West Virginia: Hope Scholarship Program

Each West Virginia Hope Scholarship is equal to the statewide average of the per-pupil amount of net state aid allotted the prior year for public school students. The scholarship is based on net enrollment adjusted for state aid purposes (roughly $4,900 in 2024–2025)

• Income Limit: None
• Prior Year Public School Requirement: None by 2026
• Testing Mandates: Nationally norm-referenced test or portfolio review by a certified teacher
• Special Needs Pathway: Universal

Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, all West Virginia school-age children will be eligible for Hope Scholarships. Until then, students must have attended public elementary or secondary schools for at least 45 full-time instruction days of the school year in which they apply or have been enrolled in public school for the entirety of the previous school year. All kindergarten students are eligible for a Hope Scholarship regardless of previous public school attendance. Parents may renew their child’s Hope Scholarships each year after initial approval, up to a student’s high school graduation or when they turn 21 years old.

Existing Hope Scholarship students wishing to continue participation in the program for the 2026-2027 year will be able to complete the continued participation confirmation process from January 3, 2026 to June 15, 2026. Applications for new students will open on March 1, 2026. The Hope Scholarship Board will accept applications year-round, but the timing of submission of the original application for the program will determine the amount of the Hope Scholarship received for the student’s initial year of participation in the program. Click here to apply.

The application windows for 2026-27 and the corresponding funding amount are available below:

• March 1, 2026 - June 15, 2026: 100% of Scholarship
• June 16, 2026 - September 15, 2026: 75% of Scholarship
• September 16, 2026 - November 30, 2026: 50% of Scholarship
• December 1, 2026 - February 28. 2027: 25% of Scholarship
• After February 28, 2027: No funding for 2026-27 but can apply next year.

When completing your child’s Hope Scholarship application in the online portal, you will need the following information/documents:

• Your child’s birth certificate issued by a state - not hospital
• Proof of West Virginia Residency
• Your child’s grade level for the year for which you are applying for the scholarship
• Your child’s WVEIS ID#
• A Notice of Intent Form

• All Hope Scholarship participants must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) form to the county board of education of their county of residence. You can find the contact information for the county superintendent at the following: WV School Directory (state.wv.us) and the email address to submit the NOI at the following: Hope County Board Emailshopescholarshipwv.com

Qualifying expenses include the following:

• Classes and extracurriculars at a public school district
• Tuition and fees
• Tutoring
• Testing
• Programs of study/curriculum of courses that lead to an industry-recognized credential satisfying a workforce need
• Online learning programs
• Alternative education programs
• After-school/summer programs
• Therapies
• Instruments required by music education course
• Transportation
• Other qualifying expense approved by the board

Unused funds carry over to the next school year.

Additional Program Guidelines

• Enrollment Cap: None
• Budget Cap: None
• Account Cap: 100% State Funding, Less Administrative

Participant and Family Guidelines

• Click Here for the Program Administrator’s Parent Handbook
• Education Requirements:

• Parent must sign an agreement to:
• Provide an education in the subjects of reading, language, mathematics, science, and social studies
• Only use the Hope Scholarship for qualifying expenses
• Comply with all rules and requirements as promulgated by the Hope Scholarship Board
• Allow the student to participate in enrichment activities such as organized athletics, art, music, and literature
• Alert the Hope Scholarship Board of any enrollment changes or withdrawals

• Parent Supplemented Funds/Scholarships: Allowed
• Miscellaneous: N/A

Education Provider Guidelines

• Accreditation/Approval: Register with state or county
• Employment Standards: Background checks for teachers and staff
• Nondiscrimination: Federal
• Calendar/Curriculum/Attendance: N/A
• Financial: State audit
• Miscellaneous:

• Agree not to refund, rebate, or share funds with parents or students
• Provide an annual notice of enrollment to the county superintendent where a scholarship student resides

(Last updated September 27, 2024)

West Virginia §18-8-1, §18-9A-25, §18-31

(Last updated July 9, 2024)