Who can apply
Private schools registered with the West Virginia Department of Education under Exemption (B) or Exemption (K) can become Hope participating schools. The state's nonpublic list shows 14 such schools in the five metro counties: ten in Kanawha, two in Putnam, one in Boone and one in Clay. Microschools formed under SB 268 can register too and use the portal's school module, though in law they are not participating schools.
How joining works
The school submits the Board's New Provider Request Form. Board staff confirm the school's WVDE registration, and the school then claims its portal account. Provider invitations come from the Theo platform that runs the portal, and payments arrive by ACH. Every provider with student contact, including a sole operator, must pass a criminal background check.
What a participating school agrees to
Before each school year the school submits its maximum published tuition and fee schedule. It may not charge Hope students more than other students; the provider handbook calls that unlawful. It confirms attendance to WVDE and the county superintendent by June 8, reports graduates by June 15, and withdraws non-attending students in the portal, refunding unearned tuition to the account within 30 days.
Planning cash flow around quarterly deposits
From 2026-27, Hope money reaches families on Aug 15, Oct 15, Jan 15 and Apr 15. A school that bills a full semester in August will find many accounts hold only one quarter. Schools in the valley that bill in step with the deposits, or that let families split payments, see fewer short accounts.
Why this matters locally
Kanawha County Schools reported more than 1,200 students leaving for Hope by November 2024, and the county closed or merged six schools that year. With universal eligibility in 2026-27, more families already in private school are applying too, so the question families ask first is whether a school is on the list.
Common questions
What does a Kanawha Valley school report each year as a Hope participating school?
A Kanawha Valley Hope participating school submits its maximum tuition and fee schedule before each school year, confirms Hope students' attendance to the West Virginia Department of Education and the county superintendent by June 8, and reports graduates by June 15. The Hope Scholarship participating school must also withdraw non-attending students in the portal and refund unearned tuition within 30 days.
How are Hope participating schools paid in West Virginia?
Hope participating schools are paid by ACH through the Hope portal operated by Student First Technologies, with deposits labeled from Theodore PMT. A family approves the tuition payment from the student's account, and the Hope Scholarship money goes straight to the school. Because the Hope Scholarship now funds accounts quarterly, schools should time invoices to the August, October, January and April deposits.
Does a microschool in Putnam County need WVDE registration to get Hope payments?
A Putnam County microschool does not join Hope as a participating school, because West Virginia law places microschools in a separate category created by SB 268. The microschool registers with the Hope Scholarship Board as a provider and uses the portal's school module. Staff with student contact still need criminal background checks before the microschool can accept Hope Scholarship tuition.