Highlights
“All children in Maryland should have access to the highest quality education possible, because education is the foundation on which we build everything else.” Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) made that statement in a proclamation celebrating "School Choice Week" earlier this year. It appears that the vast majority of Democrats in the state agree with him. In fact, nearly 80% of registered Democrats in Maryland support opting into a new federal scholarship tax credit program, according to a recent statewide poll. The scholarships can fund a wide range of needs: tutoring, special-needs services, private school tuition, dual-enrollment courses, educational technology, and other learning opportunities.
Support among Republicans stood at 76%, while independents came in at 74%. In a state where Democrats hold a commanding political advantage—roughly 51% of voters are Democrats, compared with 24% Republicans and 25% independents—the finding is remarkable.
And the story gets even more striking. After learning about the program’s benefits, 78% of Black voters—the highest support of any demographic group—said Maryland should participate, compared with 55% of White voters. When respondents learned that the program will also benefit students in public schools, support among Black voters soared higher.
These findings emerged from a January poll examining Marylanders’ views on the new Federal individual tax credit for scholarship organizations—a federal initiative passed last summer. The policy provides a tax credit of up to $1,700 per individual ($3,400 for couples) for donations to scholarship organizations that help students access educational opportunities. These nonprofit groups can distribute scholarships to families earning up to 300% of their area’s median income. In short, the program empowers parents, supports students, and injects new resources into education—without raising taxes.
For Maryland, the potential financial impact is enormous. One independent analysis estimates the state could see more than $500 million in educational resources if just 30% of taxpayers take advantage of the credit. That would be welcome relief in Annapolis, where lawmakers now confront massive budget deficits year after year—deficits driven in large part by soaring commitments to public schools.
Yet there is a catch. For Maryland students to benefit, Gov. Moore (D) must opt into the program. If he declines, Maryland families lose the opportunity—and those resources will simply flow to children in other states. So far, 28 governors have already indicated they plan to participate, including Democratic Governor Jared Polis of Colorado; 21 others have yet to decide.
Marylanders across political, racial, and economic lines want more educational opportunities for their children.
Meanwhile, the need for better educational options grows more urgent every year, as Marylanders read the same discouraging headlines: disappointing test scores paired with staggering spending levels. Maryland now spends roughly $23,000 per pupil, yet academic performance continues to lag. Parents are left wondering where all the money goes—and why results remain so underwhelming.
Families are voting with their feet as people are moving out. Maryland has experienced net domestic outmigration every year since 2003. And people aren’t moving in—U-Haul ranked Maryland 45th out of 50 states for inbound migration. The state also landed on the Institute of Family Studies list of the top 15 states losing families in recent years. And where are those families going? Often to states that offer stronger family policies—including broader educational options.
Governor Moore understands the value of educational opportunity. His own life story proves it. As a young man, he attended private schools in New York and later a military boarding school in Pennsylvania—a decision his mother made that he credits with changing the trajectory of his life. His wife also benefited from private education, graduating from an independent prep school in New York.
But politics complicates the equation. The governor is widely viewed as a rising national figure within the Democratic Party. If he hopes to advance on that stage, he will need the backing of one of the party’s most powerful allies: teachers’ unions.
And those unions so fiercely oppose educational options even though this tax credit helps the very kids they claim to care so much about. They have repeatedly testified against this federal tax credit in Maryland’s legislature and maintain a website dedicated to defeating it. They describe it as a “voucher” program (it isn’t), claiming that it will take money from public schools, when, in fact, it does the opposite.
That leaves the governor facing a defining question. Will he follow the overwhelming will of Maryland voters—especially voters from his own party? The numbers could not be clearer. Marylanders across political, racial, and economic lines want more educational opportunities for their children.
Maryland parents are asking for choices. The governor holds the pen.
Jeffrey S. Trimbath is the Founder & President of the Maryland Family Institute, based in Annapolis.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or views of the Institute for Family Studies.
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