West Virginia lawmakers battle in court over the Board of Education’s independence

In April 2025, the West Virginia Legislature enacted a law granting itself authority over state Board of Education regulations, sparking a legal battle regarding the board's independence. The legislation seeks to shift oversight powers from the education board to the state's elected lawmakers.

This move follows two previous instances where West Virginia voters rejected constitutional amendment proposals that would have granted the Legislature similar control over education policy. The current court proceedings center on whether the new law oversteps the established separation of powers between the legislative branch and the state board.