West Virginia Public School Waste

The Cardinal Institute
January 23, 2026

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West Virginia education spending has INCREASED by nearly 1 billion dollars since 2017, with taxpayers’ money.

During that same time? Enrollment DROPPED by over 30,000 students.

Over the past several years, the West Virginia Board of Education has launched a series of Special Circumstance Reviews, culminating in nine county-level interventions and state takeovers. These actions, grounded in West Virginia Code §18-2E5 and WVBE Policy 2322, reveal a pattern of persistent financial mismanagement, administrative dysfunction, failure to provide safe and supportive learning environments, and violations of state and federal law across West Virginia’s public schools. The following is an analysis of findings from each review, establishing that these cases represent more than isolated failures—they are a signal of systemic noncompliance without consequence, demanding urgent policy reform.

The nine Special Circumstance Reviews conducted in West Virginia between 2023 and 2025 reveal a troubling pattern of systemic failure that threaten students’ educational rights, the integrity of public funds, and the stability of the state’s public education system. Collectively, these cases underscore the need for strengthened state-level oversight mechanisms, clear statutory safeguards, and enhanced transparency to prevent future governance breakdowns.

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And all the while… This Waste of Taxpayers Money Continues Unchecked

Wood County Schools audit addresses allegations against former principals
PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Board of Education released the results of a 153-page comprehensive forensic audit last week that states some allegations made against former high school principals were “founded,” or able to be proven — including the misuse of school funds, grade alterations for student athletes and graduating students lacking the required credit hours.

Many hard questions must be asked and answered by elected OFFICIALS and LEADERS