West Virginia
The West Virginia Department of Education has not embraced CRT as of November 2021. However, some elements of culturally responsive teaching, social-emotional learning, teaching through an equity lens, and other similar concepts have started seeping into the program. The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission has begun awarding equity grants, applying diversity and inclusiveness in leadership models, and the like. Individual colleges have begun to mandate CRT trainings, reimagine policing, etc. The West Virginia legislature became one of the first in the nation to file a bill banning CRT in public instruction; however, it has failed to advance.
K-12 Education
In March 2021, Republicans in the West Virginia House introduced a comprehensive CRT ban bill. HB 2595 would ban “race or sex stereotyping or scapegoating in the workforce, and not to allow grant funds to be used for these purposes.” In addition, “state contractors will not be permitted to inculcate such views in their employees.” The bill would bar the State Board of Education from promoting “race or sex stereotyping or scapegoating in schools” and disallows schools from using a curriculum that promotes division.
Likewise, the bill would prohibit “state funding for state agencies who promote race or sex stereotyping or scapegoating” upon passage. (source: legalinsurrection.com) The house bill has sat in committee since its introduction. (wvlegislature.gov)
The state Board of Education hosted a podcast in which it advanced culturally responsive teaching. (source: wvde.us)
The Board of Education passed a resolution dedicating itself to culturally responsive teaching in February 2021. (source: wvde.us)
The Board of Education has an Establishing Equity toolkit listed as a resource on its website, designed by an outside consultant. (source: wvde.us)
Higher Education
The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and Technical College System boast of their equity grants, awarded to various colleges in the state for things such as Diversity and Inclusion Instructional Change Agents and Racial Bias Training, Creating and Training a College-wide Diversity Committee, Developing Effective Allyship, Anti-racist and Gender-inclusive Safe Zone Training, and others. (source: wvhepc.edu)
The Higher Education Policy Commission has conducted an extensive series of seminars on equity. (source: wvhepc.edu)