About the WVCEA
The West Virginia Christian Education Association is an “association” of Christian schools that are located within the State of West Virginia. It is an outgrowth of the former Mountaineer Association of Christian Schools, which served a similar purpose at the time of the major growth of the Christian school movement in West Virginia, particularly during the 1970s when new schools were being opened at a rapid pace. The name was changed to West Virginia Christian Education Association in the mid-1980s.
West Virginia Christian Education Association (WVCEA) is a state affiliate of the American Association of Christian Schools (AACS). Member schools in the state association automatically become members of AACS.
Member schools operate under the authority of West Virginia Code 18-8-1 (Exemption K of the Compulsory Attendance laws) and West Virginia Code 18-18-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Provisions for operation are enumerated in these sections of the code.
Over the past twenty–six years, the number of schools holding membership in the West Virginia Christian Education Association has fluctuated from a low of twenty-two schools and a high of twenty-seven schools. As the Christian education movement has matured in this State, a few schools have been forced to close, largely for financial reasons resulting from a lack of demand from parents desiring a Christian education for their children.
The number of schools served by the Association has a combined enrollment of approximately 2,800 students. Thus, the Association enrollment is larger than all but ten of the fifty-five counties in the public school system of West Virginia.
The Association operates on the basis of a written constitution adopted by member schools. It does not claim administrative authority over any school or any ministry. It does, however, offer services to member schools and works through persuasion to improve the ministry of Christian education in this State.
Schools seeking membership in the Association must make formal application for membership through the Executive Director of the Association. The governance structure of the Association, particularly the Governing Board, makes final decisions on schools admitted to membership in the Association.
