Tutoring through the Hope Scholarship is ordered through the portal's closed Marketplace, not through TheoPay. Families who mix up the two lose time, and families who pay a tutor out of pocket usually lose the money. Here is the payment path, step by step, with the rules from the Hope Portal Guide.

MARKETPLACE VS THEOPAY: WHERE DOES TUTORING GO?

The Hope portal has two stores with names that are easy to confuse. The Parent Handbook separates them:

"Purchases of educational services (other than tuition and fees) are made through the closed Marketplace in the online Hope Scholarship portal, while purchases of goods and commodities are made through the TheoPay open marketplace."

Tutoring is a service, so it goes through the Marketplace. The Portal Guide says the Marketplace "is primarily for service-based items (e.g., tutoring, music lessons)."

WHY CAN'T I SEE MY HOPE DASHBOARD?

If you were approved but the portal looks empty, that's expected. The Portal Guide states: "Account holders will NOT see the Account Dashboard for approved Hope Scholarship students until the account(s) are funded for the first time." The Marketplace tile appears after your child's first deposit.

HOW TO ORDER TUTORING IN THE HOPE MARKETPLACE

Contact the provider first. The Portal Guide recommends reaching out by phone or email before ordering, "so that they are prepared to process your order when you place it," and so you know they have room in their schedule.

Click the red Marketplace tile on your Account Dashboard.

Check the student's name. If you have more than one Hope student, confirm the correct child's name appears in the top-left corner before you order. Funds are tracked per child.

Search for the provider, select the service, and follow the prompts.

Order one unit at a time. This is the rule that catches families buying several sessions or months. The Portal Guide asks for several single-quantity orders instead of one order with a larger quantity. Three months of a monthly service means three separate orders. That way, if one piece can't be completed, only that piece has to be refunded to your child's account.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I ORDER?

The provider submits the invoice through its own provider portal. You don't upload receipts for a Marketplace service order. Payment goes from the Hope portal to the provider by ACH, so your own money never moves. If an order sits unprocessed, the Portal Guide says to contact the provider first, before the Hope program.

CAN I PAY A TUTOR MYSELF AND GET REIMBURSED?

No. The Handbook states: "Reimbursements will NOT be allowed except for expenses specifically authorized by the Hope Scholarship Board's Reimbursement Policy." The most common authorized reimbursement is for off-the-shelf curriculum, not services. If a tutor asks you to pay with your own card and file for reimbursement later, that money is unlikely to come back.

DO HOPE SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS ROLL OVER?

Yes. Unused funds carry into the next school year as long as your child stays eligible and you submit the Annual Continued Participation Confirmation by June 15. Miss that confirmation and the account closes, with remaining funds returned to the state. Families saving a balance have the most at stake, so put June 15 on the calendar now.

TestingMom.com is an approved Hope provider, listed on the public Provider Search as TestingMom.Com Inc. Families can contact TestingMom before placing a Marketplace order to confirm which listing fits their child's plan. That plan might be gifted test prep for the CogAT, NNAT, or OLSAT, or grade-level reading and math with a degreed tutor. Start at TestingMom.com/tutoring or browse the tutors at TestingMom.com/tutors.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do I pay for tutoring with the Hope Scholarship?
Through the closed Marketplace in the Hope portal. Click the red Marketplace tile, confirm the right child is selected, find the provider, and place single-quantity orders. The provider invoices the portal, and payment goes to them by ACH.

What is the difference between the Hope Marketplace and TheoPay?
The Marketplace is for services, such as tutoring and music lessons. TheoPay is for goods, such as books and supplies. Tutoring is never ordered through TheoPay.

Why is my Hope Scholarship dashboard blank after approval?
The dashboard, including the Marketplace tile, doesn't appear until your child's account is funded for the first time. Approved status alone doesn't mean funds have arrived.

Can I buy several tutoring sessions in one Hope Marketplace order?
The Portal Guide asks families to place several single-quantity orders instead. That reduces refunds if a service can't be completed.

Can I get reimbursed for tutoring I paid for myself?
Generally no. Hope reimbursements are allowed only for expenses the Board's Reimbursement Policy specifically authorizes, most commonly off-the-shelf curriculum. Tutoring should be ordered through the Marketplace.

Do Hope Scholarship funds expire at the end of the school year?
No. They roll over as long as your child stays eligible and you submit the continued participation confirmation by June 15. Missing it closes the account.

How do I find a tutoring provider on the Hope Scholarship?
Use the search box on the public Provider Search at hopescholarshipwv.gov instead of paging through the list. Schools and providers are mixed together across many pages. Searching "TestingMom" returns TestingMom.Com Inc.

Have you placed a Hope Marketplace order yet? What tripped you up, or what went smoothly? Share it here for families ordering for the first time. If you're lining up tutoring, TestingMom.com can walk you through your first Marketplace order.