Chris Schulz Published

Renewal Applications Open For Hope Scholarship

A container of art and school supplies sits on a table in a first grade classroom. In the background a colorful carpet with numbers on it can be seen.
The Hope Scholarship is meant to be used for approved educational expenses, including materials but also extending to specialists and tutors.
Chris Schulz/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
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Applications are now open for families to renew their participation in West Virginia’s education voucher program. 

Renewal applications for the Hope Scholarship will be accepted through June 15. 

State Treasurer Larry Pack, who serves as Chairman of the Hope Scholarship Board, said in a press release that those who miss the deadline will only be eligible after re-enrolling in public school for 45 days.

The Hope Scholarship, an education savings account program available for kindergarten through 12th grade students, was created by the passage of House Bill 2013 in 2021. Parents and families receive an amount equal to the state portion of their child’s education funding for approved educational spending.

The Hope Scholarship will open to all school-age children residing in West Virginia beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year.

Program participation almost doubled from just over 2,000 students during the 2022-2023 school year to more than 5,000 students during the 2023-2024 school year. 

Total Hope Scholarship student spending exceeded $20 million in 2023-2024. 

In December 2023, board members approved a year-round application model that allows families to apply for the program throughout the school year featuring prorated scholarship award amounts depending on when they apply. For the 2024-2025 school year the board has approved 10,770 applications .

According to the press release, the scholarship amount for the 2024-25 school year is $4,921.39, and is expected to be more than $5,000 for the 2025-2026 school year.