MD HB1039

County boards must notify parents by January 1 each year if their child attends a "failing school" (one-star rating for 3+ consecutive years) and provide a list of alternative school options including non-failing public schools, nonpublic schools, and boarding schools.

Students at failing schools have the right to transfer to an alternative school, with parents required to notify the county board of their decision by April 1.

Establishes the Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today (BOOST) Program to provide scholarships for free/reduced lunch-eligible students to attend nonpublic schools, and "Right to Learn" scholarships for students leaving failing schools, funded by the county's per-pupil spending amount.

County boards must provide military boarding school options to parents of students deemed violent or receiving continuous disciplinary action by school administrators, with the local school system required to pay for attendance if selected.

Takes effect July 1, 2026, and a school loses its "failing" designation only after achieving at least a two-star rating for 2 consecutive years.