Annapolis, MD – Mar. 24, 2023 – The Maryland Senate voted this morning to fund the $10 million state budget allocation for the BOOST (Broadening Options & Opportunities for Students Today) program, a nonpublic school scholarship initiative. The House of Delegates had previously approved their budget containing a 20% reduction to the program and to prevent scholarships from going to new students. The Senate’s decision is seen as a significant step forward in supporting BOOST, which helped over 3,000 students attend 200 nonpublic schools in Maryland in 2022-23 (including 1,100 in Jewish schools). Rabbi Ariel Sadwin of Agudah Maryland said, “This is a program which has been successful year in, year out for seven years now, and today’s vote by the Senate is a very encouraging step towards continuing this success for the next school year.” The final decision on BOOST’s 2023-24 funding will depend on the outcome of the House-Senate budget conference committee  review to take place next week.