West Virginia lawmakers take closer look at HOPE Scholarship

West Virginia lawmakers take closer look at HOPE Scholarship

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WOWK) — For the first time since bringing the program to the state, West Virginia lawmakers are taking a closer look at HOPE scholarship funding. At a highly-attended House Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday morning, delegates identified excessive funding on technology, testing, extracurriculars and miscellaneous costs in the budget. “We were seeing a lot of expanded expense [...]

WV House Finance Committee mulls change to Hope Scholarship school voucher due to $230M price tag

House Finance Chairman Del. Vernon Criss, R-Wood, speaks to the House Finance Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026 in Charleston, West Virginia. (Photo by Perry Bennett/West Virginia Legislative Photography)The House Finance Committee is considering some significant changes to West Virginia’s education voucher program, the Hope Scholarship, as the cost has ballooned to an estimated $230 million.  The school voucher program is one of the state’s b…