Mark Caserta: Hope Scholarship should not be political

As candidate for the House of Delegates, my role is to represent the people of Wayne County, West Virginia — all of them.

When it comes to the Hope Scholarship, this cannot be about politics. It must be about optimizing the educational experience for every student.

Let me say this clearly: I love our teachers.

For many families, the public school system is their only option — and it must thrive and be successful. Our public schools are foundational to our communities.

But a great education is not built on the backs of state-of-the-art buildings, school boards, or even legislators.

A great educational system is built on great teachers.

West Virginia’s Hope Scholarship represents something very important to me: parental choice.

When families choose to leave the traditional public school system, they are sending a message. They are not acting out of anger or ideology — they are acting out of concern for their child’s future. Parents know their children better than any system ever will. If they feel their child is not being trained, challenged, or prepared correctly, they deserve the opportunity to seek a better path.

I fully support parental choice.

At the same time, we must approach this issue with integrity and responsibility. Public schools serve the overwhelming majority of our children and remain the backbone of many communities across Wayne County and our state. We cannot ignore that reality.

The answer is not to pit one system against another.

With proper oversight, transparency, and accountability, the Hope Scholarship and our public schools can both improve. When families have options, systems must respond. Accountability ensures taxpayer dollars are used wisely. And when excellence becomes the expectation across the board, all students benefit.

My position is simple:
• Parents should have the freedom to choose.
• Public schools should be strengthened, not abandoned.
• Taxpayer dollars must be responsibly managed.
• The focus must always remain on the child — not the system.

This is not about politics. It is about preparing our children to succeed in life, in the workforce, and as responsible citizens of West Virginia.

I will always support policies that empower parents while insisting on accountability, measurable results, and a commitment to excellence for every child.

http://www.markcasertawv.com