New Applications Being Accepted for West Virginia K-12 Students 

State Treasurer Larry Pack, who serves as Chairman of the Hope Scholarship Board, today announced that all West Virginia children in grades K-12 are now eligible to apply for the Hope Scholarship Program for the 2026-2027 academic year. Existing private school and traditional homeschool students who have not previously been eligible for the program are now eligible to apply to participate in the State’s Education Savings Account program that provides funding to students exercising school choice in lieu of attending public school full-time.

"What a great day to welcome thousands of new families to the Hope Scholarship Program. Our goal has always been to continue to lead the nation in education freedom and innovation. Today is another step to providing more options to parents that best suits their child’s unique needs,” Treasurer Pack said. “We want to thank everyone who has worked tirelessly to get to this point. This was a team effort that will have a positive impact on thousands of kids in West Virginia for years to come.”

During a press conference held at the State Capitol Tuesday morning, Treasurer Pack joined Governor Patrick Morrisey, Senator Patricia Rucker, families, and school choice advocates to celebrate the start of universal eligibility for the Hope Scholarship Program

The application deadline for new students to receive full funding for the Hope Scholarship for the 2026-2027 academic year is June 15. Applications are available online at www.HopeScholarshipWV.gov.

A student application submitted within the following dates will receive the associated level of Hope Scholarship funding:

·      March 2-June 15: 100% of Hope Scholarship annual award amount.

·      June 16-Sept. 15: 75% of Hope Scholarship annual award amount.

·      Sept. 16-Nov. 30: 50% of Hope Scholarship annual award amount.

·      Dec. 1-Feb. 28: 25% of Hope Scholarship annual award amount.

Current Hope Scholarship students who wish to renew their participation in the program during the 2026-2027 school year have until June 15 to submit their Continuing Participation Confirmations.

The Hope Scholarship award amount varies each school year depending on the amount of state aid funding per pupil provided to county boards of education for public school students. The projected scholarship amount for the 2026-2027 school year under the existing statutory language is $5,435.62.

Program participation grew from 2,333 students during the first year of the program in 2022-2023 to over 14,600 current participants for the 2025-2026 school year. There are currently over 300 participating nonpublic schools and microschools as well as over 1,300 non-school providers in the Hope Scholarship Program, providing a variety of educational options for students.

In addition to filling out the application, state law also requires participating families to fill out a notice of intent to participate in the program with their local county superintendent once the student’s Hope Scholarship application is found eligible. A sample template for that notice as well as Frequently Asked Questions regarding the notice are also available online at the program’s website. 

Families are reminded to notify the Hope Scholarship Board via email at hopescholarshipwv@wvsto.gov if they are awarded the Hope Scholarship but ultimately decide to remain in public school.

For more information on the Hope Scholarship, visit www.HopeScholarshipWV.gov.