The Hope Scholarship WV Program is designed as an Education Savings Account (ESA) initiative.
This program empowers parents and families by granting them the flexibility to utilize their state education funding in a personalized manner.
It ensures an individualized learning experience that aligns with their specific needs and preferences.
Application And Renewal
Hope Scholarship WV Program application window: March 1 to May 15 annually.
Eligible students missing the application window considered on a case-by-case basis by the Hope Scholarship Board.
Ineligible students during regular application window can apply to the Board at any time during the academic year.
Late applicants must submit an Application Request Form to the Hope Scholarship Board.
Do not apply directly in EMA before receiving a response to the Application Request Form.
Renewal application required annually for continued participation.
The renewal window: January 15th to May 15th each year.
Renewal process may differ from new application process in future years.
Proof of West Virginia residency required annually with renewal application.
Birth certificate only required with new applications moving forward.
Eligibility Rule:
General Eligibility.
To qualify for the Hope Scholarship, a student must meet the following criteria:
Must be a West Virginia resident and either be:
1: Eligible to be enrolled in kindergarten for the 2023-24 school year
2: Enrolled full-time in a West Virginia public elementary or secondary school for the entire instructional term of the previous academic year
3: of eligibility criteria:
In order to be eligible for the Hope Scholarship;
- The student must first enroll full-time and attend a West Virginia public elementary
- or secondary school for at least 45 consecutive calendar days during the current instructional term at the time of application.
Additionally, it is required for the student to remain enrolled and continue attending the public-school program until a decision is reached regarding their Hope Scholarship application.
Special Case Eligibility
Child cannot be enrolled full-time in a public school and receive the Hope Scholarship simultaneously. They must choose one.
Once accepted into the Hope Scholarship Program, the child is not permitted to be enrolled full-time in a West Virginia public school.
However, the scholarship funds can be utilized to acquire part-time services from a West Virginia public school.
Home-schooled students are not eligible as new applicants but can become eligible by enrolling full-time in a public school for at least 45 calendar days.
Once a student graduates from high school, they are no longer eligible for the Hope Scholarship. The program is for grades K-12 only.
The Hope Scholarship Program considers enrollment in a virtual program from a West Virginia public school, including virtual charter schools, as equivalent to in-person enrollment in a public-school program.
For eligibility in the 2023-24 school year, the student must have completed the full 2022-23 school year enrolled in a public school preceding the year they apply for the Hope Scholarship Program.
Eligible for kindergarten student:
Attending a private Pre-K program does not affect Hope Scholarship eligibility for kindergarten students.
All incoming kindergarten students who meet the July 1st deadline are eligible for the Hope Scholarship Program, regardless of their Pre-K attendance.
Students who turn five years old after July 1st can become eligible for the Hope Scholarship if they successfully enroll in a West Virginia public kindergarten program through the established early entrance process.
If a child completes a private or homeschool kindergarten program, the Hope Scholarship Program will treat them as an existing private or homeschool student and will deem them ineligible for participation as a kindergartener.
Usage Of The Hope Scholarship:
The usage of Hope Scholarship WV funds includes:
- Tuition and fees for private school, non-public online programs, or alternative education programs.
- Services provided by a public school such as extracurricular activities or individual courses.
- Tutoring services.
- Fees for standardized or advanced placement exams.
- Fees for preparation courses.
- Educational services and therapies.
- Supplemental materials like supplies and textbooks.
- Transportation fees.
- Any other qualified expense approved by the Hope Scholarship Board.
Fund Reimbursement
Reimbursements under the Hope Scholarship Program are limited to extenuating circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
Hope Scholarship families should make all purchases directly through the EMA portal, including the MyScholarShop platform.
Reimbursement requests in the EMA portal must include a detailed invoice with clear itemization to verify qualified expenses.
Proof of payment, such as a zero-balance receipt, must accompany reimbursement requests.
Summary:
Hope scholarship program WV is an Education Savings Account (ESA) initiative that allows parents and families to use state education funding according to their needs.
Has an annual application window from March 1 to May 15.
Considers late applications on a case-by-case basis and requires an Application Request Form.
Requires renewal applications annually between January 15th and May 15th, with potential future differences in the process.
Has general eligibility criteria for West Virginia residents, including kindergarten students and full-time enrollment in public schools.
Has special eligibility rules for simultaneous enrollment, virtual program enrollment, and high school graduation.
Allows usage of funds for various educational expenses approved by the Hope Scholarship Board.
Considers reimbursements on a case-by-case basis for extenuating circumstances, with purchases made through the EMA portal.
Requires detailed invoices and proof of payment for reimbursement requests.