Critics argue that it takes money away from public schools, leaving them worse off. Is that the truth? What is the truth behind the Hope Scholarship?

Using data and information from the WV Department of Education, PEIA, Education Next, WV Metro News, WV Public Broadcasting, USA Facts and the National Center for Education Statistics, we have created a summary of facts that you need to know so that you can form your opinion about truth and myth, fact and fiction.  

A Snapshot of West Virginia's Student Population: How many students are there?

In West Virginia, we educate approximately 284,000 K-12 students, with about 245,000 enrolled in public schools. The rest—around 26,000—are homeschooled, and another 12,000 attend private schools. This varied landscape is key to understanding why a program like the Hope Scholarship exists, why the WV Supreme Court ruled that it was legal, and how it fits into the broader education ecosystem in the state.

Education Spending: Where does the $4 Billion we spend on education come from?

In 2023, West Virginia spent almost $4 billion on education, which equates to about $14,000 per student. This funding comes from multiple sources: for all counties in WV, the average funding breaks down as follows: 47% from the state government, 34% from local governments, and 19% from the federal government. Every county and school district could have different formulas which would affect these percentages.

Class Sizes & Teacher Ratios: Does West Virginia really have an advantage over most other states?

West Virginia consistently maintains a more favorable student-to-teacher ratio than the national average and has for many years. In 2023, WV public schools boasted an average ratio of 13.14:1, compared to the national average of 15.4:1. This advantage is partly due to a declining public school enrollment rate, which has outpaced the reduction in the teaching workforce

The Teacher Shortage: What is the Reality?

The state has about 18,711 contracted classroom teachers, with an average salary of $55,299  https://wvde.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Avg-Contracted-Salary-Teachers-24.pdf    and an average state funded salaries of $53,415  https://wvde.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Avg-State-Funded-Salaries-25-Final.pdf   plus approximately another $12,000 in benefits. Teacher attrition—the rate at which teachers leave the profession—averages around 8% per year. That’s roughly 1,300 teachers leaving annually, with around 1,500 current teacher vacancies. This means West Virginia public schools can maintain a student-to-teacher ratio better than the US average during a significant shift in enrollment through current vacancies and normal attrition.

The Hope Scholarship: How do we cover the expense without incurring additional costs?

By the 2026-2027 school year, West Virginia Treasurer Riley Moore estimates that up to 50,000 students could take advantage of the Hope Scholarship, costing the state approximately $250 million. While this figure seems daunting, it’s crucial to note that this isn’t new spending but rather a reallocation of existing education funds based on a parents’ decisions on what is best for their children.

Even with the projected migration of 50,000 students to non-public schools, West Virginia would maintain its favorable student-to-teacher ratio, requiring 1,800 fewer teachers. This would free up around $123 million, allowing the state to fund almost half of the Hope Scholarship without laying off teachers, thanks to the natural attrition rate and existing vacancies, Additionally, if the student to teacher was equal to the U.S. average, it would more than pay for the entire cost of the Hope Scholarship.

Public School Benefits: More Than Meets the Eye

One of the biggest misconceptions about the Hope Scholarship is that it drains funds from public schools. In reality, for every student who leaves public school for the Hope Scholarship, the West Virginia Department of Education retains about $9,000 of the $14,000 per-student allocation. If 50,000 students opt for the scholarship, this means the department would keep $450 million for students that the WV Department of Education no longer educates.

This retained funding could be a financial windfall for public schools, allowing them to raise teacher salaries, improve infrastructure, or invest in student resources.

Why Hope Is Good for ALL West Virginia students and parents.

Here’s what you can tell your friends, neighbors, and legislators when they ask about the Hope Scholarship:

1. Choice for Parents: The Hope Scholarship gives parents a real choice in how and where to educate their children, empowering parents to make decisions based on their child's unique needs and their values.
2. Hope Scholarship is good for public school teachers and public school students:  The Board of Education continues to retain a significant portion of funding for students who they no longer educate, which they can reinvest into the students who remain in public schools.
3. West Virginia continues to have a better Student-to-Teacher ratio than the US average: West Virginia's can fund the entire Hope Scholarship and still have a better student to teacher ratio than  the US average.
4. No Teacher Layoffs: The program can be funded by the natural attrition of teachers and current vacancies, meaning virtually no layoffs are necessary.
5. Competition Benefits Everyone: By fostering competition between public and non-public schools, the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the education system improves, benefiting all students.

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