Students urge support for the BOAST Maryland Tax Credit at the Baltimore City Nonpublic Schools Legislative Forum. Photo by Owen Sweeney, courtesy of the Catholic Review The BOAST Maryland Tax Credit Building Opportunities for All Students and Teachers in Maryland       Modeled on Pennsylvania’s highly successful Educational Improvement Tax Credit, the BOAST Maryland Tax Credit is designed to provide Maryland’s elementary and secondary schools with a means of leveraging significantly increased investment from their local business communities.  The initiative would allow corporations and small businesses to claim a 75% state tax credit (rather than a charitable deduction) for donations to organizations that support Maryland’s K-12 public and nonpublic school students and teachers.  The program would be capped at $5 million, providing $3 million in credits for donations to nonpublic scholarship organizations, and $2 million in credits for donations to organizations benefiting public school students and teachers. Due to current budget restrictions, the bill has been introduced this year with no funding. Support for NONPUBLIC School Students and Teachers Tax Credits for Donations to Educational Scholarship Organizations will: Increase scholarship assistance for lower and middle income families Promote affordable educational options to attract businesses and new residents Stabilize enrollments in nonpublic schools Help relieve overcrowding and other enrollment pressures on public schools Increase access to scholarships and professional development opportunities for nonpublic school teachers in order to meet “highly qualified” standards Support for PUBLIC School Students and Teachers Tax Credits for Donations to Innovative Educational Organizations will: Promote innovative enrichment programs for public school students Target business support for programs that serve specific local needs Increase visibility of successful initiatives in local public schools to attract businesses and new residents Increase access to professional development opportunities for public school teachers in order to meet “highly qualified” standards Click here for a summary of the BOAST Legislative Proposal