MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — West Virginia State Treasurer Riley Moore has been a proponent of the Hope Scholarship program, an education savings account (ESA) program that allows families to use the state
portion of their education funding to tailor an individualized learning experience. The money can be used toward home school curriculum, private schooling, or tutoring. In some cases, it goes to micro schools.
The Hive Learning Academy opened in Martinsburg in 2023 as a micro school, promising students a personalized educational experience, tailor-made lesson plans, small class sizes, hands-on STEM activities and career and college counseling.
As many as 30 students enrolled there by the start of the 2023-2024 school year, according to an article in The 74, but by December, families were pulling out after realizing the micro school wasn’t delivering on its promise.
Addressing the investigation surrounding The Hive Learning Academy in Martinsburg, Moore says while his office oversees monetary aspect of the Hope Scholarship, it’s up to the West Virginia Department of Education to maintain academic standards.
He says the treasurer’s office is focused on making sure Hope Scholarship funds are used properly.
Treasurer Moore was a guest on Thursday’s Panhandle Live on the Panhandle News Network.