The projected budget for the Hope Scholarship, which provides funding for private schooling, homeschooling or other education services, has dropped by $70 million for the 2026-27 school year. The maximum Hope Scholarship budget for the next school year dropped from an estimated $315-million to $244-million due to a decrease in eligible students, according to West Virginia State Treasurer Larry Pack. WCHS TV said the population of newly eligible students for the 2026-2027 school year dropped from around 54,000 to roughly 43,000. The deadline to apply for 75% of this year’s Hope Scholarship funding amount is Sept. 15. The scholarship is open to all school-age children who reside in the Mountain State beginning in 2026-27.