West Virginia Board of Education Recognizes Exemplary Schools

Charleston, W.Va. – The West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) welcomed the 2025 class of West Virginia Exemplary Practice Schools. This program, created by the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) in 2024, recognizes schools that illustrate outstanding school practices that positively impact student outcomes. 

This year’s class of Exemplary Practice Schools has implemented a range of data-driven practices to impact student learning and well-being. Focusing on academics, attendance, family engagement, staff professional development and student accountability, each has designed and implemented successful initiatives that have led to positive changes at the schools. Increases in math and English language arts (ELA) proficiency on annual assessments as well as improvements in school culture, educator effectiveness and overall school climate are some of the improvements noted.

Delegations from each school attended the April WVBE meeting. 

Exemplary Practice Schools

Additional celebrations are planned at the schools. Exemplary Practice Schools, their practice alignments, program highlights and dates for their recognition programs include:

Mylan Park Elementary School – Monongalia County

• Standard 3 – High Expectations for Success
• Standard 6 – Frequent Monitoring of Student Progress
• Friday, April 11, 2025
• Increase of 16% in ELA proficiency among Grades 3-5 since 2018

Mylan Park Elementary School was also recognized as the 2025 Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Distinguished Title 1 School.

Mullens Elementary School – Wyoming County

• Standard 6 – Frequent Monitoring of Student Progress
• Tuesday, April 29, 2025
• Increase of 44% in math proficiency among Grades 3-4 since 2022

White Hall Elementary School – Marion County

• Standard 6 – Frequent Monitoring of Student Progress
• Monday, April 14, 2025
• Increase of 22% in math proficiency among Grades 3-5 since 2018

Month of the Military Child

The WVBE also recognized April as the Month of the Military Child. The WVDE, working with the Common Ground Partnership, is supporting activities across the state. These include: Military Signing Week ceremonies honoring students committing to the U.S. Armed Forces; Purple Up Day on April 11, 2025; and the awarding of Purple Star Awards to schools and districts for their support of military-connected students.

Military-connected children often experience anxiety during the deployments of family members. They may also have difficulty transitioning to new schools because of their family’s military service. Research shows these students may move six to nine times during their K-12 education careers. The WVDE and its Common Ground partners address the unique challenges by focusing greater attention on students’ needs. 

Between 2021 and 2024, 297 schools earned a Purple Star Award, and 16 counties earned the Purple Star District Award with 100% of their schools recognized as Purple Star Schools. To become a part of the fifth class of Purple Star Award recipients, schools and counties may submit applications through April 25, 2025.

To learn more about the Purple Star Award and how it contributes to meeting the unique needs of military-connected children, visit the Purple Star Award page.

County Support Update

Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt provided an update of ongoing support to counties that are under intervention status, state of emergency status and under consideration for further action.

Upshur, Mingo and Logan counties are currently under WVBE control, and Pocahontas and Berkeley counties are under a state of emergency. The WVDE continues to monitor each county with additional supports, regular visits and technical assistance to address deficiencies.

Boone and Nicholas counties have received notification letters for Special Circumstance Reviews. Areas of focus include central office and superintendent leadership, finances, county board effectiveness and county board oversight.

Roane County Schools (RCS) requested the WVDE advance a portion of its school funding formula because of cashflow issues. The WVDE Finance Office granted the request which helped the county cover payroll expenses in March. RCS has been placed on a financial watchlist, and the WVDE will monitor the county’s finances more closely.

Additional updates on the progress of these issues will be provided at future WVBE meetings.

View all Special Circumstance Reviews.

Federal Funding 

Superintendent Blatt also informed the WVBE of funding cuts and liquidation of federal funds. Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture notified states of cuts to the Local Food for Schools and Child Care (LFSCC) program. This eliminates $3.77 million for food from West Virginia farmers for child nutrition programs. Money for eligible childcare sponsors was also included in that funding.

Additionally, the WVDE, along with state education agencies across the country, was informed last month that the U.S. Department of Education (USED) was rescinding the liquidation extension of all remaining Covid funds. This directly impacted $1 million in funding to Lewis and Lincoln counties. The WVDE is working with the USED and the West Virginia Congressional Delegation on a request to reinstate access to those funds.

WVBE Policies on Comment

Policy 2520.5 West Virginia College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Wellness Education identify what students should know, understand, and be able to do in practicing skills and behaviors that apply to healthy lifestyles. These standards are being revised as part of the WVBE standards revision cycle. Additionally, revisions address recent legislative requirements specific to wellness education, substance use trends and youth risk behaviors. 

Policy 2520.9 West Virginia College- and Career-Readiness Standards for the Arts outline the essential knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary for students to become adept thinkers and performers ready for college and careers. These revisions are also in line with the WVBE’s content standards revision cycle and introduce a new Grade 6-8 instrumental music class for piano, guitar and x-ensemble. 

Policy 7211 Conflict Resolution Process for Citizens is being repealed and replaced to clarify timelines and responsibility for addressing and resolving complaints from the public. Formal complaint forms on the local, county and state levels must be revised to reflect timeline and terminology changes. 

These policies have been placed on public comment for 30 days and may be reviewed on the WVBE policies web page.

Items shared are available on the WVBE April 9, 2025, meeting calendar page.

The next regularly scheduled WVBE meeting is 10 a.m., Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in Building 6, Suite 600, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston, West Virginia.