CHARLESTON – State Treasurer Larry Pack released information this week about why a private school in Beverly has been disqualified from participating in the Hope Scholarship Program.

The Hope Scholarship Board, of which Pack is the chairman, announced last week that Tygart Valley Christian Academy had been “permanently disqualified” from participating in the scholarship program due to “financial misconduct.”

This week, Pack was quoted by MetroNews as saying that Tygart Valley Christian Academy had failed to repay funds owed back to the Hope Scholarship Program “despited repeated attempts” by state officials have the funds repaid.

Pack was also quoted as saying the Beverly school violated the Education Service Provider agreement by “accessing a student’s Hope Scholarship account without being the account holder.”

Pack said Tygart Valley Christian Academy has 45 days to appeal the decision.

Tygart Valley Christian Academy was founded in 1994 by Dr. Curlie E. Ray, according to the school’s information page on privateschoolreview.com.

The school is located on the campus of Tygart Valley Ministries Beverly Community Church in Beverly. 

Ray was charged in June with a felony count of fraudulent schemes. He is being held in the Tygart Valley Regional Jail on a $50,000 cash bond.

Ray currently serves as the senior pastor of Tygart Valley Ministries, Beverly Community Church.

Also last week, three Laurel Academy locations – one in Parsons and the others in Terra Alta and Newburg – were placed on probation due to “violations of program rules.”

This week, Pack said the issues involved “incorrect processing of student withdrawals and difficulty resolving repayment issues to the Hope Scholarship Program.”

The schools will be required to come into compliance with all program requirements during the probationary period.

This week, another school was permanently disqualified from the program due to “serious allegations.”.A Broken Spur Riding Academy is located in Summers County and serves adults and children with disabilities and special needs.

Pack said a parent reported a “serious violation” of the Hope Scholarship Act.

A Broken Spur Riding Academy has 45 days to appeal the decision.

For more information on the Hope Scholarship, visit www.HopeScholarshipWV.gov.