§18-31-1. Short Title
This article shall be known as the “Hope Scholarship Act.” The program created by this act shall be known as the “Hope Scholarship Program.”
§18-31-10. Auditing of Hope Scholarship Program; Suspension of Accounts and Providers
(a) The board may propose legislative rules for legislative approval pursuant to 29A-3-1 et seq. of this code for the auditing of individual Hope Scholarship accounts and shall conduct or contract for the random auditing of individual Hope Scholarship accounts as needed to ensure compliance with the requirements of this article and rules promulgated pursuant […]
§18-31-11. Requirements for and Rights of Education Service Providers
(a) To be eligible to accept payments from a Hope Scholarship account, an education service provider shall: (1) Submit notice to the board that they wish to participate in the Hope Scholarship Program;
§18-31-12. Responsibilities of Resident School Districts
The resident school district or school district in which a Hope Scholarship student was last enrolled, as applicable, shall provide an education service provider that has enrolled the student with a complete copy of the students school records, while complying with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. 1232g).
§18-31-13. Legal Proceedings; Severability
(a) No liability arises on the part of the board or the state or of any county school district based on the award or use of a Hope Scholarship awarded pursuant to this article. (b) It is the intention of the Legislature in the enactment of this article that if any part of this article […]
§18-31-2. Definitions
The following words have the meanings ascribed to them unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning: (1) “Account” or “scholarship” means a Hope Scholarship account, awarded pursuant to this article, to which funds are allocated by the board to the parent or parents of an eligible Hope Scholarship student in order to pay qualifying […]
§18-31-3. West Virginia Hope Scholarship Board; Members; Terms; Compensation; Proceedings Generally
(a) The West Virginia Hope Scholarship Program shall be administered by the West Virginia Hope Scholarship Board. (b) The board shall consist of nine members and include the following: (1) The State Treasurer;
§18-31-4. Powers of the Board
The board is authorized to take any action necessary to effectuate the provisions of this article and to successfully administer the Hope Scholarship Program, subject to applicable state and federal law, including, but not limited to the following: (1) Adopt and amend bylaws;
§18-31-5. Award of Hope Scholarships
(a) The Hope Scholarship Program is established to provide the option for a parent to better meet the individual education needs of his or her eligible child. The program shall be operational no later than July 1, 2022. (b) The board shall create a standard application form that a parent can submit to establish his […]
§18-31-6. Funding of Hope Scholarships; Program and Expense Funds
(a) There is hereby created in the State Treasury a special revenue fund designated and known as the West Virginia Hope Scholarship Program Fund. The fund shall be administered by the Treasurer and shall consist of funds transferred by the Department of Education in accordance with 18-9A-25 of this code. All interest and other returns […]
§18-31-7. Qualifying Expenses for Hope Scholarship Accounts
(a) Parents of a Hope Scholarship student shall agree to use the funds deposited in their students Hope Scholarship account only for the following qualifying expenses to educate the student: (1) Ongoing services provided by a public school district pursuant to 18-31-8(f) of this code, including without limitation, individual classes and extracurricular activities and programs;
§18-31-8. Renewal of Hope Scholarship Accounts; Participation in Public School System
(a) A parent must renew an eligible recipients Hope Scholarship on an annual basis. Notwithstanding any changes in eligibility, a Hope Scholarship student who has previously qualified for a Hope Scholarship account remains eligible to apply for renewal until one of the conditions set forth in 18-31-6(f) occurs: Provided, That the board shall verify with […]
§18-31-9. Administration of Hope Scholarship Accounts
(a) In addition to the duties, obligations, and authority stated in this section and in other parts of this article, the board has the following duties, obligations, and authority with respect to the administration of Hope Scholarship accounts: (1) To maintain an updated list of participating schools and shall ensure that the list is publicly […]