West Virginia Gov. Justice signs school vouchers bill into law

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has signed a bill that provides funds for students who leave public schools for private education.

Justice informed the state House of Delegates in a letter Saturday that he had signed the measure.

House Bill 2013, the Hope Scholarship bill, also known as school vouchers, establishes a publicly funded education savings accounts for public school students interested in switching to private or home school.

The program will give students a voucher equal to about $4,600 a year to start, but that could fluctuate depending on the state School Aid Formula.

The vouchers could be used for things like tuition, tutoring, taking standardized exams or for after school programs.

During debate about the bill in the Legislature, some senators expressed concern, citing the cost, the drain on public schools and saying tax dollars should not go to schools that discriminate against students based on factors such as race, gender or disability.

According to the state Legislature’s website, a fiscal note provided by the West Virginia Department of Education estimates the initial rollout of the program is expected to cost the state about $23 million in its first year.