Current:Home > NewsWest Virginia expands education savings account program for military families-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
West Virginia expands education savings account program for military families
View Date:2024-12-23 10:11:24
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A program that incentivizes West Virginia families to pull their children out of K-12 public schools by offering them government-funded scholarships to pay for private school or homeschooling is expanding to cover military families that temporarily relocate out of state.
The Hope Scholarship Board voted Wednesday to approve a policy to allow children of military service members who are required to temporarily relocate to another state remain Hope Scholarship eligible when they return to West Virginia, said State Treasurer Riley Moore, the board’s chairman.
“A temporary relocation pursuant to military orders should not jeopardize a child’s ability to participate in the Hope Scholarship Program,” Moore said in a statement.
Moore, a Republican who was elected to the U.S. House representing West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District this month, said he is “thrilled” to offer greater “access and flexibility” for military families. The change takes effect immediately, he said.
Passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature in 2021, the law that created the Hope Scholarship Program allows families to apply for state funding to support private school tuition, homeschooling fees and a wide range of other expenses.
As of now, families can’t receive the money if their children were already homeschooled or attending private school. To qualify, students must be slated to begin kindergarten in the current school year or have been enrolled in a West Virginia public school during the previous school year.
However, the law expands eligibility in 2026 to all school-age children in West Virginia, regardless of where they attend school.
Going into the 2023-2024 school year, the Hope board received almost 7,000 applications and awarded the scholarship to more than 6,000 students. The award for this school year was just under $5,000 per student, meaning more than $30 million in public funds went toward the non-public schooling.
veryGood! (54914)
Related
- Younghoo Koo takes blame for Falcons loss to Saints: 'This game is fully on me'
- AP Week in Pictures: Global
- There are 19 college football unbeatens. Predicting when each team will lose for first time
- Blac Chyna Reassures Daughter Dream, 7, About Her Appearance in Heartwarming Video
- Vogue Model Dynus Saxon Charged With Murder After Stabbing Attack
- Subway rider shot in the head by police files claim accusing officers of recklessly opening fire
- SEC showdowns highlight college football Week 6 expert predictions for every Top 25 game
- Twin babies who died alongside their mother in Georgia are youngest-known Hurricane Helene victims
- Watch as dust storm that caused 20-car pileup whips through central California
- Coldplay delivers reliable dreaminess and sweet emotions on 'Moon Music'
Ranking
- Drone footage captures scope of damage, destruction from deadly Louisville explosion
- Saoirse Ronan Shares Rare Insight Into Relationship With Husband Jack Lowden
- A massive strike at U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports has ended | The Excerpt
- Jobs report is likely to show another month of modest but steady hiring gains
- Repair Hair Damage In Just 90 Seconds With This Hack from WNBA Star Kamilla Cardoso
- Prince William Shares He Skipped 2024 Olympics to Protect Kate Middleton’s Health
- Tia Mowry Sets the Record Straight on Relationship With Sister Tamera Mowry
- With 'The Woke Agenda,' Calgorithm propels California football into social media spotlight
Recommendation
-
Jelly Roll goes to jail (for the best reason) ahead of Indianapolis concert
-
Billie Eilish's Mom Maggie Baird Claps Back at Nepo Baby Label
-
Los Angeles prosecutors to review new evidence in Menendez brothers’ 1996 murder conviction
-
Dockworkers’ union suspend strike until Jan. 15 to allow time to negotiate new contract
-
After Baltimore mass shooting, neighborhood goes full year with no homicides
-
Marshawn Lynch is 'College GameDay' guest picker for Cal-Miami: Social media reacts
-
Elon Musk to join Trump at rally at the site of first assassination attempt
-
Travis and Jason Kelce’s Mom Donna Kelce Stood “Still” in Marriage to Ed Kelce Before Divorce