State politicians spar over Hope Scholarship

By RealWV Staff,

CHARLESTON, WV — Officials from the Democratic and Republican parties in West Virginia traded jabs this week over the Hope Scholarship’s effects on public schools. The comments came in response to a lawsuit filed by public school parents in Mingo County.

“It is unfortunate that the Hope Scholarship is still being used as a political football, distracting from the urgent issues facing our public schools,” said State Treasurer Larry Pack, a Republican. “While parents in Mingo County are right to demand solutions for public education, their anger is misdirected. We will aggressively oppose any attempt to reverse the universal expansion approved by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. As Chairman of the Hope Scholarship Board, I am committed to ensuring every student in the program receives the unique educational opportunities they deserve.”

“Larry Pack says the Mingo County parents’ anger is misdirected. I think their anger is directed exactly where it belongs,” said Johnny Nick Hager, Chair of the Mingo County Democratic Executive Committee.

“These parents are watching their community school face closure while politicians in Charleston pour taxpayer money into a voucher scheme promoted by an out-of-state organization whose principal goal is to dismantle public education.”

“Our public schools are the great equalizer. They are supposed to give every child in West Virginia — whether they’re born into wealth or born into poverty — a fair chance to learn, succeed, and pull themselves up by their own bootstraps,” said West Virginia Democratic Party Chair Mike Pushkin. “But Republicans are dismantling that promise piece by piece. They would rather spend taxpayer dollars subsidizing a voucher scheme than adequately fund the public schools that serve every child who walks through their doors. You have to ask why. I believe it’s because they prioritize an economy built on cheap labor over a West Virginia built on educated minds. Democrats believe our greatest investment is in our children — because an educated child grows into an empowered adult, and empowered people build stronger communities and a stronger West Virginia.”

Pack agreed that public schools require attention. “We encourage the Legislature to act quickly and confront the urgent challenges in our public schools. Our schools are demanding help, and the time for action is long overdue. We must cut burdensome regulations so teachers can focus on teaching. But let’s be clear: improving public schools does not require sacrificing educational freedom. We can—and must—strengthen public education and uphold school choice at the same time. We are ready to partner with policymakers to deliver real change.”

For more information about the Hope Scholarship, visit www.HopeScholarshipWV.gov.