Kanawha Leads West Virginia in Hope Scholarship Students: What the Annual Report and the November 9 Rules Vote Mean for Charleston Families

Two November developments give Charleston-area families a clearer picture of the Hope Scholarship. On November 3, the state released the program's 2025-2026 annual report, which ranks Kanawha County first in the state for participating students. Six days later, the Legislature's rulemaking review committee rejected three proposed changes to Hope's rules, including one that would have barred out-of-state schools. Here is what each means in the Kanawha Valley.

How many Kanawha County students used the Hope Scholarship in 2025-26?

The annual report counts 1,668 Hope recipients in Kanawha County, the most of any county, ahead of Berkeley County's 1,424. Statewide, 14,486 students received Hope money in 2025-26, nearly 38% more than the year before.

The News and Sentinel's summary of the report adds statewide detail. About 62% of recipients attended nonpublic schools, and about 38% followed an individualized instructional plan through home-based learning or another approved option. Kindergarten was the largest grade, with 2,130 students, and 1,217 recipients, or 8.4%, had special needs. More than 300 nonpublic schools and microschools took part, along with more than 1,300 other education service providers.

Treasurer Larry Pack, who chairs the Hope Scholarship Board, pointed to growth "from just over 2,300 students to more than 14,400" since the program's first year. The report does not break out a figure for the city of Charleston itself.

Which Hope Scholarship rule changes did the rulemaking committee reject on November 9?

The Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee turned down three amendments from Del. Kayla Young, D-Kanawha. One would have required private schools, parochial schools and microschools receiving Hope tuition or fees to be located in West Virginia. The others would have had applicants self-report income for demographic purposes and required participating schools to file attendance policies with the Hope Scholarship Board.

West Virginia Watch reported that the in-state proposal mirrored a February House Finance Committee plan, part of a package to cap Hope spending, which lawmakers dropped after pushback from homeschool families and school choice groups. Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, who presided, said the amendment "clearly is trying to change what's in the code," since the law defines eligible schools as "any" private elementary or secondary school. Legislative attorney Phillip Childs said the code "does not say that it must explicitly be used in West Virginia."

Young answered, "We can't change what the law says, but we can clarify what it says." Rucker said the Legislature "could decide to narrow it to be more specific at any time that they want." Under the review process, rules the committee recommends are introduced by its co-chairs in the following legislative session.

Can Charleston families still use the Hope Scholarship at out-of-state schools?

Yes. With the amendment rejected, nothing in the rules requires a participating school to sit inside West Virginia, which matters most to families using online programs or schools near a state line.

West Virginia Watch reported that most of the $45 million in 2025-26 Hope spending on nonpublic tuition and fees stayed in state, with about $2.4 million going to schools in Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia, mostly in border areas. The annual report's top education service providers by dollars included online programs based elsewhere, such as Miacademy at $287,504 and Acellus Academy.

The Hope parent handbook lists tuition and fees for nonpublic online learning programs, and for microschools, as allowed expenses. AmFaith (amfaith.com) is one online Christian school some families consider; any program should be checked against the provider directory in the Hope portal. Our guide to what Hope pays for and Kanawha homeschool and microschool page cover those routes.

When can Charleston families apply for the 2027-28 Hope Scholarship?

The Hope portal starts accepting new 2027-28 applications on March 1, 2027, according to the parent handbook. A family applying for the current year by November 30, 2026 still lands in the 50% funding tier; applications from December 1 through February 28, 2027 receive 25%.

The 2026-27 award is $5,435.62, paid in quarterly deposits on August 15, October 15, January 15 and April 15. The 2027-28 amount has not been published; it is set from the prior year's statewide average per-pupil allotment. Returning students confirm through the Continued Participation Confirmation, which ran January 5 to June 15, 2026 for this year, and a missed CPC means reapplying as a new student and losing carryover funds. Families comparing schools can start with our list of Hope participating schools around Charleston.

Last verified: November 2026

Sources

• News and Sentinel: West Virginia releases Hope Scholarship report (Nov. 3, 2026)
• West Virginia Watch via Herald-Dispatch: Legislative rulemaking committee shoots down changes to Hope Scholarship
• Hope Scholarship: Frequently asked questions
• Hope Scholarship Parent Handbook (updated June 25, 2026)

See what your family qualifies for →