Universal Eligibility For Hope Scholarship Begins

All West Virginia children from kindergarten through grade twelve are now eligible to apply for the Hope Scholarship. 

Previously, the state’s school voucher program required students to be enrolled in public school for at least 45 days to be approved. The Hope Scholarship program provides financial assistance to qualifying families of K-12 students to be used for tuition, homeschool curriculum and other approved educational expenses.

As of Monday, expanded eligibility allows existing nonpublic school and traditional homeschool students to apply.

Educational leaders and lawmakers have become increasingly concerned by the ballooning cost of the Hope Scholarship program. State appropriations almost doubled from $120 million last year to a proposed $230 million this year.

State leaders including Gov. Patrick Morrisey and Treasurer Larry Pack, who also serves as the chair of the Hope Scholarship Board, have objected to attempts by lawmakers to limit the program during the ongoing legislative session. 

The West Virginia Hope Scholarship program is now accepting new applications for the 2026-2027 school year. The application deadline for new students to receive full funding for the Hope Scholarship for the 2026-2027 school year is June 15, but applications submitted after the deadline will be prorated on a declining scale based on the date submitted.

Pack will hold a press conference Tuesday, March 3 at the state capitol to celebrate the start of universal eligibility for all West Virginia students.