Courtesy of WVVA News. Image depicting language, dimensions and color of the sign schools are required to display.
ELIZABETH, W.Va. — As West Virginia schools hang signs that display the national motto, “In God We Trust,” a debate is unfolding over whether the law that requires the signs preserves American heritage or edges public education closer to religious endorsement.
Sen. Mike Azinger, R-Wood, introduced the bill behind the new law in February this year. It requires posters or framed copies — featuring both the U.S. and state flags — to be donated or privately funded.
SB 280 was previously introduced three times and failed three times – in 2011 in 2015 and finally, in 2024. The bill passed during the 2025 legislative session that started in January. Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed it into law on April 29. House Bill 2003, which restricts the use of personal electronic devices during class time, was also passed on the same day. Morrisey said both bills will ensure a brighter academic future for students in West Virginia.
Supporters of the law maintain that the motto is fundamentally part of America's heritage and is not a religious endorsement. Zalman Gurevitz, more commonly known as Rabbi Zalman, is the co-director of the Rohr Chabad Jewish Center in Morgantown and said he believes the bill to be beneficial.
“I think it was a good choice to choose the words “In God We Trust” because that’s very neutral. I think, you know, it would mean something different depending on who’s reading those words,” Zalman said. “Now imagine there was a sign that said ‘your mom loves you’. Every person who reads that, it’ll mean something else based on who their mom is. I’m not going to think about your mom, I'm going to think about mine.”
In terms of religion, Zalman the motto helps them recognize they are God’s creation and must place trust within him.
“Using the word God, showing students the idea that we are creations and we were created for a purpose and using the word trust is also very meaningful… trust means that you believe not only that God created you for a purpose but that you’re trusting him to give you the tools to fulfill that purpose,” he said.
Beyond determining the motto neutral, Zalman also said he believes it could potentially prevent anti semitism and benefit the Jewish community in general.
In 2023, West Virginia saw 15 reported antisemitic incidents. A sharp jump from just three the year before, though experts warn the true number is likely higher due to underreporting.
“I think a person that truly trusts in God can’t be an anti-semite. So, I think it would make the environment better for students,” Zalman said.
Although the motto is supposed to be viewed as a non religious message, Sen. Mike Azinger, R-Wood, has said on several occasions that the motive behind this bill was religious.
“I think even if you look at the data before the ’60s revolution where we took Bible and prayer out of schools, prior to that, our grades were better, our ACTs were better, our SATs were better,” Azing er said. “So I think we made a big mistake in the ’60s when we did that, and it would be great to reverse all that, but I think putting the motto with God’s name in it is a great step.”
Research shows no clear link between displaying religious mottos or the Bible in schools and improved student performance. While some studies suggest that religiously engaged adolescents may earn slightly better grades due to habits like discipline and cooperation, experts emphasize that factors such as family income, school quality and teacher support play a far greater role in academic success.
Although the law states that all schools are required to display this sign, there is no information on penalties or punishments if a school does not comply.
The ACLU of West Virginia says the law blurs the separation of church and state and risks making some students feel excluded.
Eli Baumwell, advocacy director for the ACLU of West Virginia has been involved with the organization for nearly 10 years. He was critical of this new law.
While acknowledging that courts have repeatedly ruled over the decades that the motto is "not an endorsement of religion that is prohibited by the First Amendment," Baumwell said he personally disagrees.
“It's always in the eye of the beholder what the intent is, and that's certainly something that's in law,” he said.
A number of courts have looked at this motto throughout the last several decades and have concluded that this is not an endorsement of religion that is prohibited by the 1st Amendment, Baumwell said.
“Personally, I wholeheartedly disagree and I know that many other people who've reached out to us feel the same way that this explicit acknowledgment of a divine being of God and pretty clear sort of implication that the God that is meant is the Christian God in particular does really blur the lines in terms of endorsement of religion,” he said.
Baumwell also said that this could potentially open up doors for laws in the future that include more religion within schools.
“We’ve already seen steps to bring religion into public schools, from religious drug prevention courses to Bible education classes that are nearly impossible to keep purely historical. These efforts reflect a broader campaign to erode the wall between church and state, with schools as the main venue,” he said.
Several people have expressed concerns or issues about the law online, with Baumwell confirming several people have also approached the ACLU about potential discrimination toward non-Christian or non-religious students as well as less focus being on education.
“When you look at sort of the history, both the long-term history when this was officially adopted as the motto, and where this new push, both in West Virginia and nationally to prominently display the motto is coming from, it is very, very clearly being driven by people with an explicit motive of trying to promote their religious views,” Baumwell said. “I do think it's disingenuous of the courts to ignore that. That's sort of the background of it, even though they've thus far sort of buried their heads in the sand around that.”
For now, the ACLU is keeping an eye on the bill as schools begin implementing the new signs, but there is currently no legal action that can be taken.
Jerenie Sands contributed to this report.