WV public school advocacy group launches; pans alleged claims of school choice groups

Kimberly Miller, superintendent of Ohio County Schools, said of the campaign, "those six words are more than just a slogan. They're a celebration of our students, they are a thank you to our educators, they are a recognition of our service personnel, they are an invitation for every West Virginian to tell the story of why public education matters."

According to its website, WVASA supports "current and aspiring public school administrators in West Virginia at the state and county levels." They also engage in "public education advocacy, along with professional networking, and professional development opportunities throughout the state."

Public education vs. school choice

At Tuesday's news conference, WVASA officials emphasized support for public education and public schools. They said public schools in the Mountain State have been ignored in favor of school choice alternatives, which Gov. Patrick Morrisey and the Republican supermajority in the state legislature have supported. 

Will Hosaflook, WVASA president and superintendent of Jackson County Schools, expressed concern that lawmakers favored school choice over public education. 

"Every single day, we see consistent state exposure and celebration for alternative programs like the Hope Scholarship from some elected officials, regardless of our public schools ranking top ten in the nation last year in growth for English language, arts and math," Hosaflook said. "But there's a glaring silence when it comes to celebrating the bedrock of our communities, our public schools."

"Where's the accountability? School choice is framed as giving parents power, but where is the legitimate proof of improvement from these unmonitored alternatives?" Hosaflook added.

According to the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board, charter schools are permitted to act with academic standards of their choosing as long as they adhere to the terms negotiated in their charter. Charter schools take the same assessments as non-charter public schools. 

The Hope Scholarship was created in 2021 by then-state treasurer Riley Moore. State-allocated funds are given to eligible students for "use on a range of state-approved educational items," according to The Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy. Originally, it was only available to children who left public school to attend private school or to be homeschooled. However, it will be available to all West Virginia students in the coming school year. 

In the 2026 legislative session, lawmakers approved $276Ìý³¾¾±±ô±ô¾±´Ç²Ô in taxpayer funds for the Hope Scholarship for the 2026-27 school year.

Claims of public education misinformation

WVASA officials said many parents are opting for school choice alternatives using the Hope Scholarship instead of public school due to misinformation regarding claims that teachers are politicizing their classrooms.

"People will say some teachers are pushing their political views or their religious views. I think that's another narrative — a false narrative — that once people hear it, they're like 'Oh, well that could be happening.'" said Paula Potter, superintendent of Kanawha County Schools. 

Potter clarified that if teachers do cross that line, the schools will stop it.

"I don't see it happening. Am I naive enough to say it won't? No," she said. Potter encouraged parents to report anything if it does make them or their children uncomfortable. "If you think something isn't right in your classroom, call us, call any of the superintendents, call any of the principals. We will look into that," she said.

According to West Virginia Treasurer Larry Pack, his office has not heard from parents regarding misinformation, and their office does not push out misinformation. In an email to the Gazette-Mail, Pack said, "we think every student needs to excel regardless of the educational path they choose to pursue."

The state Treasurer's office administers the Hope Scholarship.

Potter and WVASA said they don't oppose school choice alternatives.

"We aren't doing this to say we're against anybody or against any choice," Potter said. "We're simply standing up for what we believe in, and we want to continue to showcase what we believe in."

A push for changes to fair funding formula

Last week, House Democrats asked Morrisey for a special legislative session regarding public schools' fair funding legislation. On Tuesday afternoon, Morrisey's office issued a statement saying that no decision had been made, but that they have been in discussions with legislators, and the governor plans to continue evaluating the situation.

At the WVASA news conference, the group's leaders said they are working on a focused plan to lobby lawmakers.

"Every county is taking a little bit of a different approach in working with their local delegates, and we are going to try to have a unified, organized approach this year to continue our message of how important public ed is," Potter said.

West Virginia ranks near the bottom in education, at 47 out of all 50 states in the U.S. according to U.S. News and World Report. Within the past academic year, 14 public schools closed, and up to 20 more are at risk of closing.

'We are going to cheer on public schools'

Pack said that he wants West Virginia to have the best public and alternative education.

"We are going to cheer on public schools and do everything we can to ensure public schools are moving forward. This should not be a matter of public schools versus private schools. We need to make sure our students are receiving the education that works best for their own individual needs," he said in an email to the Gazette-Mail.

Morrisey's office also responded in an email, saying, "Governor Morrisey believes every West Virginia student deserves access to a high-quality education and supports our public schools, our teachers, and the families they serve. Improving public school performance and expanding educational choice are not competing ideas. They are separate issues. Parents should have the freedom to choose the educational setting that best meets their child's individual needs, whether that is a public school, a public charter school, a private school, or homeschooling."