Chairman Harris Announces Intention To Seek Limitations to Federal Education Funding For States That Lack or Reduce Their Existing School Choice Programs

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Andy Harris M.D. (MD-01) Chairman of the Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Rural Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee on Appropriations, announced his intention to seek language in the FY24 Department of Education funding bill that would limit federal funding to states without school choice programs or states that reduce funding to existing school choice programs.

In Maryland, despite running budget surpluses, GovernorWes Moore seeks to cut two million dollars in State funding from Maryland’s popular school choice program, Broadening Options & Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST). Governor Moore’s budget also includes language to completely phase out the program over the next few years.

As a very successful school choice program, BOOST provides scholarships to more than 2,500 Maryland low-income families and gives these children a chance at a quality education. According to the latest data available from the BOOST program, nearly $3 million

has been awarded to families in Baltimore City alone.

Congressman Harris Statement: “We cannot tolerate the status quo with failing schools, especially for our underprivileged youth that deserve high quality education. I firmly believe Maryland families, and families across our country, deserve options to improve their children’s education. In Maryland, parents are concerned by the recent Maryland State test results showing that 23 schools in Baltimore had zero students proficient in math—despite high funding levels for public schools. Parents should not be forced to send their children into the same public-school systems that fail them year after year. Now that his campaign is over, Governor Moore clearly is beholden to the teacher’s union—and is not delivering on his promise to “Leave No One Behind.” States which don’t have, or are cutting their school choice programs, clearly don’t have the best interests of students in mind. That’s why I’m offering language to the FY24 Federal Department of Education Bill that would limit federal funds to states that do not have school choice options or are actively cutting funding from school choice programs already in place.”  

For media inquiries, please contact Congressman Harris’ Washington, DC office at 202-225-5311, or contact Anna Adamian at [email protected]