Officials take action against 2 local private schools with alleged Hope Scholarship misconduct

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va (WDTV) - The Hope Scholarship Board has taken disciplinary action against two private schools amid investigations into program violations and alleged misconduct, State Treasurer Larry Pack announced.

According to the Treasurer’s Office, the board permanently disqualified Tygart Valley Christian Academy from participation in the Hope Scholarship Program, citing financial misconduct.

The board also placed Laurel Academy on probation for violations of program rules. The school must come into compliance with all requirements during the probationary period, and the Treasurer’s Office said it is continuing to gather evidence and additional information as the investigation continues.

The Laurel Academy Facebook page posted an update reading, “Parents, you may have noticed an email from the HOPE Scholarship in your inbox. Don’t panic! If you have any questions about what it means or need help understanding it, please don’t hesitate to reach out to any of us. We’re more than happy to answer your questions.”

“We want to make clear that while there is very little fraud and misconduct in the Hope Scholarship Program, we want to take swift and decisive action when our investigations warrant it,” Pack said.

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