CHARLESTON — Americans for Prosperity - West Virginia urged lawmakers to pass the Hope Scholarship bill that will give families, students and educators flexibility with education savings accounts.
AFP-WV State Director Jason Huffman said when educational freedom was on the ballot last year, West Virginians made it clear that they supported it.
“Educational freedom was on the ballot in 2020 and West Virginians made their voices abundantly clear by overwhelmingly supporting candidates who want to expand educational options for parents and students,” Huffman said. “Legislative leaders have heard this call and are working to reimagine our approach to K-12 education by creating Education Savings Accounts. This remains AFP-WV’s number one priority.
Huffman
The bill, House Bill 2013, actually passed the House by a 60-39 vote on February 18. But the next day, delegates opted to send the bill back to the House Finance Committee for more examination. An amendment that had been added could broaden the number of students eligible, basically making it available to any student in the state.
Originally, the education savings accounts could be used by students leaving public schools for private schools, religious schools or homeschooling. The cost was estimated at about $22 million. The amendment pushed that possible amount to more than $100 million. Students would get $4,624 from the program.
"We look forward to working with principled lawmakers, our activists and a very strong coalition comprised of students, parents, and organizations to bring this much-needed policy to fruition,” Huffman said.
The coalition, which includes the Cardinal Institute on West Virginia Policy, the Institute for Justice, EdChoice, ExcelinEd, Education Choice West Virginia, Association of Christian Schools International, and Catholic Education Partners sent a letter encouraging lawmakers to support the bill.
The groups believe that education savings accounts (ESAs) are the best way to maximize the opportunity for students across the state.
“The concept of an educational experience customized specifically for an individual child is no longer theoretical, as it can be given to each student through the benefits of an ESA program,” the letter states. “There is no doubt that parents not only know their own children far better than anyone else, but they also have the greatest incentive to make sure their child receives the type of education that will help him live up to his potential.”
The letter notes that ESAs are the latest evolution in the education policy arena and will provide parents the ability to manifest the reality of a customized education regardless of their ZIP code, socioeconomic status or income.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that each child learns differently and thus requires different learning structures, settings, environments, and curricula,” the letter states. “Even children in the same household have demonstrated vast differences in their aptitudes and attitudes toward virtual, hybrid, and in-person learning necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The coalition says ESAs will benefit students and their families, as well as save taxpayers’ money, and ensure an educational environment that is flexible, adaptable, and responsive to the needs of every single student.
State Sen. Patricia Rucker (R-Jefferson) and Del. Kayla Kessinger (R-Fayette) support the measure.
“I am one of those parents who had a child who has unique needs that were not able to be met by the public school system,” Rucker said during the news conference. “Unlike a lot of families, I was able to stay home and homeschool my children, which required a huge sacrifice on our family’s behalf.”
Rucker said ESAs would help families who don’t have that option.
Kessinger said COVID-19 has taught parents they deserve greater options for their children.
“Right now the majority of parents in West Virginia have one option and when their circumstances vary from family to family that one option doesn’t work best for every single person and family dynamic,” Kessinger said. “We can’t approach education with a cookie-cutter approach. We need to recognize it’s our job as representatives to represent the interests of every individual.”