KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WCHS) — Some West Virginia parents and students who were hoping to hear state lawmakers discuss the Hope Scholarship Friday left the Capitol disappointed.
The scholarship was on Friday’s House Finance Committee agenda, but it was not discussed.
Lawmakers adjourned to the shock of a crowded room of parents and students, with many telling the delegates they had driven long distances to hear the discussion.
“It’s very frustrating and disappointing that they would table it and not even bring it up, when they knew that was why we were here,” Jeanette Longwell said.
Longwell and her family drove to Charleston from Clarksburg Friday morning. Her grandchildren are homeschooled.
“There’s nothing wrong with the Hope bill,” Longwell said. “There are rules and regulations that we must follow. We’re not buying computers every year, we’re not going on trips. We’re not spending this money on anything but our child’s education.”
State delegates have discussed making changes to the Hope Scholarship, like using West Virginia’s tax dollars for in-state schools, changing the payment program to quarterly instead of twice a year, and providing equal opportunities for both public and private schools.
Finance Chair Del. Vernon Criss, R-Wood, said he took the item off Friday’s agenda because he didn’t feel it was ready to be discussed.
“We’re still gathering information. We had it on a hearing process the other day. We put it on the agenda today we could move it along, so that people understand it will be on the agenda. As we get information that we are gathering from the House of Delegates, we will proceed at that point,” Criss said.
He said he believes it needs to be changed, or else it would eventually require taxes to stay funded.
“If you don’t start putting some bumpers in there, if you want the program to continue for their children’s lifetime, then you’re going to have to recognize that there has to be some bumpers in there,” Criss said.
Del. Margitta Mazzocchi, R-Logan, said she sees merit in some changes like a quarterly payment plan, but does not like everything in the bill.
“I believe in those moms and dads to take care of the children and educate them well. I believe in the program, and I’m really sad that it has to have some bumpers,” Mazzocchi said.
The Hope scholarship allows K-12 students to get financial aid for tuition, homeschool curriculum and other expenses. In the last school year, more than 10,500 students received the money — double the number of students the previous year.
Criss said Friday is it unclear when the Hope Scholarship will be taken up next.
“We think we can get some common ground with everybody in the House to be able to advance it to the Senate,” he said.