West Virginia Board of Education President Calls for Overhaul of Public Education

Hardesty says the system is 'stressed and compromised' due to 'inconsistencies and costs' from past decisions.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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West Virginia Board of Education President L. Paul Hardesty released a statement addressing issues in the state's public education system. Hardesty said the system is 'stressed and compromised' due to 'inconsistencies and costs' from bad decisions made over decades, and that more than 234,000 students depend on the public education system. He called for all parties to come together to overhaul the system, stating that 'at the end of the day, we all want to do what is best for our state and for our children'.

Why it matters

West Virginia's public education system has faced longstanding challenges, and Hardesty's call for an overhaul reflects the urgency to address these issues and ensure students receive a quality education. As the state grapples with education reform, this statement from the Board of Education president underscores the need for collaborative solutions.

The details

In his statement, Hardesty said the public education system is 'stressed and compromised' due to 'inconsistencies and costs' from bad decisions made over decades. He emphasized that the problems were not created by the current governor, legislature, or Board of Education, but rather represent the culmination of many contributing factors that have built up over time. Hardesty called for all parties to come together to work on overhauling the system, stating that everyone wants to do what is best for the state and its students.

  • Hardesty released the statement on Monday, February 17, 2026.

The players

L. Paul Hardesty

The president of the West Virginia Board of Education.

West Virginia public education system

The state's public education system that serves more than 234,000 students.

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What they’re saying

“More than 234,000 students depend on the West Virginia public education system to provide them with a thorough and efficient system of free schools. The bottom line is this: there are components of the system that are broken. This Governor did not break it. This Legislature did not break it. This Board of Education did not break it. New school choice models did not break it. We are witnessing the culmination of many contributing factors that have been a long time in the making.”

— L. Paul Hardesty, President, West Virginia Board of Education (wowktv.com)

“At the end of the day, we all want to do what is best for our state and for our children.”

— L. Paul Hardesty, President, West Virginia Board of Education (wowktv.com)

What’s next

The West Virginia Board of Education and other stakeholders are expected to begin discussions on potential reforms and solutions to address the issues in the state's public education system.

The takeaway

Hardesty's call for an overhaul of West Virginia's public education system underscores the longstanding challenges facing the state's schools. By acknowledging the systemic nature of the problems and the need for collaborative solutions, this statement sets the stage for a critical debate on the future of education in West Virginia.