West Virginia Supreme Court hears case over Board of Education independence

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals is reviewing a legal challenge regarding the independence of the state Board of Education. The dispute stems from an April 2025 law passed by the West Virginia Legislature that seeks to grant lawmakers authority over the board's regulations.

Under the state constitution, the school board operates as an independent body with broad powers to determine educational policies, including curriculum. While most state agencies must submit proposed rules to the Legislature for review, the school board has been an exception since a 1958 constitutional amendment.

This legislative attempt follows two previous instances where voters rejected constitutional amendments intended to grant the Legislature control over the board. The school board filed suit in October 2025 to protect its regulatory autonomy.