaToya Nkongolo (R-District 31) addressed the students with a bullhorn, she asked whether anyone from Our Lady of Mount Carmel School was present. Her daughter graduated from the Essex school in 2024.

“She had an amazing experience there. You know we live in Anne Arundel, but it was well worth the trip to Essex for four years,’” Nkongolo said. “Our Lady of Mount Carmel, they prepared her well, we were grateful for the opportunity for her to be educated there.”

Although Nkongolo’s daughter did not receive a BOOST scholarship, many of her classmates did.

“These are young people who are now in college, you know, because the private school education prepared them for college,” Nkongolo said.

The day also included recognition of St. Louis School in Clarksville as a state Blue Ribbon school.

“What an amazing day to be here at the State House in Annapolis to celebrate our awesome schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, especially St. Louis, Clarksville,” School Sister of Notre Dame Patricia McCarron, superintendent of Archdiocese of Baltimore schools, said. “(We’re) also very grateful to all of our schools that came out today for advocacy day in the state of Maryland to support our Catholic schools.”

Sophia Duclos, a sixth grader from St. Mark School in Catonsville, won the event’s poster contest.

Schools represented included Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore, Archbishop Borders School in Highlandtown, Cardinal Shehan School in Baltimore, St. Mark School in Catonsville, Mother Mary Lange School in Baltimore, St. Mary School in Annapolis and School of the Cathedral in Homeland.

Email Katie V. Jones at kjones@CatholicReview.org

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