Maryland’s Priorities: Poverty Reduction, Disability Services, and Educational Choice
According to Governor Wes Moore’s website, Maryland’s ENOUGH Initiative* is the nation’s first community-driven effort focused on reducing the number of children living in concentrated poverty. The initiative began with an initial commitment of more than $100 million over four years from state, philanthropic, and private partners.
Administered by the Governor’s Office for Children, ENOUGH* supports 27 community-led organizations across 12 counties, including rural, suburban, and urban communities that have historically faced barriers to economic mobility. By combining data, residents’ lived experiences, and cross-sector collaboration, the initiative aims to expand access to four essential pillars of opportunity: quality health care, safer communities, strong schools, and good jobs.
Those goals are important. However, they also raise a serious question: Where was this investment when the administration proposed significant reductions to funding for Maryland’s Developmental Disabilities Administration?
The proposed budget included approximately $126 million in reductions to DDA programs, a move described as part of the state’s effort to address budget pressures. Nearly 17,000 Marylanders receive services through community providers, while approximately 3,600 individuals participate in self-directed programs that allow families to hire and manage their own support staff.
Advocates argue that the issue is not simply about accounting. These services help people with developmental disabilities live meaningful, productive, and independent lives. Families have expressed concern that reduced reimbursement rates could force long-term caregivers to leave, while reductions in authorized hours could limit access to essential support.
Lawmakers later restored $36 million through supplemental funding, reducing the size of the proposed cuts. Nevertheless, advocates remain concerned about:
Caregiver pay: Lower reimbursement rates could make it difficult for families to retain experienced caregivers.
Reduced service hours: Some families reported reductions in authorized hours and wages beginning in July and September.
Access to services: Advocates have cited longer appeals processes and increased scrutiny of eligibility.
One advocate, Matthew, summarized the concern simply: “The governor needs to come up with a better way to do this. We can’t afford to go back.”
What About Educational Choice?
There is also a broader question about educational opportunity. If Maryland is committed to ensuring that every child has access to a high-quality education, why not consider participating in the proposed Education Freedom Tax Credit*?
The federal proposal, known as the Educational Choice for Children Act, would create tax credits for individuals who donate to nonprofit scholarship organizations. Under the proposal, taxpayers could receive up to $1,700 in annual federal tax credits. Scholarship organizations could then help eligible families pay for tuition, books, tutoring, after-school programs, and technology at private, public, religious, or charter schools.
Eligibility would generally include households earning no more than 300 percent of the median income in their local area. Participation would be optional for states.
Maryland already has school choice—but, in practice, families with greater financial resources have more options. They can afford private-school tuition, move to communities with highly rated schools, or hire attorneys to challenge school-system decisions. Families without those resources often have far fewer choices.
The central issue is fairness. Every Maryland child, regardless of income, ZIP code, or disability, deserves access to a quality education and the support necessary to succeed.
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