The Board is vested with general supervision of West Virginia's 618 elementary and secondary schools.
Its twelve members include nine citizens appointed by the governor and three non-voting ex-officio members: the State Superintendent of Schools, the Chancellor of the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, and the Chancellor of Community and Technical Education.
[citation needed] For each K-12 school district there is a board of education with at least five members who are chosen by election in non-partisan races.
He typically serves as the executive officer of the county school district and is responsible for enforcing policies of the West Virginia Board of Education.
[citation needed] Each county school district falls within one of eight Regional Education Service Agencies (RESAs).
[citation needed] Article X of the 1863 state constitution provided for free and universal system of schools.