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State of Arizona Adopts Maryland Public Policy Institute Program

School choice program for foster care children becomes law

Published on Friday, June 23, 2006
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Germantown, MD - The Maryland Public Policy Institute’s first-in-the-nation targeted school choice program was signed into law by Gov. Janet Napolitano (D). The Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation awarded a $25,000 grant to the institute for its innovative proposal to provide school choice to Maryland’s 11,500 foster care children. “This is a momentous accomplishment and helps us as we move forward in promoting school choice for foster children in Maryland and around the country,” said Christopher B. Summers, president of The Maryland Public Policy Institute.  

“School Choice for Maryland’s Foster Care Children: Fostering Stability, Satisfaction, and Achievement” would offer Maryland’s 11,500 foster care children, 7,000 of whom are in Baltimore City, the opportunity to attend a high-quality school of choice regardless of change in the child’s residence. This fiscally viable solution would provide educational stability and choice for the state’s foster care children with opportunity scholarships worth $8,000 apiece. The program can be administered at no additional cost to taxpayers and in partnership with state services, and at a lower cost than the average per-pupil cost.

The program’s author, Dan Lips, MPPI senior fellow for education policy studies, said, “Children in foster care face so many challenges—in life and in the classroom. Giving foster children school choice will help ensure they get the quality education they need to succeed in life. Lawmakers across the country should follow Arizona’s lead in providing foster children with the best opportunities possible.”  

Arizona’s $2.5 million scholarship grant program offers foster children scholarships worth up to $5,000 for tuition. Any child who has or is placed in the foster care system is eligible, and the students can use the scholarship to attend private schools.  

“School Choice for Maryland’s Foster Care Children: Fostering Stability, Satisfaction, and Achievement” can be accessed online at: http://www.mdpolicy.org/research/education/fostercarefinal.pdf

 Dan Lips is available for comment at (240) 686-3510 or contact Alison Lake at alake@mdpolicy.org.

The Maryland Public Policy Institute is a 501 (C) (3) nonpartisan public policy research and education organization that focuses on Maryland public policy issues.

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School Choice for Maryland Foster Care Children