• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Students from Mother Mary Lange Catholic School in Baltimore, at center and in the background at left, join a March 2 rally in front of the Maryland State House that was part of Nonpublic School Advocacy Day. (Mihoko Owada/Courtesy Catholic Standard)

Deadline approaching to apply for BOOST scholarships

June 8, 2023
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, Maryland Catholic Conference, News, Schools

The clock is ticking to apply for scholarship money from a state program designed to help students from low-income families in Maryland.

Families interested in receiving nonpublic school tuition support from the Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST) Scholarship Program have until June 30 to apply.

BOOST is a state program that provides scholarships at Catholic, other religious and secular nonpublic schools for students eligible for the free or reduced-price school meals program.

Since 2016, BOOST has long enjoyed bipartisan support in the legislature, but ran into headwinds during the recently concluded legislative session when newly elected Gov. Wes Moore tried to cut $2 million from the $10 million program. Even more worrisome to BOOST advocates, the Democratic governor also included language in his budget that would have effectively phased out the program by limiting it to current scholarship recipients and their siblings.

After more than 40,000 Marylanders petitioned lawmakers with calls and emails, however, the General Assembly preserved funding at the $9 million level and got rid of the language that would have phased it out.

“We saw a huge number of people responding to the challenge to the program and letting legislators know how very important it is to them,” said Garrett O’Day, deputy director of the Maryland Catholic Conference, the public-policy arm of the state’s Catholic bishops.

O’Day added that BOOST “empowers parents who don’t otherwise have the opportunity to choose the best education fit for their child.”

In the 2021-22 academic year, there were 3,268 BOOST scholarship recipients. Their average household income was $35,488 and 56 percent were from minority communities.

In the Archdiocese of Baltimore, there are more than 700 BOOST scholarship recipients this year at archdiocesan and independent Catholic schools.

The amount of the coming academic year’s scholarships will be determined after the online application has closed. There may not be funding available for every student who applies, with students from the lowest-income families to be placed at the top of the list.

Scholarship checks will be mailed directly to eligible schools in October.

For more information and to apply, visit bit.ly/boost-apply

Email George P. Matysek Jr. at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org

Read More Schools

St. Maria Goretti High School faces uncertain future after difficult decision by archdiocese

Catholic high school teacher fired for covering up previous employment, sex services charges

Catholic educators help students, families form healthy relationships with technology

Appeals court finds Christian student athlete group should be reinstated as public school club

Karen Montoya brings out best in Spalding students

Howard County lawsuit focuses on exclusion of Catholic school students

Copyright © 2023 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

George P. Matysek Jr.

George Matysek, a member of the Catholic Review staff since 1997, has served as managing editor since September 2021. He previously served as a writer, senior correspondent, assistant managing editor and digital editor of the Catholic Review and the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

In his current role, he oversees news coverage of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and is a host of Catholic Review Radio.

George has won more than 100 national and regional journalism and broadcasting awards from the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association, the Catholic Press Association, the Associated Church Press and National Right to Life. He has reported from Guyana, Guatemala, Italy, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.

A native Baltimorean, George is a proud graduate of Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School in Essex. He holds a bachelor's degree from Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore and a master's degree from UMBC.

George, his wife and five children live in Rodgers Forge. He is a parishioner of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Three more pro-life activists convicted on federal charges for blockade at abortion clinic
  • Cardinal Dolan: Are Sunday Masses just too long?
  • St. Maria Goretti High School faces uncertain future after difficult decision by archdiocese
  • Archbishop Lori announces appointments, including three associate pastors
  • Bishop Strickland will not resign, but says he will respect Pope Francis’ authority if removed

| Latest Local News |

Radio Interview: Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage

St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore awarded $2 million VA grant

‘The Following of Christ’: The ‘hidden’ book that helped make Mother Seton a saint

| Latest World News |

English police apologize to woman arrested for silently praying outside abortion facility

Papal commission incorporates global feedback in safeguarding guidelines

U.S. bishops, advocacy groups caution against government shutdown

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • English police apologize to woman arrested for silently praying outside abortion facility
  • Papal commission incorporates global feedback in safeguarding guidelines
  • U.S. bishops, advocacy groups caution against government shutdown
  • Para compensar todos los reclamos de abuso: la Arquidiócesis considera reorganización
  • Radio Interview: Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage
  • God has the same love for all, pope says at Angelus
  • Take leap of faith and dare to love your family, those in need, pope says
  • Biden establishes first White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention
  • C.S. Lewis’ work continues to gain popularity 60 years after his death

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2023 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED