Elections
2026 Maryland Candidate Survey on Education
MD CAPE invited candidates for governor, the Maryland State Senate and the House of Delegates to respond to a survey of their positions on education in Maryland.
Survey Questions
Candidate were asked five questions. They could respond with “agree” or “disagree” and/or provide comments for each.
1. Aid to nonpublic schools
Do you agree or disagree that the state legislature should support and enable a diversity of educational options for students in Maryland beyond the traditional public school setting that is based on zip code?
2. Public dollars
At times, opponents to nonpublic school funding say “public dollars are only for public schools.” Do you agree or disagree?
3. Federal education tax credit
Do you agree that Maryland’s governor should opt Maryland into the new federal education tax credit program? This would raise hundreds of millions of dollars for Maryland public and nonpublic students and it costs the state nothing to opt in.
4. Maryland BOOST Scholarship Program
Do you agree or disagree with continuing current funding levels for new students to participate in Maryland’s BOOST Scholarship Program? BOOST provides scholarships to low-income students to be used to attend nonpublic schools.
5. State funding for nonpublic schools
Do you agree or disagree with the state’s current practice of including funding in the state budget for infrastructure and maintenance for aging buildings and security upgrades for nonpublic schools?
MD CAPE does not endorse nor oppose any candidate, under any circumstance and no inference of endorsement or opposition should be concluded as a result of the information provided here.
Governor: Candidate Responses
(D) = Democrat; (R) = Republican. Check mark = Agree; X = Disagree. </p> <p>The other candidates in the primary, who did not respond, are Wes Moore (D), Carl A. Brunner, Jr. (R), L. D. Burkindine (R), Dan Cox (R), Ed Hale (R), Nancy Jane Taylor (R) and Shannon Wright (R).
Candidate Comments
Candidates could provide comments for any or all questions.
Eric S. Felber (D)
5. State funding for nonpublic schools
Our campaign priorities are to increase teacher salaries and provide increased funding to private and public education.
Douglas Larcomb (R)
1. Nonpublic school aid
I am for aid allocated to private schools, charter schools, magnet schools and homeschooling supported by public tax dollars.
2. Public dollars only for public school
Again… I support public dollars to be allocated to charter schools, private schools, magnet schools and homeschooling.
3. Federal tax credit
While Wes Moore and this State for some odd reason constantly take an aggressive abrasive posture against our Federal Government which we as a State belong to via the signing of the Declaration of Independence, The US Constitution… of course a Governor should opt in for Federal Education Tax Credit.
4. BOOST scholarships
An opportunity to lift any student up to aspire for greatness should always be facilitated while often private education is the best path forward. I support BOOST.
5. State funding for nonpublic schools
Blueprint for the Future is in financial disarray. It is a broken system while literally Bankrupt. I will be asking for Blueprint to be repealed. We will come up with a new system that has strict oversight that will have funding available to charter schools, private schools, magnet schools, homeschooling as well as Public.
John A. Myrick (R)
1. Nonpublic school aid
We are proponents for school choice, and for the money spend to follow the child. We will propose legislation that offers a tax credit to parents for up to the amount spent per capita for education (currently approximately $20,000).
2. Public dollars only for public school
There is no such thing as “public Dollars.” That money is Taxpayer Dollars, and should be spent wisely.
3. Federal tax credit
The current Governor’s refusal to opt into the Federal Education Tax Credit program does a grave disservice to Maryland students and their parents. We will immediately opt into this program once we take office in January 2027.
4. BOOST scholarships
Every Maryland student deserves a quality education – regardless of family income level. It is our intent to rebuild the Maryland public school system; however, until that has been done, we must provide opportunities for all students to receive the highest quality education possible – regardless of the venue.
5. State funding for nonpublic schools
Again, we have a responsibility to ensure the safety and security of every Marylander. We agree that State funding must continue for programs that improve these areas for our students.
Michael Oakes (R)
1. Nonpublic school aid
Equal opportunity for all.
2. Public dollars only for public school
Equal schooling opportunities for all.
3. Federal tax credit
As long as funding is tightly controlled with clear oversite unlike today’s legislature.
4. BOOST scholarships
Again, tighter controls must be placed on any funding to prevent fraud and misuse.
5. State funding for nonpublic schools
There shoud be no distinction between the two. It’s the performance in the end result that matters.