The West Virginia Hope Scholarship
At Miacademy, we’ve been hard at work partnering with various state funding agencies across the country. Our goal is to make a quality education accessible for every student, and we’re accomplishing our goal one state at a time.
If you’re homeschooling in West Virginia, we have some exciting news to share with you!
Miacademy is now an educational provider for West Virginia’s Hope Scholarship Program! Eligible families in West Virginia can access Miacademy’s accredited online homeschool curriculum with funding provided by the Hope Scholarship.
What is the Hope Scholarship in West Virginia?
The Hope Scholarship is an education savings account (ESA) program that allows students to choose the best education option for their needs. The program allows parents to reallocate the funds that would pay for their child’s public school education to alternatives such as private school and homeschooling.
For the 2023-24 school year, scholarship recipients received $4,488.82 each. Scholarship funds can be used for many home education expenses, including:
- Private school tuition and annual teacher evaluations
- Tuition and fees for nonpublic online learning and other alternative learning programs
- Supplementary items, such as books, paper, markers, scissors, etc.
- Technology such as computers, printers, and software
- Tuition and material for college-level courses taken in grades K-12
What Are the Hope Scholarship’s Requirements?
The Hope Scholarship’s eligibility requirements are easy to follow. In fact, during the 2022-23 school year, 93% of students across the state were eligible! There are three different ways that students can qualify for the scholarship:
- Must be eligible to enroll in kindergarten for the current school year
- Must have attended a West Virginia public or secondary school for the entire school year preceding the current school year
- Must have attended a West Virginia public school for 45 consecutive days this school year, be currently enrolled, and remain enrolled until a decision is made
Applications for the school year begin on March 1 and end on May 15 annually. Students who are eligible under option 3 remain eligible for enrollment throughout the school year and will need to fill out the online Application Request Form. If you are already receiving the Hope Scholarship, you will need to renew your application every year.
If you miss the deadline but remain eligible, the board may accept a late application on a case-by-case basis.
In addition, you must also be a resident of the State of West Virginia and complete a Notice of Intent form.
How Do I Get Miacademy with the Hope Scholarship?
To use your Hope Scholarship funding for our online homeschool curriculum, you’ll first need to create an account with the Education Market Assistant (EMA) portal. If you miss the March 1- May 15 deadline for any reason, you’ll need to complete an Application Request Form and be accepted before creating an EMA account.
After you’ve successfully created your EMA account, you can access the Hope Scholarship application from the portal. To apply, you will need these five items:
- Your child’s state-issued birth certificate
- Proof of residency in West Virginia
- List of acceptable documents include a W-2, utility bill, vehicle registration, etc.
- Your child’s grade level for the year you’re applying for
- Your child’s WVEIS identification number, found on a report card or lunch bill
- Incoming kindergarteners will receive their ID number after the Notice of Intent is submitted
- A completed Notice of Intent form
- If you do not have a WVEIS number, submit the Notice of Intent first. If you have one, submit the notice after you submit your application.
Once your application is accepted, you’ll receive access to the online marketplace. You can purchase items directly from vendors in the marketplace or request reimbursements for educational expenses you’ve made elsewhere.
Want to know more about the Hope Scholarship? Visit their FAQ page for more information and check out their scholarship page for more eligibility details.
If you have any questions about Miacademy and the Hope Scholarship, feel free to chat with one of our helpful customer service agents! They’ll be happy to help you find the answers you need.
FAQ
How do I appeal the Hope Scholarship in West Virginia?
If the board did not find your student eligible, but you still wish to participate in the program, you can request that the board appeal their decision. To do so, file the Eligibility Appeal Form within 45 days of the decision.
How much is the Hope Scholarship in WV?
The Hope Scholarship award varies year to year and depends on the amount in the state’s budget for public education. Students are awarded the average cost of per pupil public education statewide. For the 2023-24 school year, the amount is $4,488.82 per student.
Who funds the WV Hope Scholarship?
The Hope Scholarship is funded by the State of West Virginia by property taxes, just like other West Virginia public schools.
Information accurate as of: 12/15/2023. The information provided on this site is intended for research purposes only. Miaplaza is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or outdated information, or for the results yielded through use of this information.