Maryland’s Nonpublic Student Textbook Program Background The Nonpublic Student Textbook program provides nonreligious textbooks and computer hardware and software on a loan basis to students attending nonpublic schools whose tuition does not exceed the state average per-pupil cost ($12,508 in 2007-08). The program was extended to allow the purchase of educational technology during the 2004 session of the Maryland General Assembly. Schools do not receive funds directly, but rather are allowed to purchase books and technology based on a per-pupil allocation.  Vendors are paid directly by the Maryland State Department of Education. The per-pupil allocation is $90 per-pupil at schools serving 20 percent or more students from low-income families; per-pupil allocations for students at the remaining schools are determined by the number of participating students. 90,000 students in 350 schools participated in 2009                 Fiscal     Total Funds           Per Pupil Allocation                 Year       (in millions)        High Poverty     Others                                 2001            $6                           $90              $60                 2002            $5                           $90              $57                 2003            $3.75                     $90              $36                 2004            $3                           $90              $22                 2005            $3                           $90              $22                 2006            $3                           $90              $22                 2007            $4                           $90              $30                 2008            $4                           $90              $30                 2009            $3.6                        $90              $25                  2010            $4.4                        $90              $43                 2011            $4.4                        $90              $43                 The budget allocation for FY2011 was approved                by the General Assembly during the 2010 session.