West Virginia’s public school enrollment has been declining for over 20 years—long before the Hope Scholarship existed. Despite declining enrollment, districts employ more staff than ever and receive funding based on an outdated headcount, with $1.2 billion in COVID relief masking inefficiencies. The Hope Scholarship serves less than 2% of students, yet leaders blame school choice for budget shortfalls caused by bureaucratic waste and over-regulation. The solution: reform that funds students, not systems.
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