A West Virginia law gives students the possibility of opting out of the state's public school system. A lawsuit filed last week threatens to make them stay right where they are.
Passed last year, H.B. 2013 established West Virginia's Hope Scholarship Program, which funds education savings accounts (ESAs) for students currently enrolled in the state's public schools. Similar to health savings accounts, ESA programs provide money directly to parents, typically from the state's education budget, which can be used on education-related expenses. West Virginia's program is open to all students enrolled in the state's public school system, who can apply for inclusion for the 2022-2023 school year. If accepted, students are exempted from public school attendance and get a stipend equal to the average amount that the state would otherwise spend on their education, which is currently about $4,600. That money can be used for such expenses as tuition at a different school, tutoring, or speech therapy. If a parent would rather homeschool their child, the funds could even be used for homeschooling curriculum.
