BOOST subject of public education town hall

A town hall on the future of public education was called on Friday at the Richard Hazel Youth Center.  The conversation centered around the state's choice program, 'BOOST,' aimed at aiding low-income students attend non-public school's.

The four-person panel included candidate Allison Galbraith, and representatives from Salisbury, Towson University and the MSEA.

Together the panelists took turns answering questions on school choice and voucher programs.  Sean Johnson of the MSEA said Maryland has a world class education program that is threatened by BOOST.

Panelists agreed that the narrative that public schools are failing was false and has been debunked.

During the public questions portion certain parents raised concerns saying that the best thing for their children specifically is a voucher system.  Others in the crowd answered saying it is not a public school problem, but a community problem.

Through the choice program, 25 percent of families with children are income-eligible.  The average voucher in 2016-17 was $1,943, money the MSEA and others believe is being taken from public schools.

The MSEA is in opposition to school choice programs citing $3 million in unmet needs in the state education budget, while $5 million was designated to BOOST.

To learn more about Maryland's voucher program, log on to edchoice.org, or marylandeducators.org.