This bill amends the Hope Scholarship Program in West Virginia by redefining certain terms to limit the use of state funding for out-of-state private schools and educational service providers. Specifically, it introduces the requirement that both "education service providers" and "participating schools" must be located in West Virginia to be eligible for payments from Hope Scholarship accounts. This change aims to ensure that state funds are utilized exclusively for in-state educational resources.

Additionally, the bill modifies the definition of "eligible recipient" to clarify the residency and enrollment requirements for children applying for the Hope Scholarship. It stipulates that eligible recipients must be residents of West Virginia and enrolled in a public school program within the state for a specified duration. The bill also includes a provision that allows for flexibility in eligibility if the participation rate in the Hope Scholarship Program falls below a certain threshold, ensuring that more children can access the scholarship under specific conditions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-31-2