Today, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice signed historic legislation creating the Hope Scholarship, a near-universal education scholarship account and the first private education choice option for families in the state. At the same time, Governor Justice also signed improvements to the state’s 2019 public charter school law to help more families select the learning environment that best fits the needs of their child.
“Thanks to West Virginia lawmakers, families now have near-universal education choices – a first for the Mountain State. Legislators boldly voted to increase both private and public educational opportunities for students and, with his signature, Governor Jim Justice made it a reality. Together they are paving the way for thousands of students to be better prepared for successful careers and fulfilling lives.”
Governor Jeb Bush, Founder and Chairman of ExcelinEd
With a Hope Scholarship created by House Bill 2013, parents can direct education funding to the schools, courses, programs and services based on their student’s needs. This includes any combination of private school tuition, textbooks and curriculum, online learning, tutoring, occupational or instructional therapies, testing and other support services. Students currently attending a public school – more than 90 percent of students in the state – could use the educational dollars allotted for their education to ensure they find the right fit for their unique learning needs.
“Lawmakers in Charleston have lived up to the motto of ‘Mountaineers are always free’ by expanding educational opportunities for West Virginia’s students and families. The Hope Scholarship will afford families the freedom to design an education that best suits each individual child. The pandemic has shown that flexibility in education is essential and West Virginia is on the path to provide it.”
Tim Abram, Associate Policy Director of Educational Opportunity for ExcelinEd
House Bill 2012 expands public school choice options, creating an appeals process and independent charter board so potential charter schools have multiple authorization pathways. It also triples the number of charter schools permitted in the state, as well as a first-time process for establishing virtual charter schools.
For more information on the transformative power of education choice, visit the ExcelinEd policy library.
