The Hope Scholarship
What is the Hope Scholarship?
The Hope Scholarship is a new program that will give West Virginia parents more flexibility and choices, allowing families to use state-allocated funds to customize their child’s education. More than 90% of West Virginia students will qualify for the program!
Getting Started
Getting started on a Hope Scholarship is as easy as 1-2-3!
- Do you live in West Virginia and have a K-12 child (or a child about to start Kindergarten) who has or will attend a public school for at least 45 days during this school year? Yay! You are eligible!
- Between March 1 and May 15, fill out the Hope Scholarship Application form here!
- Join our Hope Scholarship Facebook group so you can connect with other families!
FAQs
Who is eligible for the Hope Scholarship?
All K-12 WV students who have attended a public school for at least 45 days of the school year in which they apply!
When can I apply for the Hope Scholarship?
The application window for the Hope Scholarship Program will be open from March 1 to May 15 annually. An eligible student who misses the application window must be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Hope Scholarship Board. Students who are ineligible for the program during the regular application window but who become eligible may apply to the Board at any time during the academic year. All late applicants must submit an Application Request Form for consideration by the Hope Scholarship Board. Do not apply directly in EMA before receiving a response back to your Application Request Form.
How much money can I receive for my Hope Scholarship student?
The Hope Scholarship amount will vary annually depending on the amount of state aid funding per pupil provided to county boards of education for public school students. The scholarship amount for the 2023-24 year will be $4,488.82.
How will Hope Scholarship money be distributed and spent?
The funds will be deposited in an EMA account where the family will have access to those funds for each eligible student in the household. All purchases will be made via an ACH transaction and will be pre-approved by the Treasurer’s Office. The annual Hope Scholarship amount will be split into two distributions, with the first half being placed into the student accounts by August 15 and the second half being placed into the student accounts by January 15.
What can families spend the money on?
Families will spend their Hope Scholarship funds directly through the Education Market Assistant (EMA) platform with participating schools, education service providers, and vendors for qualified educational expenses listed below (non-comprehensive list – the full list can be found in the Parent Handbook). Hope Scholarship funds will not be sent to the parents and reimbursements for payments made out-of-pocket, with non-Hope Scholarship funds, will only be considered on a case-by-case basis caused by extenuating circumstances.
- Tuition and fees for private schools, non-public online programs, or alternative education programs
- Services provided by a public school (extracurricular, individual courses)
- Tutoring services
- Fees for standardized or advanced placement exams
- Fees for preparation courses
- Educational services and therapies
- Supplemental materials (supplies, textbooks)
- Transportation fees
- Any other qualified expense as approved by the Hope Scholarship Board
My child was approved for the Hope Scholarship program and participated this year. Do I need to submit a renewal application?
Yes, you must submit a renewal application for your child annually.
When must renewal applications be submitted each year?
The renewal application window will be open from January 15th to May 15th each year.
Is the renewal application process different from the new application process?
Although the renewal and new applications are the same for the 2023-24 school year, the process will be different in future years. Continued proof of West Virginia residency will be required annually with the renewal application, but the birth certificate will only have to be submitted with new applications moving forward.
Are there any other requirements to renew my child’s Hope Scholarship each year?
Yes, there are annual continuing eligibility requirements that students must fulfill to continue with the Hope Scholarship Program. For students attending a participating school under the Hope Scholarship Program, the participating school must send an annual notice of your child’s attendance at their school to the county superintendent of your county of residence by no later than June 8th. For students in the Individualized Instructional Plan (IIP) pathway, there are two options to demonstrate appropriate academic progress to the county superintendent of the county of residence by no later than June 8th annually.
- Nationally normed standardized achievement test of academic achievement in accordance with West Virginia Code §18-31-8(a)(4)(A); or
- A certified teacher conducts a review of the student’s academic work annually.
How can I share my story with you?
You can share your story with us here!
I have more questions and need help!
Where can I find a current list of providers?
A current list of providers can be found on the Hope Scholarship website here.
What if I have more questions about the Hope Scholarship? Is there a community of other parents I can join?
Yes there is! You can join tons of other families in our Facebook community here, ask questions, and make friends!
