BOAST Maryland Tax Credit Building Opportunities for All Students and Teachers in Maryland Benefits to the K-12 Educational Community Donations to Educational Scholarship Organizations Support for students: The tax credit will encourage business support for scholarship assistance to students from lower- and middle-income families, who increasingly are unable to afford rising tuitions at nonpublic schools. Eligible schools must charge tuition equal to or less than the state average per-pupil cost ($10,800 in 2005-06). Support for teachers: Educational scholarship organizations may also provide grants to nonpublic-school teachers for courses needed to become highly qualified by acquiring or advancing their state certification. Maintaining enrollment: The increase in scholarship assistance generated through the tax credit will help to prevent further enrollment decreases that have led to recent nonpublic-school closings and mergers. Donations to Innovative Educational Organizations Support for students: The tax credit will increase business support for programs that enrich the regular academic program in public schools in order to meet the specific needs of local public-school students. Support for teachers:  Innovative Educational Organizations may also provide grants or professional development programs to public-school teachers to assist them in becoming highly qualified by acquiring or advancing their state certification. Promoting school success: By fostering the creation and marketing of innovative programs for public-school students, the tax credit will increase public visibility of successful initiatives in local public schools. Benefits to Maryland and Local Communities The new tax incentive will encourage business investment in efforts to provide access for all students to local public and private schools that offer high-quality, diverse, and affordable educational opportunities – a key factor in attracting businesses and their employees to our state and to local communities.