West Virginia ed choice program gets big response on first day of applications

West Virginia opened applications for its educational choice program, the Hope Scholarship, on March 1 and received an overwhelming response.

“We had 500 applications started on the first day. Of those, we’ve had 259 completed submissions. We’ve already awarded and approved 44,” state Treasurer Riley Moore told local media.  

The Hope Scholarship Program is an education savings account (ESA) that allows parents and families to utilize the state portion of their education funding to fit the needs of their children. Parents receive up to $4,600 per school year to pay for educational expenses such as private school tuition, classes, tutoring, devices and other learning materials. 

Currently the program is open to students leaving the public school system, not those already enrolled in private, charter or home schools.

The 2022-2023 school year will be the first for the Hope Scholarship, after being approved by the legislature in 2021. At the time it was passed, The Federalist called it “the nation’s broadest school choice law.” 

Online applications are accepted through May 15.

“It really opens up a lot of educational opportunities,” said Moore. “It could also go to charter schools or any other kind of private institution that is out there that would charge tuition. It’s really educational freedom.”