The West Virginia Hope Scholarship Program offers families flexible funding support for educational programs outside the public school system. Students may receive up to $5,267.38 for the 2025-2026 school year to use on private school tuition, homeschool curriculum, and select tutoring services.
West Virginia lays out detailed guidelines for how the funds can and cannot be used. You may even be surprised to see you can buy supplies like LEGOs, provided you purchase them through the official educator website. It also allows families to buy dual enrollment college courses to get a jump-start on higher education while the student is still in high school.
Here’s how the program works and what you need to know before signing your child up for college credits.
How to Use the West Virginia ESA Program to Buy College Courses
If you’ve never used the WV Hope Scholarship funds before, here’s how you get started:
Step 1: Apply for the ESA program on the official website. You may need to provide additional documentation, including education plan details.
Step 2: Once your student receives approval for the Hope Scholarship Program, you can start shopping in the Marketplace. While the program does allow for reimbursements in very limited circumstances, it’s best to shop through the approved provider list so you know you won’t pay out of pocket. Courses from Mid-America Christian University (MACU), powered by TEL Education, qualify for direct payment through the system.
Step 3: Select the MACU powered by TEL courses for your student, making sure you don’t go over the amount of your available ESA funds. With courses in math, science, foreign language, and the arts, you have plenty of options that fit into your existing homeschool program.
Step 4: Finish the checkout process and await confirmation of your college course enrollment.
Once enrolled, your student has six months to complete the courses. The self-paced format gives them time to watch lectures and study on their own time, even between sports, volunteering, and employment. Upon completion, they’ll not only have earned college credits they can transfer to other colleges, but they will also have high-quality courses to add to the homeschool transcript.
Can Homeschoolers Enroll in the West Virginia ESA?
The current policy of the WV ESA program states that students must be enrolled in a public school for at least 45 days before they can participate in the program. This includes homeschooled students. If you’ve been homeschooling for some time and have no intention of enrolling your child in a public school, you won’t be eligible for the funds at this time.
Families with students in public school who want to pull them to homeschool, however, can apply right away to start receiving funds for their new homeschool program. The ESA program won’t allow full-time public school students to get the funds, but the money can be used for students to buy part-time services (school lunch, tutoring, or therapy) from a public school.
Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year (assuming the program has no changes), all students can take advantage of the ESA program and don’t have to fulfill the 45-day public school attendance requirement. This means homeschooled students who have never (or who don’t want to) attend public or private school can continue with their home education without barriers to the program.
“For homeschool families in West Virginia, the Mid-America Christian University powered by TEL Education Dual Credit Program offers the perfect blend of flexibility, affordability, and academic excellence. Our self-paced, online courses allow students to earn real college credit while learning on their own schedule. Whether preparing for college or simply exploring their interests, the MACU powered by TEL program provides a high-quality education that fits the unique needs of every homeschooler.” – Russ Pickett, TEL Education’s VP of Support Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Does West Virginia require testing to access ESA funds?
Once enrolled in the Hope Scholarship Program, students must show they progress academically each year. Parents can choose nationally normed standardized tests for subjects like reading, math, and language to show improvement from the previous year. They can also get an evaluation from a certified teacher, who reviews the student’s work to determine progress.
What colleges can I use my WV Hope Scholarship funds at?
West Virginia changes its approved vendor list regularly, but one high-quality option is Mid-America Christian University, powered by TEL Education. Located in Oklahoma City, OK, this four-year private liberal arts school offers courses in Chemistry, Spanish, Communications, and more.
How can I use West Virginia ESA funds to earn college credits?
Once students have graduated high school, they cannot use the Hope Scholarship ESA funds for any educational costs, including college. If they enroll in dual enrollment, like courses through MACU powered by TEL, before they graduate high school, they can use the ESA funds and earn college credits at a fraction of the cost paid by undergraduates.
