State Treasurer Larry Pack, who serves as Chairman of the Hope Scholarship Board, today released a revised maximum projected Hope Scholarship budget for the 2026-2027 school year. In January, the West Virginia Treasury had projected $315,013,760 if 100% of newly eligible students participated in the Hope Scholarship for the 2026-2027 school year. A revised number, that was submitted to the State Budget Office, puts that estimate now at $244,580,215.
“Based on updated traditional homeschool data provided by the West Virginia Department of Education and the current Hope Scholarship participant data, we were able to revise our estimates. The largest contributor is the population of newly eligible students for the 2026-2027 school year dropped from around 54,000 to roughly 43,000,” Treasurer Pack said. “The good news is that this will save the state around $70 million. Regardless of the expected cost, we look forward to helping our parents and students find the right education that fits their unique needs.”
The projections for 2026-2027 will be further refined in December if needed to provide the most accurate Hope Scholarship funding estimate possible heading into the 2026 Legislative session.
The Hope Scholarship award amount varies each school year depending on the amount of state aid funding per pupil provided to county boards of education for public school students. The projected scholarship amount for the 2026-2027 school year is $5,435.62.
The deadline to apply for 75 percent of this year’s Hope Scholarship funding amount is Sept. 15.
The Hope Scholarship will open to all school-age children residing in West Virginia beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year.
For more information on the Hope Scholarship, visit www.HopeScholarshipWV.com.
