The short answer
A broad account with clear category coverage. The main catch is process: providers generally need to participate through the program platform, and reimbursements are more limited and case-specific.
Before you shop
How the program works
Hope Scholarship
Official site ↗- Type
- Education savings account
- Administrator
- West Virginia Hope Scholarship Board
- Platform
- Education Market Assistant (EMA)
- Award
- Annual award is tied to state aid and changes by year.
- Homeschool access
- Yes, for eligible students who meet the program's enrollment history and other rules.
- How purchases work
- Use participating providers and the EMA workflow; reimbursement may be reviewed case by case.
- Travel lodging, household furniture, watches, VR equipment, and many recreational admissions appear on the official nonqualifying list.
- Provider participation does not automatically approve every service.
By category
What the money can buy
“Conditional” means caps, credentials, documentation, spending order, or exact-offering approval matters.
Clearly allowed14
Private school, microschool & program tuitionAllowed
Private and parochial tuition, qualifying microschools, out-of-state public tuition, and certain provider fees are eligible.
Examples: private school tuition, microschool, out-of-state public school tuition.
Curriculum, textbooks & booksAllowed
Curriculum and supplemental materials across core subjects and the arts are eligible.
Examples: curriculum, textbooks, supplemental materials.
Online learning, software & subscriptionsAllowed
Nonpublic online or virtual programs and educational software are eligible.
Examples: virtual school, online course, educational software.
Tutoring, teaching & live classesAllowed
Tutoring, individual public-school classes, and certified-teacher annual reviews are eligible.
Examples: tutoring, individual class, annual homeschool review.
- Tutors cannot be immediate family members.
Therapies & special-needs servicesAllowed
Occupational, behavioral, physical, speech-language, and audiology therapies are eligible.
Examples: OT, PT, speech therapy, audiology.
Computers, technology & internetAllowed
Computers, printers, software, and assistive technology can qualify.
Examples: computer, printer, assistive technology.
Testing, assessment & exam preparationAllowed
Standardized, AP, college-admission, industry exams, and related preparation are eligible.
Examples: AP exam, college entrance test, exam prep.
College, dual enrollment & postsecondary studyAllowed
Dual-credit and college courses plus required materials are eligible.
Examples: dual-credit tuition, college course materials.
Career, trade & life-skills educationAllowed
Industry credential programs and vocational supplies and equipment are eligible.
Examples: industry credential, vocational equipment.
Art, music & creative learningAllowed
Electives and related supplies, including arts, are eligible.
Examples: art course, music instruction, elective supplies.
Camps, summer & after-school programsAllowed
Educational after-school and summer programs are explicitly eligible.
Examples: summer education program, after-school academic program.
TransportationAllowed
Fee-for-service transportation to education providers is eligible.
Examples: student transportation service.
School uniformsAllowed
Supplies, equipment & educational kitsAllowed
Basic school supplies, curriculum materials, elective supplies, and vocational equipment are eligible.
Examples: school supplies, science materials, vocational equipment.
Allowed with conditions1
Sports, physical education & movementConditional
Physical-education and extracurricular instruction may qualify as electives or approved services.
Examples: PE class, structured sports instruction.
- Confirm the provider and exact offering in EMA.
Not clear in public guidance2
Planning, portfolios & recordkeepingNeeds confirmation
The official sources reviewed do not clearly authorize this category. Ask the program before buying.
- Do not treat a plausible educational use as approval.
Field trips, museums & educational membershipsNeeds confirmation
The official sources reviewed do not clearly authorize this category. Ask the program before buying.
- Do not treat a plausible educational use as approval.
At checkout
Rules worth remembering
- 01
Providers generally participate through EMA.
- 02
Reimbursement is not a universal fallback and may be handled case by case.
- 03
The official nonqualifying-expense list should be checked for general-purpose or recreational purchases.
Product evidence
Products connected to West Virginia
These are provider-level signals, not blanket permission for every package or SKU.
Claims made by vendors
Useful leads, but not official state confirmation.
Evidence trail
Official sources used
All rules on this page were checked September 1, 2026.