An Overview of the Board and Department

The Constitution of West Virginia (Art. XII, §2) provides that the general supervision of the free schools is vested in the West Virginia Board of Education. The State Board consists of nine (9) members appointed by the Governor for terms of nine (9) years. The Board is the policy-making body for education in the state. The Constitution (Art. XII, §2) provides that the State Board select a State Superintendent of Schools to serve at its "will and pleasure." The State Superintendent, a constitutional officer, is the chief executive officer of the West Virginia Board of Education.

Staff are employed by the Department of Education upon recommendation of the State Superintendent of Schools and are state employees. Department staff work under the direction of the State Superintendent of Schools (W. Va. Code §18-3-9) for the general supervision of the free schools in the state and implementing the policies of the Board and other necessary tasks as determined by the State Superintendent or his/her designee. Lines of authority are established in the Department's organizational chart. The organizational chart shows the Department's administrative structure and provides an overview of its responsibilities and functions. The most current organizational chart is available on the Department=s website at: http://wvde.state.wv.us/org-chart.pdf.