First reading: board reviews policy 23‑71 on HOPE scholarship and nonpublic student participation

Miss Embry presented a draft of policy 23‑71, which the administration described as an updated policy to address HOPE scholarship students and other nonpublic education students (homeschool, micro‑school, learning pods). She said the revised policy expands the scope from the prior version that focused mainly on the HOPE scholarship to include other nonpublic arrangements and outlines how the county will charge tuition and extracurricular fees. "So the policy was focused specifically on Hope scholarship. Now with these revisions, it now includes Hope scholarship and other non public, education students," Embry told the board.

Embry explained the policy differentiates HOPE scholarship students because the county does not receive FTE funding for them, and therefore the county must charge a proportion of the HOPE allotment for certain enrollments and extracurricular participation. She said the policy uses a fraction (0.143) of the annual allotment to determine tuition per unit and that extracurricular fees are structured in three tiers so costs reflect activity expense rather than a flat rate. Board members asked whether athletics fees are set by the county or constrained by state code; Embry responded the county has discretion and that she worked with the athletic director to set reasonable tiered rates.

The policy will undergo the board’s three‑reading process and remain open for public comment; Embry invited anyone with concerns to contact Hampshire County Schools. Board members also raised questions about assessment requirements for HOPE scholarship recipients and how testing participation is handled; Embry said the state treasurer’s office and state guidance determine funding and assessment consequences for scholarship recipients.