Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-273 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 14 / Article 2 / Section 22.1-273
Vision and hearing of student to be tested; exceptions
Status: in_force

A. As used in this section:

"Comprehensive vision program" means a program that incorporates the following quality-controlled requirements:

1. Program staff who perform vision screenings and administer and maintain student paperwork and data related to such screenings are credentialed pursuant to a credentialing process that includes training and certification on vision screening equipment; documentation of negative tuberculosis risk assessment or screening, as required by local school boards; and documentation from the employing qualified nonprofit vision health organization certifying completion of a search of the registry of founded complaints of child abuse and neglect maintained by the Department of Social Services pursuant to § 63.2-1515 and a search of the Central Criminal Records Exchange through the Federal Bureau of Investigation based on fingerprints and personal descriptive information for the purpose of obtaining criminal history record information;

2. The vision screening program is based on best practices as determined by scientific research and program performance and is evaluated by an advisory council consisting of (i) representatives of the ophthalmology and optometry fields and (ii) members from elementary and secondary education and school health to support the implementation of best practices and administrative policies to ensure compliance with Department of Education requirements;

3. Vision screening results are communicated to parents in a relevant and informative format that is designed to increase parental awareness and encourage parental action;

4. Parents receive information on the difference between vision screenings and eye examinations, the importance of taking action on a referral for an eye examination by taking their child to a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist, the identification of potential vision problems beyond the results or scope of the vision screening, and the importance of vision to a child's education and success;

5. Parents are provided with information regarding follow-up resources related to eye examinations and eyeglasses; and

6. Vision screening results are managed for the purposes of reporting, outcome measurement, and program analysis.

"Qualified nonprofit vision health organization" means a nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under § 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code, has at least 10 years of direct experience in the delivery of vision and vision education services, and does not directly or indirectly derive profit from the sale of vision equipment, insurance, medication, merchandise, or vision-related products.

B. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall prepare or cause to be prepared, with the advice and approval of the State Health Commissioner, suitable appliances for testing the hearing of the students in the public schools and necessary instructions for the use thereof. The Department of Education shall furnish the same free of expense to all schools in a school division upon request of the school board of such division accompanied by a resolution of the school board directing the use of such appliances in the schools of the school division.

C. Within the time periods and at the grades provided in regulations promulgated by the Board, the principal of each such school shall cause the hearing of the relevant students in the school to be tested, unless:

1. Any such student is admitted for the first time to a public elementary school and has been so tested as part of the comprehensive physical examination required by § 22.1-270 ;

2. The parents or guardians of any such student object on religious grounds and the student shows no obvious evidence of any defect or disease of the ears; or

3. Any such student has an Individualized Education Program or a Section 504 Plan that documents a defect of hearing or a disease of the ears and the principal determines that such a test would not identify any previously unknown defect of hearing or a disease of the ears.

D. The principal shall keep a record of examinations conducted pursuant to subsection C in accordance with instructions furnished.

E. Whenever a student is found to have any defect of hearing or a disease of the ears, the principal shall forthwith notify the parent or guardian, in writing, of such defect or disease. Copies of the report shall be preserved for the use of the Superintendent of Public Instruction as he may require.

F. The principal of each public elementary school shall cause the vision of students enrolled in kindergarten and students enrolled in grade two or grade three to be tested, unless:

1. Any such student is admitted for the first time to a public elementary school and produces a written record of a comprehensive eye examination performed within the preceding 24 months;

2. The parents or guardians of such student object on religious grounds and the student shows no obvious evidence of any defect or disease of the eyes; or

3. Any such student has an Individualized Education Program or a Section 504 Plan that documents a defect of vision or a disease of the eyes and the principal determines that such a test would not identify any previously unknown defect of vision or a disease of the eyes.

Any such screening may be conducted by a qualified nonprofit vision health organization that uses a digital photoscreening method pursuant to a comprehensive vision program or other methods that comply with Department of Education requirements. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, such screenings may be conducted at any time during the school year; however, the scheduling of such screenings shall be completed no later than the sixtieth administrative working day of the school year. The principal shall keep a record of such screenings in accordance with instructions furnished. Whenever a student does not receive a passing result on such screening and requires referral to an optometrist or ophthalmologist for a comprehensive eye examination, the principal shall cause the parent or guardian to be notified in writing. Copies of the report shall be preserved for the use of the Superintendent of Public Instruction as he may require.

G. The principal of each public middle school and high school shall cause the vision of students enrolled in grade seven and grade 10 to be tested, unless:

1. Any such student produces a written record of a comprehensive eye examination performed within the preceding 24 months;

2. The parents or guardians of any such student object on religious grounds and the student shows no obvious evidence of any defect or disease of the eyes; or

3. Any such student has an Individualized Education Program or a Section 504 Plan that documents a defect of vision or a disease of the eyes and the principal determines that such a test would not identify any previously unknown defect of vision or a disease of the eyes.

Any such screening may be conducted by a qualified nonprofit vision health organization that uses a digital photoscreening method pursuant to a comprehensive vision program or other methods that comply with Department of Education requirements. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, such screenings may be conducted at any time during the school year; however, the scheduling of such screenings shall be completed no later than the sixtieth administrative working day of the school year. The principal shall keep a record of such screenings in accordance with instructions furnished. Whenever a student does not receive a passing result on such screening and requires referral to an optometrist or ophthalmologist for a comprehensive eye examination, the principal shall cause the parent or guardian to be notified in writing. Copies of the report shall be preserved for the use of the Superintendent of Public Instruction as he may require.

H. School boards may enter into contracts with qualified nonprofit vision health organizations for the purpose of conducting screenings pursuant to subsections F and G.

Code 1950, § 22-248; 1980, c. 559; 1981, c. 142; 1995, c. 246 ; 2017, cc. 312 , 765 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-315 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 15 / Article 4 / Section 22.1-315
Grounds and procedure for suspension
Status: in_force

A. A teacher or other public school employee, whether full-time or part-time, permanent, or temporary, may be suspended for good and just cause when the safety or welfare of the school division or the students therein is threatened or when the teacher or school employee has been charged by summons, warrant, indictment, or information with the commission of a felony; a misdemeanor involving (i) sexual assault as established in Article 7 (§ 18.2-61 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2, (ii) obscenity and related offenses as established in Article 5 (§ 18.2-372 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2, (iii) drugs as established in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2, (iv) moral turpitude, or (v) the physical or sexual abuse or neglect of a child; or an equivalent offense in another state. Except when a teacher or school employee is suspended because of being charged by summons, warrant, indictment, or information with the commission of one of the above-listed criminal offenses, a division superintendent or appropriate central office designee shall not suspend a teacher or school employee for longer than 60 days and shall not suspend a teacher or school employee unless such teacher or school employee is advised in writing of the reason for the suspension and afforded an opportunity for a hearing before the school board in accordance with §§ 22.1-311 and 22.1-313 , if applicable. Any teacher or other school employee so suspended shall continue to receive his then applicable salary unless and until the school board, after a hearing, determines otherwise. No teacher or school employee shall be suspended solely on the basis of his refusal to submit to a polygraph examination requested by the school board.

B. Any school employee suspended because of being charged by summons, warrant, information, or indictment with one of the offenses listed in subsection A may be suspended with or without pay. In the event any school employee is suspended without pay, an amount equal to his salary while on suspended status shall be placed in an interest-bearing demand escrow account. Upon being found not guilty of one of the offenses listed in subsection A or upon the dismissal or nolle prosequi of the charge, such school employee shall be reinstated with all unpaid salary and accrued interest from the escrow account, less any earnings received by the school employee during the period of suspension, but in no event shall such payment exceed one year's salary.

C. In the event any school employee is found guilty by an appropriate court of one of the offenses listed in subsection A and, after all available appeals have been exhausted and such conviction is upheld, all funds in the escrow account shall be repaid to the school board.

D. No school employee shall have his insurance benefits suspended or terminated because of such suspension in accordance with this section.

E. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of a school board to dismiss or place on probation a teacher or school employee pursuant to Article 3 (§ 22.1-306 et seq.).

F. For the purposes of this section, the placing of a school employee on probation pursuant to the terms and conditions of § 18.2-251 shall be deemed a finding of guilt.

G. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a school board or division superintendent or the division superintendent's designee from placing an employee on administrative leave with pay.

Code 1950, §§ 22-72, 22-97, 22-217.8:1; 1954, cc. 289, 291; 1956, Ex. Sess., c. 60; 1959, Ex. Sess., c. 79, § 1; 1966, c. 691; 1968, c. 501; 1970, c. 71; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 161; 1972, c. 511; 1975, cc. 308, 328; 1978, c. 430; 1979, c. 298; 1980, c. 559; 1987, c. 328; 1993, c. 498; 1996, c. 960 ; 1997, c. 721 ; 2001, cc. 430 , 450 ; 2026, c. 233 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-292.1 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 15 / Article 1 / Section 22.1-292.1
Violations related to secure mandatory tests
Status: in_force

A. The Board of Education may (i) issue written reprimand to or (ii) suspend or revoke the administrative or teaching license of any holder of a Board-issued administrative or teaching license who knowingly and willfully commits any of the following acts related to secure mandatory tests administered to students as required by this title or by the Board of Education:

1. Giving unauthorized access to secure test questions;

2. Copying or reproducing all or any portion of any secure test booklet;

3. Divulging the contents of any portion of a secure test;

4. Coaching or assisting examinees during testing or altering test materials or examinees' responses in any way;

5. Making available any answer keys;

6. Failing to follow test security procedures established by the Department of Education;

7. Providing a false certification on any test security form required by the Department of Education;

8. Retaining a copy of secure test questions;

9. Excluding students from testing who are required to be assessed; and

10. Participating in, directing, aiding, assisting in, or encouraging any of the acts prohibited by this section.

For the purposes of this section, "secure test" means an item, question, or test that has not been made publicly available by the Department of Education.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit educational personnel from providing input to administrators or other authorized personnel, including school board members and members of the General Assembly, except when done in a manner that violates test integrity or security regarding the accuracy, clarity, or propriety of test items or test administration procedures.

B. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit or restrict the reasonable and necessary actions of the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, or the Department of Education in test development or selection, test form construction, standard setting, test scoring and reporting, or any other related activities which, in the judgment of the Superintendent of Public Instruction or the Board of Education, are necessary and appropriate.

C. Any written reprimand, suspension, or revocation imposed for the acts enumerated in this section shall be rendered pursuant to Board regulations promulgated pursuant to the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) and § 22.1-298.1 , governing the licensure of teachers.

2000, cc. 634 , 659 ; 2004, cc. 939 , 955 ; 2006, cc. 27 , 349 ; 2011, c. 248 ; 2019, c. 587 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-16.7 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 2 / Section 22.1-16.7
Regulations regarding endorsement to teach military science
Status: in_force

The State Board of Education shall amend its regulations to require that persons seeking a technical professional license with an endorsement to teach military science have either the appropriate credentials issued by the United States military or a recommendation from a Virginia employing educational agency.

2020, cc. 108 , 109 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-103 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 8 / Article 2 / Section 22.1-103
Uniform county levy in lieu of district levies; request by school board; petition for referendum
Status: in_force

In any county in which the governing body imposes district levies for school purposes, the school board may, by resolution, request the governing body to impose a uniform county levy for school purposes with the proceeds to be expended as provided by law and such expenditures shall include the repayment of district school obligations. Upon the receipt of any such resolution the governing body shall petition the circuit court of the county to fix a date for a referendum to obtain the sense of the qualified voters upon such change.

Code 1950, § 22-130.1; 1958, c. 45; 1980, c. 559.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-44 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 5 / Article 3 / Section 22.1-44
Appointment of school board members and tie breaker by county governing body; terms; vacancies
Status: in_force

If, in a referendum held as provided in § 22.1-42 , it shall be determined that the members of the county school board shall be appointed by the governing body of the county, such governing body shall, by majority vote, thereafter appoint all members of the school board and the tie breaker, if any. Members of the school board and the tie breaker in office at the time of the referendum shall complete their terms and their successors shall be appointed by the governing body. The governing body shall determine whether the office of the tie breaker shall continue after the expiration of the term of the incumbent. Appointments of school board members and tie breakers, if any, shall be made at public meetings. The terms of office of the members of the county school board shall continue to be four years. Vacancies in the office of members of the county school board occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled by appointment by the governing body for the unexpired terms. The term of office of the tie breaker, if any, shall continue to be four years. Any appointment to fill a vacancy in the office of tie breaker, if any, whether or not by expiration of term, shall be for a four-year term.

The school board shall consist of the same number of members from each magisterial or election district as is provided in § 22.1-36 . The governing body of the county may appoint no more than two additional members from the county at large.

Code 1950, §§ 22-61, 22-79.1, 22-79.3; 1969, Ex. Sess., c. 25; 1970, cc. 88, 126; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 225; 1972, c. 137; 1980, c. 559; 1981, c. 246.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-368 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 26 / Section 22.1-368
Staffing; cooperation from other state agencies
Status: in_force

The Virginia STEM Coordinator at the Science Museum of Virginia shall serve as staff to the Board. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall assist the Board upon request.

2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 291 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-275 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 14 / Article 2 / Section 22.1-275
Protective eye devices
Status: in_force

Every student and teacher in any school or institution of higher education shall be required to wear industrial quality eye protective devices while participating in any of the following courses or laboratories:

1. Career and technical education shops or laboratories involving experience with:

a. Hot molten metals,

b. Milling, sawing, turning, shaping, cutting, grinding, or stamping of any solid materials,

c. Heat treatment, tempering, or kiln firing of any metal or other materials,

d. Gas or electric arc welding,

e. Repair of any vehicle, or

f. Caustic or explosive materials;

2. Chemical or combined chemical-physical laboratories involving caustic or explosive chemicals or hot liquids or solids.

The governing board or authority of any public or private school or the governing board of each institution of higher education shall furnish the eye protective devices prescribed in this section free of charge or at cost to the students and teachers of the school participating in such courses or laboratories; however, such devices may be furnished by parents or guardians of such students. Eye protective devices shall be furnished to all visitors to such courses.

"Industrial quality eye protective devices," as used in this section, means devices providing side protection and meeting the standards of the American Standards Association Safety Code for Head, Eye, and Respiratory Protection, Z2.1-1959, promulgated by the American Standards Association, Inc.

Code 1950, § 22-10.2; 1966, c. 69; 1980, c. 559; 2001, c. 483 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-200.2 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 13 / Article 1 / Section 22.1-200.2
Minimum instructional time; optional unstructured recreational time
Status: in_force

A. Local school boards shall provide (i) a minimum of 680 hours of instructional time to students in elementary school, except for students in half-day kindergarten, in the four academic disciplines of English, mathematics, science, and history and social science and (ii) a minimum of 375 hours of instructional time to students in half-day kindergarten in the four academic disciplines of English, mathematics, science, and history and social science.

B. Local school boards may include and the Board of Education shall accept, for elementary school, unstructured recreational time that is intended to develop teamwork, social skills, and overall physical fitness in any calculation of total instructional time or teaching hours, provided that such unstructured recreational time does not exceed 15 percent of total instructional time or teaching hours.

2018, cc. 784 , 785 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-323.1 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 16 / Section 22.1-323.1
Provisional and conditional licenses
Status: in_force

Upon completion of the investigation for renewal of a license or certificate, the Board may issue a provisional license or certificate to any residential school for students with disabilities if the school is temporarily unable to comply with all of the requirements of this chapter. A provisional license or certificate may be renewed, but the issuance of a provisional license or certificate and any renewal thereof shall be for no longer a period than six successive months.

At the discretion of the Board, a conditional license or certificate may be issued to operate a new residential school for students with disabilities in order to permit the school to demonstrate compliance with all of the requirements of this chapter. A conditional license or certificate may be renewed, but the issuance of a conditional license or certificate and any renewals thereof shall be for no longer a period than six successive months.

1992, c. 666; 1994, c. 258 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-152 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 10 / Section 22.1-152
Payment of principal and interest
Status: in_force

Payments of interest and principal shall be made to the State Treasurer. A loan from the Literary Fund shall be repayable in annual installments from five to thirty years. The time of payment may be extended in the discretion of the Board of Education; but if the Board of Education has assigned any of the bonds, notes or other evidences of the loan to the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Retirement System under the provisions of § 51.1-124.30 and the same are held by the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Retirement System, the time of payment thereof may not be extended by the Board of Education but may be extended by the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Retirement System, in its discretion.

Code 1950, § 22-112; 1954, c. 476; 1958, c. 162; 1980, c. 559.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-200.1 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 13 / Article 1 / Section 22.1-200.1
Optional education programs for kindergarten through grade five
Status: in_force

In lieu of §§ 22.1-277 , 22.1-277.07 , and 22.1-277.08 , a school board may establish optional age-appropriate education programs for young students in grades kindergarten through five who require guidance, supervision, and discipline in a structured learning environment and who need to be redirected toward appropriate classroom decorum and acceptable personal behavior. The programs shall provide instructional and support services that will enable students to maintain academic achievement, attain basic skills and academic proficiencies, and otherwise benefit from a public education during the time that they may be removed from the regular classroom. The programs shall also be designed to accommodate students within the school building to which they have been assigned, facilitate the efficient transition of students between the optional education program and their regular classroom, and provide for the continuity of instruction, a nurturing environment, necessary guidance and supervision, and the participation of the student's parents in correcting his behavior. Such programs shall be adequately staffed by licensed teachers or other persons with demonstrated qualifications to instruct and manage students with a range of academic gifts and deficiencies, disciplinary problems, and the need to develop and use appropriate social skills.

2001, c. 846 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-27 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 4 / Section 22.1-27
Contracts to furnish facilities and services
Status: in_force

A. A school board may enter into a contract with the school board of an adjacent school division for furnishing public school facilities and for school services.

B. Any contract for services may stipulate that the school division which is receiving services may have a representative on the school board of the school division which is providing services with the approval of the governing bodies of each political subdivision involved. For the term of the contract, any such representative shall have all the rights, duties and responsibilities of the members of the school board of the division providing services, including compensation as set forth by law, but he shall not participate in or vote on any matter involving the continuation of such school services or the interpretation or construction of the provisions of or amendment to or continuation of the contract.

C. Any such representative shall be appointed in the same manner as the members of the school board of the school division which is receiving services and may be a member of such school board. The representative shall serve a term of four years beginning the first day of July following his appointment. However, if the contract goes into effect on a date other than July 1, the term of the initial representative shall commence on the effective date of the contract and shall expire on the fourth June 30 following his appointment.

1980, c. 559; 1989, c. 197.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-289.036 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 14.1 / Article 5 / Section 22.1-289.036
Background check upon application for licensure, registration, or approval as child day center, home-based child care, or home-based child care system; penalty
Status: in_force

A. Every (i) applicant for licensure as a child day center, home-based child care, or a home-based child care system, registration as home-based child care, or approval as home-based child care by a home-based child care system; (ii) agent of an applicant for licensure as a child day center, home-based child care, or a home-based child care system, registration as home-based child care, or approval as home-based child care by a home-based child care system at the time of application who is or will be involved in the day-to-day operations of the child day center, home-based child care, or home-based child care system or who is or will be alone with, in control of, or supervising one or more of the children; and (iii) adult living in such child day center or the home in which such home-based child care is provided shall undergo a background check in accordance with subsection B prior to issuance of a license as a child day center, home-based child care, or a home-based child care system, registration as home-based child care, or approval as home-based child care by a home-based child care system and every five years thereafter.

B. Every person required to undergo a background check pursuant to subsection A shall:

1. Provide a sworn statement or affirmation disclosing whether he has ever been convicted of or is the subject of any pending criminal charges for any offense within or outside the Commonwealth and whether or not he has been the subject of a founded complaint of child abuse or neglect within or outside the Commonwealth;

2. Submit to fingerprinting and provide personal descriptive information described in subdivision B 2 of § 19.2-392.02 ;

3. Authorize the child day center, home-based child care, or home-based child care system specified in subsection A to obtain a copy of the results of a search of the central registry maintained pursuant to § 63.2-1515 for any founded complaint of child abuse or neglect against him; and

4. Authorize the child day center, home-based child care, or home-based child care system described in subsection A to obtain a copy of the results of a criminal history record information check, a sex offender registry check, and a search of the child abuse and neglect registry or equivalent registry from any state in which the individual has resided in the preceding five years.

Fingerprints and personal descriptive information obtained pursuant to subdivision 2 shall be forwarded by the Department or its designee or, in the case of a child day program operated by a local government, may be forwarded by the local law-enforcement agency through the Central Criminal Records Exchange to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of obtaining national criminal history record information regarding the individual. Upon receipt of an individual's record or notification that no record exists, the Central Criminal Records Exchange shall forward the information to the Department or its designee. The Department or its designee shall report to the child day center, home-based child care, or home-based child care system described in subsection A as to whether the individual is eligible to have responsibility for the safety and well-being of children. In cases in which the record forwarded to the Department or its designee is lacking disposition data, the Department or its designee shall conduct research in whatever state and local recordkeeping systems are available in order to obtain complete data.

C. If any person specified in subsection A required to have a background check (i) has been convicted of any barrier crime as defined in § 19.2-392.02 or (ii) is the subject of a founded complaint of child abuse or neglect within or outside the Commonwealth, and such person has not been granted a waiver by the Superintendent pursuant to § 22.1-289.03 8, no license as a child day center, home-based child care, or home-based child care system or registration as home-based child care shall be granted by the Superintendent and no approval as home-based child care shall be granted by the home-based child care system.

D. Information from a search of the central registry maintained pursuant to § 63.2-1515 and any child abuse and neglect registry or equivalent registry maintained by any other state in which the applicant, agent, or adult has resided in the preceding five years, authorized in accordance with subdivision B 3, shall be obtained prior to issuance of a license as a child day center, home-based child care, or a home-based child care system, registration as home-based child care, or approval as home-based child care by a home-based child care system.

E. No person specified in subsection A shall be involved in the day-to-day operations of the child day center, home-based child care, or home-based child care system, or shall be alone with, in control of, or supervising one or more children, without first having completed any required background check pursuant to subsection B.

F. Any person making a materially false statement regarding the sworn statement or affirmation provided pursuant to subdivision B 1 is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

G. If an individual is denied licensure, registration, or approval because of information from the central registry or any child abuse and neglect registry or equivalent registry maintained by any other state, or convictions appearing on his criminal history record, the Superintendent shall provide a copy of the information obtained from the central registry, any child abuse and neglect registry or equivalent registry maintained by any other state, or the Central Criminal Records Exchange to the individual.

H. Further dissemination of the background check information is prohibited other than to the Superintendent's representative or a federal or state authority or court as may be required to comply with an express requirement of law for such further dissemination.

I. Fees charged for the processing and administration of background checks pursuant to this section shall not exceed the actual cost to the state or the local law-enforcement agency of such processing and administration.

J. For the purposes of this section, "agent" means a person who is authorized to act on behalf of the applicant or licensee.

2020, cc. 860 , 861 , 936 ; 2026, c. 917 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-18 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 2 / Section 22.1-18
Report on education and standards of quality for school divisions; when submitted and effective
Status: in_force

By December 1 of each year, the Board of Education shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a report on the condition and needs of public education in the Commonwealth and shall identify any school divisions and the specific schools therein that have failed to establish and maintain schools meeting the existing prescribed standards of quality. Such standards of quality shall be subject to revision only by the General Assembly, pursuant to Article VIII, Section 2 of the Constitution of Virginia. Such report shall include:

1. A complete listing of the current standards of quality for the Commonwealth's public schools, together with a justification for each particular standard, how long each such standard has been in its current form, and whether the Board recommends any change or addition to the standards of quality;

2. Information regarding parent and student choice within each school division and any plans of such school divisions to increase school choice;

3. A complete listing of each report that local school divisions are required to submit to the Board or any other state agency, including name, frequency, and an indication of whether the report contains information that the local school division is also required to submit to the federal government;

4. An explanation of the need to retain or maintain the frequency of any report identified pursuant to subdivision 3; any recommendation for the elimination, reduction in frequency, or consolidation of reports identified pursuant to subdivision 3 when such elimination, reduction in frequency, or consolidation would require an amendment to the laws of the Commonwealth; and a description of any other report identified pursuant to subdivision 3 that the Board has eliminated, reduced in frequency, or consolidated; and

5. A complete listing of each report pertaining to public education that local school divisions are required to submit to the federal government, including name and frequency.

Code 1950, § 22-19.1; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 160; 1973, c. 97; 1980, c. 559; 1984, c. 157; 2002, cc. 159 , 253 ; 2013, c. 643 ; 2015, c. 386 ; 2016, c. 469 ; 2017, c. 235 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-227.1 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 13 / Article 4 / Section 22.1-227.1
Career and technical education
Status: in_force

A. The Board shall incorporate into career and technical education the Standards of Learning for mathematics, science, English, and social studies, including history, and other subject areas as may be appropriate. The Board may also authorize, in its regulations for accrediting public schools in Virginia, the substitution of industry certification and state licensure examinations for Standards of Learning assessments for the purpose of awarding credit for career and technical education courses, where appropriate.

B. The Board shall also develop a plan for increasing the number of students receiving industry certification and state licensure as part of their career and technical education. The plan shall include an annual goal for school divisions. Where there is an accepted national industry certification for career and technical education instructional personnel and programs for automotive technology, such certification shall be mandatory.

C. With such funds as may be appropriated for such purpose, there shall be established, within the Department, a unit of specialists in career and technical education. The unit shall (i) assist in developing and revising local career and technical curriculum to integrate the Standards of Learning, (ii) provide professional development for career and technical instructional personnel to improve the quality of career and technical education, (iii) conduct site visits to the schools providing career and technical education, and (iv) seek the input of business and industry representatives regarding the content and direction of career and technical education programs in the public schools of the Commonwealth.

D. The Board shall develop guidelines for the establishment of High School to Work Partnerships, hereafter referred to as "Partnerships," between public high schools and local businesses to create opportunities for high school students to (i) participate in an apprenticeship, internship, or job shadow program in a variety of trades and skilled labor positions or (ii) tour local businesses and meet with owners and employees. These guidelines shall include a model waiver form to be used by high schools and local businesses in connection with Partnership programs to protect both the students and the businesses from liability.

Each local school board may establish Partnerships or delegate the authority to establish Partnerships to the local school division's career and technical education administrator or his designee, in collaboration with the school counselor office of each public high school in the school division, and shall educate high school students about opportunities available through such Partnerships.

Students who miss a partial or full day of school while participating in Partnership programs shall not be counted as absent for the purposes of calculating average daily membership, but each local school board shall develop policies and procedures for students to make up missed work and may determine the maximum number of school days per academic year that a student may spend participating in a Partnership program.

E. Each public middle school and high school, regardless of whether such school offers career and technical education courses, may establish career and technical education student organizations, except in the case of any such organization that is established as a federally chartered corporation pursuant to an act of Congress.

1999, cc. 435 , 442 ; 2001, c. 483 ; 2002, c. 167 ; 2008, c. 150 ; 2011, c. 388 ; 2013, cc. 56 , 500 ; 2016, cc. 720 , 750 ; 2018, cc. 142 , 388 ; 2019, cc. 139 , 796 ; 2024, c. 776 ; 2025, c. 201 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-20.2 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 2 / Section 22.1-20.2
Student data security
Status: in_force

A. The Department of Education shall develop, in collaboration with the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, and update regularly but in no case less than annually, a model data security plan for the protection of student data held by school divisions. Such model plan shall include (i) guidelines for access to student data and student data systems, including guidelines for authentication of authorized access; (ii) privacy compliance standards; (iii) privacy and security audits; (iv) procedures to follow in the event of a breach of student data; and (v) data retention and disposition policies. The model plan and any updates shall be made available to every school division.

B. The Department of Education shall designate a chief data security officer, with such state funds as made available, to assist school divisions, upon request, with the development and implementation of their own data security plans and to develop best practice recommendations regarding the use, retention, and protection of student data.

2015, c. 561 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-349.6 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 19.1 / Section 22.1-349.6
Review of college partnership laboratory school applications
Status: in_force

A. The Board shall establish procedures for receiving, reviewing, and ruling upon applications and shall make a copy of any such procedures available to all interested parties upon request. If the Board finds that the application is incomplete, the Board shall request the necessary additional information from the applicant. The Board's review procedures shall establish a review committee that may include experts with the operation of similar schools located in other states.

B. To provide appropriate opportunity for input from parents, teachers, and other interested parties and to obtain information to assist the Board in its evaluation of a college partnership laboratory school application, the Board may establish a procedure for public notice, comment, or hearings on such applications.

2010, cc. 816 , 871 , § 23-299.5; 2016, c. 588 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-270 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 14 / Article 2 / Section 22.1-270
Preschool physical examinations
Status: in_force

A. No pupil shall be admitted for the first time to any public kindergarten or elementary school in a school division unless such pupil shall furnish, prior to admission, (i) a report from a qualified licensed physician, or a licensed advanced practice registered nurse or licensed physician assistant acting under the supervision of a licensed physician, of a comprehensive physical examination of a scope prescribed by the State Health Commissioner performed within the 12 months prior to the date such pupil first enters such public kindergarten or elementary school or (ii) records establishing that such pupil furnished such report upon prior admission to another school or school division and providing the information contained in such report.

If the pupil is a homeless child or youth as defined in subdivision A 7 of § 22.1-3 , and for that reason cannot furnish the report or records required by clause (i) or (ii) of this subsection, and the person seeking to enroll the pupil furnishes to the school division an affidavit so stating and also indicating that, to the best of his knowledge, such pupil is in good health and free from any communicable or contagious disease, the school division shall immediately refer the student to the local school division liaison, as described in Subtitle VII-B of the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq.) (the Act), who shall, as soon as practicable, assist in obtaining the necessary physical examination by the county or city health department or other clinic or physician's office and shall immediately admit the pupil to school, as required by such Act.

B. The physician, or licensed advanced practice registered nurse or licensed physician assistant acting under the supervision of a licensed physician, making a report of a physical examination required by this section shall, at the end of such report, summarize the abnormal physical findings, if any, and shall specifically state what, if any, conditions are found that would identify the child as having a disability.

C. Such physical examination report shall be placed in the child's health record at the school and shall be made available for review by any employee or official of the State Department of Health or any local health department at the request of such employee or official.

D. Such physical examination shall not be required of any child whose parent shall object on religious grounds and who shows no visual evidence of sickness, provided that such parent shall state in writing that, to the best of his knowledge, such child is in good health and free from any communicable or contagious disease.

E. The health departments of all of the counties and cities of the Commonwealth shall conduct such physical examinations for medically indigent children without charge upon request and may provide such examinations to others on such uniform basis as such departments may establish.

F. Parents of entering students shall complete a health information form which shall be distributed by the local school divisions. Such forms shall be developed and provided jointly by the Department of Education and Department of Health, or developed and provided by the school division and approved by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Such forms shall be returnable within 15 days of receipt unless reasonable extensions have been granted by the superintendent or his designee. Upon failure of the parent to complete such form within the extended time, the superintendent may send to the parent written notice of the date he intends to exclude the child from school; however, no child who is a homeless child or youth as defined in subdivision A 7 of § 22.1-3 shall be excluded from school for such failure to complete such form.

Code 1950, § 22-220.1; 1972, c. 761; 1973, c. 300; 1974, c. 160; 1979, cc. 120, 260; 1980, c. 559; 1982, c. 510; 1983, c. 195; 1985, c. 334; 2000, cc. 209 , 617 , 646 ; 2001, c. 261 ; 2004, cc. 500 , 967 ; 2018, c. 394 ; 2019, c. 586 ; 2023, cc. 148 , 149 , 183 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-233 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 13 / Article 5 / Section 22.1-233
Application of zoning laws and building codes; inspection of work; school boards to make no warranties
Status: in_force

Nothing herein shall exempt career and technical education projects from compliance with state and local zoning laws and building codes, if applicable. Work done by students or other nonlicensed personnel shall be inspected by an appropriately licensed person to assure compliance with prescribed standards. No school board shall make any warranty, express or implied, as to the construction or as to the compliance of a project with zoning laws and building codes.

Code 1950, § 22-330.43; 1974, c. 336; 1975, c. 139; 1980, c. 559; 2001, c. 483 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-289.03 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 14.1 / Article 1 / Section 22.1-289.03
Early childhood care and education system; establishment; need-based and demand-based funding
Status: in_force

A. The Board shall establish a statewide unified public-private system for early childhood care and education in the Commonwealth to ensure that every child has the opportunity to enter kindergarten healthy and ready to learn. Such system shall be administered by the Board, the Superintendent, and the Department and shall be formed, implemented, and sustained through a structure that engages and leverages both state-level authority and regional-level public-private partnership assets.

B. It is the intent of the General Assembly that the system established pursuant to subsection A shall (i) provide families with coordinated access for referral to early childhood education programs, (ii) provide families with easy-to-understand information about the quality of publicly funded early childhood care and education programs, (iii) establish expectations for the continuous improvement of early childhood care and education programs, and (iv) establish shared expectations for early childhood care and education programs among the Department of Education, the Department of Social Services, local school divisions, and state and regional stakeholders.

C. The system established pursuant to subsection A shall consist of a combination of programs offered through (i) the Virginia Preschool Initiative, pursuant to § 22.1-289.09 , or any other school-based early childhood care and education program; (ii) licensed programs, pursuant to Article 3 (§ 22.1-289.01 0 et seq.); and (iii) unlicensed programs, pursuant to Article 4 (§ 22.1-289.03 0 et seq.).

D. To address family demand and preferences for affordable, high-quality early childhood care and education services, the Department shall establish and maintain calculations that shall be used to provide a cost estimate for funding needed per biennium to address parental demand. Such calculations shall include:

1. An annual per-child cost determined through re-benchmarking for the Virginia Preschool Initiative;

2. An annual per-child cost based on current and re-benchmarked levels under the Department's federally approved alternative cost methodology for the Mixed Delivery Program identified in the general appropriation act;

3. An annual per-child cost based on current and re-benchmarked levels under the Department's federally approved alternative cost methodology for the Child Care Subsidy Program, which program shall be open to each child who is under the age of 13 in each family for as long as:

a. The family's income does not exceed 85 percent of the state median income;

b. The family includes at least one child who is five years of age or younger and has not started kindergarten; and

c. The family meets all other eligibility requirements;

4. An estimate of parental demand and choice preferences based on historic growth and current eligibility criteria for each program; and

5. An estimate of the number of slots to be added to support local or regional (i) economic development efforts and (ii) public-private partnerships focused on increasing the supply of child care services. Priority shall be given to localities or regions identified as child care deserts.

Such calculations shall not affect regularly recurring federal funding including federal funding provided for the Child Care Subsidy Program, Early Head Start, or Head Start, or pursuant to Part B of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1411 et seq. Pursuant to such calculations, such federal funding shall be maximized and fully expended prior to expending any state general funds. Such calculations shall not obligate the General Assembly to a specific appropriation of funds but shall be used to provide information to guide the General Assembly in making decisions about the proportion of parental demand for and supply of early childhood care and education services to be addressed and level of appropriation required to address such demand. Annual overall funding available shall be subject to appropriation as determined by the General Assembly.

No later than May 15 before each upcoming year, each regional entity established by the Board pursuant to subsection D of § 22.1-289.05 shall indicate the number of slots needed in the region for the Mixed Delivery Program, each local school division shall indicate the number of slots needed in the local school division for the Virginia Preschool Initiative, and each locality shall indicate the number of slots needed in the locality for the Child Care Subsidy Program. In determining the number of slots to be added to support local or regional economic development efforts and public-private partnerships pursuant to this subdivision 5, the Department, in consultation with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority and the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation's Virginia Business Roundtable for Early Education, shall calculate slots needed to ensure adequate supply for the biennium in regions with (a) active, recognized economic development initiatives; (b) public-private partnerships focused on building supply of quality child care services; or (c) identified child care deserts. The Department shall reallocate slots with available funding from the Child Care Subsidy Program and Mixed Delivery Program as determined pursuant to this subsection no later than July 1. Following fall enrollment periods, the Department shall make adjustments based on family preferences. In providing funding for slots pursuant to this subsection, all current-year state general funds shall be expended first. If waitlists for slots at early childhood care and education sites remain, up to $5 million from prior-year unexpended state general funds appropriated for such purpose in a general appropriation act may be carried forward to the current fiscal year to temporarily provide additional slots during the current fiscal year solely to reduce or eliminate waitlists, unless the general appropriation act authorizes a greater amount to be carried forward. Such prior-year funds shall not be used to increase the base amount of funding required in the subsequent fiscal year and the Department shall monitor program utilization and attrition to ensure that no families will lose access at the end of the current fiscal year.

E. The Department shall, no later than the third Wednesday in October of each year, submit to the Commission on Early Childhood Care and Education, established pursuant to § 2.2-208.1 , and post in a publicly accessible location on its website a report on the data used to calculate the minimum funding and number of slots for the calculations pursuant to subsection D.

2020, cc. 860 , 861 ; 2024, cc. 722 , 757 ; 2026, cc. 456 , 457 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-212.5 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 13 / Article 1.2 / Section 22.1-212.5
Objectives; definitions
Status: in_force

A. In order to (i) stimulate the development of innovative programs within public education; (ii) provide opportunities for innovative instruction and assessment; (iii) provide parents and students with more options within their school divisions; (iv) provide teachers with a vehicle for establishing schools with alternative innovative instruction and school scheduling, management and structure; (v) encourage the use of performance-based educational programs; (vi) establish high standards for both teachers and administrators; and (vii) develop models for replication in other public schools, public charter schools may be established in Virginia as provided in this article.

B. As used in this article:

"At-risk pupil" means a student having a physical, emotional, intellectual, socioeconomic, or cultural risk factor, as defined in Board of Education criteria, which research indicates may negatively influence educational success.

"Public charter school" means a public, nonreligious, or non-home-based alternative school located within a public school division. A public charter school may be created as a new public school or through the conversion of all or part of an existing public school; however, no public charter school shall be established through the conversion of a private school or a nonpublic home-based educational program. A charter school for at-risk pupils may be established as a residential school.

"Regional public charter school" means a public charter school operated by two or more school boards and chartered directly by the participating school boards.

1998, cc. 748 , 890 ; 2000, cc. 631 , 712 , 1028 ; 2004, c. 530 ; 2005, c. 928 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-296.3 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 15 / Article 2 / Section 22.1-296.3
Certain private school employees subject to fingerprinting and criminal records checks
Status: in_force

A. As a condition of employment, the governing boards or administrators of private elementary or secondary schools that are accredited pursuant to § 22.1-19 shall require any applicant who accepts employment, whether full time or part time or permanent or temporary, to submit to fingerprinting and to provide personal descriptive information to be forwarded along with the applicant's fingerprints through the Central Criminal Records Exchange to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of obtaining criminal history record information regarding such applicant.

The Central Criminal Records Exchange, upon receipt of an applicant's record or notification that no record exists, shall report to the governing board or administrator, or to a private organization coordinating such records on behalf of such governing board or administrator pursuant to a written agreement with the Department of State Police, that the applicant meets the criteria or does not meet the criteria for employment based on whether or not the applicant has ever been convicted of any barrier crime as defined in § 19.2-392.02 .

B. The Central Criminal Records Exchange shall not disclose information to such governing board, administrator, or private organization coordinating such records regarding charges or convictions of any crimes. If any applicant is denied employment because of information appearing on the criminal history record and the applicant disputes the information upon which the denial was based, the Central Criminal Records Exchange shall, upon request, furnish the applicant the procedures for obtaining a copy of the criminal history record from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The information provided to the governing board, administrator, or private organization coordinating such records shall not be disseminated except as provided in this section. A governing board or administrator employing or previously employing a temporary teacher or a private organization coordinating such records on behalf of such governing board or administrator pursuant to a written agreement with the Department of State Police may disseminate, at the written request of such temporary teacher, whether such teacher meets the criteria or does not meet the criteria for employment pursuant to subsection A to the governing board or administrator of another accredited private elementary or secondary school in which such teacher has accepted employment. Such governing board, administrator, or private organization transferring criminal records information pursuant to this section shall be immune from civil liability for any official act, decision, or omission done or made in the performance of such transfer, when such acts or omissions are taken in good faith and are not the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Fees charged for the processing and administration of background checks pursuant to this section shall not exceed the actual cost to the state of such processing and administration.

C. The governing board or administrator of a private elementary or secondary school may disclose information in records received pursuant to subsection A to the Virginia Council for Private Education (the Council) or its authorized designee for purposes of seeking or maintaining accreditation by the Council as permitted pursuant to § 22.1-19 .

D. The governing board or administrator of a private elementary or secondary school that is accredited pursuant to § 22.1-19 that operates a child day program or home-based child care system regulated by the Department pursuant to Chapter 14.1 (§ 22.1-289.02 et seq.) shall accept evidence of a background check in accordance with § 22.1-289.03 5 for individuals who are required to undergo a background check in accordance with that section as a condition of employment in lieu of the background check required by subsection A.

E. The governing boards or administrators of private elementary and secondary schools that are accredited pursuant to § 22.1-19 shall adopt and implement policies prohibiting any individual who is a governing board member, administrator, employee, contractor, or agent of a private elementary or secondary school to assist a governing board member, administrator, employee, contractor, or agent of such private elementary or secondary school in obtaining a new job if such individual knows or has probable cause to believe that the individual seeking new employment engaged in sexual misconduct regarding a minor or student in violation of law.

F. For purposes of this section, "governing board" or "administrator" means the unit or board or person designated to supervise operations of a system of private schools or a private school accredited pursuant to § 22.1-19 .

Nothing in this section or § 19.2-389 shall be construed to require any private or religious school that is not so accredited to comply with this section.

1996, c. 944 ; 1998, c. 113 ; 2002, c. 528 ; 2005, c. 928 ; 2016, c. 454 ; 2017, c. 809 ; 2020, cc. 779 , 860 , 861 ; 2022, c. 355 ; 2023, c. 253 ; 2026, c. 917 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-85 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 7 / Section 22.1-85
Fund for payment of hospital, medical, etc., services provided officers, employees and dependents
Status: in_force

Any school board may establish a fund for the payment of hospital, medical, surgical and related services provided any of its officers, employees and their dependents out of funds appropriated to the school board or by payroll deductions or other mode consistent with state and federal income tax law and regulations. In addition, any school board may establish a fund for the payment of expenses incurred by its officers and employees for dependent care assistance through payroll deductions or other mode consistent with state and federal income tax law and regulations.

Code 1950, § 22-56.3; 1979, c. 624; 1980, c. 559; 1993, c. 287.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-79.3:2 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 7 / Section 22.1-79.3:2
School boards; communications relating to extracurricular activities; use of social media platforms by schools, school board employees, and volunteers prohibited
Status: in_force

A. For purposes of this section:

"Extracurricular activities" means the same as that term is defined in § 22.1-370 .

"Social media platform" means the same as that term is defined in § 59.1-575 .

B. Each school board shall prohibit public elementary and secondary schools, school board employees, and school volunteers from using a social media platform as the sole means of communication with students for the facilitation of school-related extracurricular activities. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the use of school division-approved communication or messaging applications.

C. Any division superintendent or his designee may provide a written exception to the prohibition in subsection B on using a social media platform as the sole means of communication with students for the facilitation of school-related extracurricular activities when such use is required to meet an objective that cannot be reasonably achieved without such use, provided that the division superintendent or his designee (i) provides clear, written instructions on such use and (ii) may revoke such exception at any time.

2026, c. 338 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-316 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 15 / Article 5 / Section 22.1-316
Agreement entered into and enacted into law; form of agreement
Status: in_force

The Interstate Agreement on Qualification of Educational Personnel is hereby enacted into law and entered into with all jurisdictions legally joined therein in the form substantially as follows:

INTERSTATE AGREEMENT ON QUALIFICATION OF EDUCATIONAL PERSONNEL

Article I.

Purpose, Findings, and Policy.

A. The states party to this agreement, desiring by common action to improve their respective school systems by utilizing the teacher or other professional educational person wherever educated, declare that it is the policy of each of them, on the basis of cooperation with one another, to take advantage of the preparation and experience of such persons wherever gained, thereby serving the best interests of society, of education and of the teaching profession. It is the purpose of this agreement to provide for the development and execution of such programs of cooperation as will facilitate the movement of teachers and other professional educational personnel among the states party to it and to authorize specific interstate educational personnel contracts to achieve that end.

B. The party states find that included in the large movement of population among all sections of the nation are many qualified educational personnel who move for family and other personal reasons but who are hindered in using their professional skill and experience in their new locations. Variations from state to state in requirements for qualifying educational personnel discourage such personnel from taking the steps necessary to qualify in other states. As a consequence, a significant number of professionally prepared and experienced educators is lost to our school systems. Facilitating the employment of qualified educational personnel without reference to their states of origin can increase the available educational resources. Participation in this compact can increase the availability of educational manpower.

Article II.

Definitions.

As used in this agreement and contracts made pursuant to it, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

1. "Educational personnel" means persons who must meet requirements pursuant to state law as a condition of employment in educational programs.

2. "Designated state official" means the educational official of a state selected by that state to negotiate and enter into, on behalf of his state, contracts pursuant to this agreement.

3. "Accept" or any variant thereof means to recognize and give effect to one or more determinations of another state relating to the qualifications of educational personnel in lieu of making or requiring a like determination that would otherwise be required by or pursuant to the laws of a receiving state.

4. "State" means a state, territory, or possession of the United States; the District of Columbia; or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

5. "Originating state" means a state or subdivision thereof whose determination that certain educational personnel are qualified to be employed for specific duties in schools is acceptable in accordance with the terms of a contract made pursuant to Article III.

6. "Receiving state" means a state or subdivision thereof which accepts educational personnel in accordance with the terms of a contract made pursuant to Article III of this section.

Article III.

Interstate Educational Personnel Contracts.

A. The designated state official of a party state may make one or more contracts on behalf of his state with one or more other party states providing for the acceptance of educational personnel. Any such contract for the period of its duration shall be applicable to and binding on the states whose designated state officials enter into it and the subdivisions of those states with the same force and effect as if incorporated in this agreement. A designated state official may enter into a contract pursuant to this article only with states in which he finds that there are programs of education, licensure standards or other acceptable qualifications that assure preparation or qualification of educational personnel on a basis sufficiently comparable even though not identical to that prevailing in his own state.

B. Any such contract shall provide for:

1. Its duration.

2. The criteria to be applied by an originating state in qualifying educational personnel for acceptance by a receiving state.

3. Such waivers, substitutions, and conditional acceptances as shall aid the practical effectuation of the contract without sacrifice of basic educational standards.

4. Any other necessary matters.

C. No contract made pursuant to this agreement shall be for a term longer than five years but any such contract may be renewed for like or lesser periods.

D. Any contract dealing with acceptance of educational personnel on the basis of their having completed an educational program shall specify the earliest date or dates on which originating state approval of the program or programs involved can have occurred. No contract made pursuant to this agreement shall require acceptance by a receiving state of any persons qualified because of successful completion of a program prior to January 1, 1954.

E. The licensure or other acceptance of a person who has been accepted pursuant to the terms of a contract shall not be revoked or otherwise impaired because the contract has expired or been terminated. Any license or other qualifying document may be revoked or suspended on any ground which would be sufficient for revocation or suspension of a license or other qualifying document initially granted or approved in the receiving state.

F. A contract committee composed of the designated state officials of the contracting states or their representatives shall keep the contract under continuous review, study means of improving its administration, and report no less frequently than once a year to the heads of the appropriate education agencies of the contracting states.

Article IV.

Approved and Accepted Programs.

A. Nothing in this agreement shall be construed to repeal or otherwise modify any law or regulation of a party state relating to the approval of programs of educational preparation having effect solely on the qualification of educational personnel within that state.

B. To the extent that contracts made pursuant to this agreement deal with the educational requirements for the proper qualification of educational personnel, acceptance of a program of educational preparation shall be in accordance with such procedures and requirements as may be provided in the applicable contract.

Article V.

Interstate Cooperation.

The party states agree that:

1. They will, so far as practicable, prefer the making of multilateral contracts pursuant to Article III of this agreement.

2. They will facilitate and strengthen cooperation in interstate licensure and other elements of educational personnel qualification and for this purpose shall cooperate with agencies, organizations, and associations interested in licensure and other elements of educational personnel qualification.

Article VI.

Agreement Evaluation.

The designated state officials of any party states may meet from time to time as a group to evaluate progress under the agreement and to formulate recommendations for changes.

Article VII.

Other Arrangements.

Nothing in this agreement shall be construed to prevent or inhibit other arrangements or practices of any party state or states to facilitate the interchange of educational personnel.

Article VIII.

Effect and Withdrawal.

A. This agreement shall become effective when enacted into law by two states. Thereafter it shall become effective as to any state upon its enactment of this agreement.

B. Any party state may withdraw from this agreement by enacting a statute repealing the same, but no such withdrawal shall take effect until one year after the governor of the withdrawing state has given notice in writing of the withdrawal to the governors of all other party states.

C. No withdrawal shall relieve the withdrawing state of any obligation imposed upon it by a contract to which it is a party. The duration of contracts and the methods and conditions of withdrawal therefrom shall be those specified in their terms.

Article IX.

Construction and Severability.

This agreement shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes thereof. The provisions of this agreement shall be severable; and if any phrase, clause, sentence, or provision of this agreement is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any state or of the United States or if the application thereof to any government, agency, person, or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this agreement and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person, or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this agreement shall be held contrary to the constitution of any state participating therein, the agreement shall remain in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters.

Code 1950, § 22-348; 1970, c. 193; 1980, c. 559; 1992, c. 132.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-203.4 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 13 / Article 1 / Section 22.1-203.4
Public high schools; Virginia voter registration
Status: in_force

Each public high school shall provide to any enrolled student who is of voting age or is eligible to register to vote pursuant to § 24.2-403 (i) mail voter registration applications and voter registration information provided by the Department of Elections or (ii) access to the Virginia online voter registration system on a school-owned computing device that is accessible to such student. Each student who is eligible to register to vote shall be provided the opportunity to complete an application form during the normal course of the school day.

2020, c. 612 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-141.5 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 9 / Article 4 / Section 22.1-141.5
Industry-recognized uniform inspection and evaluation
Status: in_force

A. At least once every four years, each local school division shall provide for an industry-recognized uniform inspection and evaluation of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system in each public school building in the local school division. Such inspection and evaluation shall be performed by a certified testing, adjusting, and balancing technician, an industrial hygienist certified by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene, a technician with a Master HVAC License from the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, or a mechanical engineer. Such heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems inspection and evaluation shall include:

1. Testing for maximum filter efficiency;

2. Physical measurements of outside air delivery rate;

3. Verification of the appropriate condition and operation of ventilation components;

4. Measurement of air distribution system outside air, return air, and supply air and static pressure readings across all air handling unit components, including filters, coils, and fans;

5. Verification of unit operation and that required maintenance has been performed in accordance with the most recent indoor ventilation standards promulgated by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers;

6. Verification of carbon dioxide sensors and acceptable carbon dioxide concentrations indoors; and

7. Collection of field data for the installation of mechanical ventilation if none exists.

B. The portion of the uniform inspection and evaluation required pursuant to subsection A that relates to the ventilation system shall identify the extent to which each school's current ventilation system components, including any existing central or noncentral mechanical ventilation system, are operating in such a manner as to provide appropriate ventilation to the school building in accordance with the most recent indoor ventilation standards promulgated by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

C. Each local school division shall prepare a written report of the results of the uniform inspection and evaluation required pursuant to subsection A that includes any corrective actions necessary to be performed on the mechanical ventilation system or the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning infrastructure, including installation of filters meeting the most optimal level of filtration available for a given heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, installation of carbon dioxide sensors, and additional maintenance, repairs, upgrades, or replacement. Each local school division shall make such report available for public inspection at a regularly scheduled local school board meeting and on the local school board's public website.

D. No local school division is required to provide for a uniform inspection and evaluation pursuant to subsection A for any school building that will cease to be used as a school within one year of such a planned inspection and evaluation.

2025, cc. 632 , 668 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-264 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 14 / Article 1 / Section 22.1-264
Misdemeanor to make false statements as to age
Status: in_force

Any person who makes a false statement concerning the age of a child between the ages set forth in § 22.1-254 for the purpose of evading the provisions of this article shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor.

Code 1950, § 22-275.18; 1959, Ex. Sess., c. 72; 1968, c. 178; 1976, cc. 283, 681, 713; 1980, c. 559.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-278 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 14 / Article 3 / Section 22.1-278
Repealed
Status: repealed

Repealed by Acts 2001, cc. 688 and 820 , cl. 2.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-295.1 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 15 / Article 2 / Section 22.1-295.1
Employee personnel files; maintenance of employee records; confidentiality of certain records
Status: in_force

A. Personnel files of all school board employees may be produced and maintained in digital or paper format.

B. Information determined to be unfounded after a reasonable administrative review shall not be maintained in any employee personnel file, but may be retained in a separate sealed file by the administration if such information alleges civil or criminal offenses. Any dispute over such unfounded information exclusive of opinions retained in the personnel file, or in a separate sealed file, notwithstanding the provisions of the Government Data Collection and Dissemination Practices Act (§ 2.2-3800 et seq.), shall be settled through the employee grievance procedure as provided in §§ 22.1-306 and 22.1-308 through 22.1-314 .

C. Teacher performance indicators or other data collected by or for the Department of Education or the local school board or made available to and able to be used by the local school board to judge the performance or quality of a teacher, maintained in a teacher's personnel file or otherwise, shall be confidential but may be disclosed, in a form that does not personally identify any student or other teacher, (i) pursuant to court order, (ii) for the purposes of a grievance proceeding involving the teacher, or (iii) as otherwise required by state or federal law. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit the release or to limit the availability of nonidentifying, aggregate teacher performance indicators or other data.

1987, c. 506; 2006, c. 191 ; 2013, c. 291 ; 2016, c. 390 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-276 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 14 / Article 3 / Section 22.1-276
Repealed
Status: repealed

Repealed by Acts 2001, cc. 688 and 820 , cl. 2.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-289.025 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 14.1 / Article 3 / Section 22.1-289.025
Right to appeal notice of intent; child day programs and home-based child care systems operated by agencies of the Commonwealth
Status: in_force

Any child day program or home-based child care system operated by an agency of the Commonwealth shall have the right to appeal any notice of intent as follows:

1. Within 30 days after receiving a notice of intent to impose a sanction, the licensee shall request in writing that the Superintendent review the intended agency action and may submit, together with such request, relevant information, documentation, or other pertinent data supporting its appeal. The Superintendent shall issue a decision within 60 days after receiving the request and shall have the authority to uphold the sanction or take whatever action he deems appropriate to resolve the controversy.

2. If the child day program or home-based child care system disputes the Superintendent's decision, the licensee shall request, within 30 days of receiving the Superintendent's decision, that the Superintendent refer the matter to the Secretary of Education. The Secretary shall issue a decision within 60 days of receiving the request for review. The Secretary's decision shall be final and shall not be subject to review.

2020, cc. 860 , 861 ; 2026, c. 917 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-137.4 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 9 / Article 2 / Section 22.1-137.4
School building evacuation plans, policies, and protocols; students with mobility impairments
Status: in_force

Any divisionwide or public elementary or secondary school-specific school building evacuation plan, policy, or protocol shall include provisions that seek to maximize the opportunity for students with mobility impairments to evacuate the school building alongside their non-mobility-impaired peers.

2024, c. 194 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-207.2:2 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 13 / Article 1 / Section 22.1-207.2:2
School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program; applications
Status: in_force

A. Each local school board that collects information to determine eligibility for participation in the School Breakfast Program or the National School Lunch Program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shall establish and post prominently on its website a web-based application for student participation in such program and shall continue to provide a paper-based application.

B. Each public elementary or secondary school shall process each web-based or paper-based application for participation in the School Breakfast Program or the National School Lunch Program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture within six working days after the date of receipt of the completed application.

2019, c. 228 ; 2022, c. 424 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-99 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 8 / Article 1 / Section 22.1-99
Approval and certification of apportionment of school funds
Status: in_force

Subject to approval or amendment by the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall apportion the state funds appropriated for public school purposes among the several school divisions and, when approved, the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall certify to the Comptroller such apportionment for the payment of the same.

Code 1950, § 22-140; 1972, c. 663; 1980, c. 559.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-116.1 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 8 / Article 5 / Section 22.1-116.1
Receipt of payment by credit cards; service charge
Status: in_force

School boards may accept payment for services and goods by credit or debit cards. School boards accepting credit or debit card payments may, in addition to any penalties and interest, add to such payment a sum as a service charge for the acceptance of such method of payment.

2002, cc. 164 , 238 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-212.13 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 13 / Article 1.2 / Section 22.1-212.13
Employment of professional, licensed personnel
Status: in_force

A. At the discretion of the local school board, charter school personnel may be employees of the local school board, or boards, granting the charter. Any personnel not employed by the local school board shall remain subject to the provisions of §§ 22.1-296.1 , 22.1-296.2 , and 22.1-296.4 .

B. Professional, licensed education personnel may volunteer for assignment to a public charter school. Assignment in a public charter school shall be for one contract year. Upon request of the employee and the recommendation of the management committee of the public charter school, reassignment to the public charter school shall occur on an annual basis.

C. At the completion of each contract year, professional, licensed education personnel who request assignment to a public noncharter school in the relevant school division or who are not recommended for reassignment in the public charter school, other than for the grounds cited in § 22.1-307 , shall be guaranteed an involuntary transfer to a public noncharter school in the school division according to the employment policies of the school division.

D. Professional, licensed personnel of a public charter school shall be granted the same employment benefits given to professional, licensed personnel in public noncharter schools in accordance with the policies of the relevant school board or boards.

E. School boards may employ such health, mental health, social services, and other related personnel to serve in residential charter schools for at-risk pupils as set forth in the charter agreement between such school board and the charter school; however, nothing herein shall require a school board to fund the residential or other services provided by a residential charter school.

1998, cc. 748 , 890 ; 2000, cc. 631 , 712 , 1028 ; 2012, cc. 702 , 720 ; 2016, c. 770 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-227 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 13 / Article 4 / Section 22.1-227
Board designated to carry out provisions of federal act
Status: in_force

The Board of Education is designated as the State Board of Career and Technical Education to carry out the provisions of the federal Vocational Education Act of 1963, as amended, and as such shall promote and administer the provision of agriculture, business, marketing, home economics, health, technology education, trade and industrial education in the public middle and high schools, regional schools established pursuant to § 22.1-26 , institutions of higher education, and other eligible institutions for youth and adults.

For the purposes of this section, "promote" shall not be construed to mandate the implementation of any additional career and technical education programs that are not currently offered.

Code 1950, § 22-319; 1980, c. 559; 1992, cc. 673, 897; 2001, c. 483 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-47 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 5 / Article 4 / Section 22.1-47
Composition of boards; appointment and terms; tie breakers
Status: in_force

A. The school board of a school division composed of a county having a county manager plan form of government provided for in Article 2 (§ 15.2-702 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 15.2 shall be composed of not less than three nor more than seven members who shall be chosen by the board of county supervisors. The exact number of members shall be determined by the board of county supervisors. Each member shall be appointed for a term of four years, provided that initial appointments may be for such terms as will stagger the expiration of terms and that appointments to fill vacancies other than by expiration of term shall be for the unexpired term. The governing body of the county may also appoint a resident of the county to cast the deciding vote in case of a tie vote of the school board as provided in § 22.1-75 . Each tie breaker, if any, shall be appointed for a four-year term whether the appointment is to fill a vacancy caused by expiration of term or otherwise. Notwithstanding any contrary provisions of this section, any such county may have an elected school board pursuant to Article 4.1 (§ 22.1-47.1 et seq.).

B. It is further provided that those counties having a county board form of government as contained in Chapter 4 (§ 15.2-400 et seq.) of Title 15.2 shall select their school board as provided in § 15.2-410 , as amended.

Code 1950, §§ 22-80, 22-83.1; 1956, c. 591; 1964, c. 100; 1980, c. 559; 1981, c. 246; 2018, c. 385 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-32 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 5 / Article 1 / Section 22.1-32
Salary of members
Status: in_force

Any elected or appointed school board may pay each of its members an annual salary that is consistent with the salary procedures and no more than the salary limits provided for local governments in Article 1.1 (§ 15.2-1414.1 et seq.) of Chapter 14 of Title 15.2 or as provided by charter, provided that:

1. Any school board may pay the chairman of the school board an additional salary not exceeding $2,000 per year upon passage of an appropriate resolution by (i) the school board whose membership is elected in whole or in part or (ii) the governing body of the appropriate county, city, or town whose school board is comprised solely of appointed members.

2. Any school board may pay each of its members mileage for use of a private vehicle in attending meetings of the school board and in conducting other official business of the school board. Its members may be reimbursed for private transportation at a rate not to exceed that which is authorized for persons traveling on state business in accordance with § 2.2-2825 . Whatever rate is paid, however, shall be the same for school board members and employees of the board.

3. No school board shall be awarded a salary increase unless, upon an affirmative vote by such school board, a specific salary increase is approved. Local school boards shall adopt such increases according to the following procedures:

a. A local school board representing a county may establish a salary increase prior to July 1 of any year in which members are to be elected or appointed, or, if such school board is elected or appointed for staggered terms, prior to July 1 of any year in which at least two members are to be elected or appointed. Such increase shall become effective on January 1 of the following year.

b. A local school board representing a city or town may establish a salary increase prior to December 31 in any year preceding a year in which members are to be elected or appointed. Such increase shall become effective on July 1 of the year in which the election or appointment occurs if the election or appointment occurs prior to July 1 and shall be become effective January 1 of the following year if the election or appointment occurs after June 30.

4. No salary increase may become effective during an incumbent member's term of office; however, this restriction shall not apply if the school board members are elected or appointed for staggered terms.

Code 1950, § 22-67.2; 1950, pp. 465, 490; 1952, c. 170; 1954, cc. 206, 709; 1956, c. 317; 1956, Ex. Sess., cc. 5, 44; 1958, c. 375; 1960, c. 217; 1962, c. 223; 1964, c. 166; 1966, c. 82; 1968, c. 731; 1970, c. 498; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 93; 1972, c. 623; 1973, c. 153; 1974, cc. 158, 197; 1975, c. 468; 1976, cc. 127, 176; 1977, cc. 389, 512; 1978, c. 488; 1979, c. 237; 1980, c. 559; 1981, c. 482; 1982, c. 488; 1983, c. 562; 1984, c. 483; 1985, c. 493; 1986, cc. 446, 486; 1987, c. 348; 1988, cc. 567, 582; 1989, cc. 464, 504; 1990, cc. 805, 878; 1991, c. 279; 1992, c. 406; 1993, cc. 658, 783; 1994, cc. 847 , 900 ; 1995, c. 487 ; 1996, cc. 898 , 1041 ; 1997, cc. 233 , 366 ; 1998, cc. 309 , 395 , 600 , 872 ; 1999, cc. 423 , 656 , 689 ; 2000, cc. 721 , 738 ; 2001, cc. 603 , 607 ; 2002, cc. 669 , 733 , 739 ; 2003, cc. 175 , 713 ; 2004, cc. 179 , 199 ; 2005, cc. 489 , 536 ; 2006, cc. 126 , 840 ; 2007, c. 53 ; 2010, c. 723 ; 2013, c. 278 ; 2017, c. 323 ; 2018, cc. 65 , 80 ; 2020, c. 1046 ; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 20 , 79 , 80 , 81 ; 2022, c. 662 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-274.01 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 14 / Article 2 / Section 22.1-274.01
Repealed
Status: repealed

Repealed by Acts 2011, c. 216 , cl. 2.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-16.1 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 2 / Section 22.1-16.1
Board to establish regulations regarding human research
Status: in_force

The Board shall promulgate regulations pursuant to the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) to effectuate the provisions of Chapter 5.1 (§ 32.1-162.16 et seq.) of Title 32.1 for human research, as defined in § 32.1-162.16 , to be conducted or authorized by the Department of Education or any public schools including the Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind or any proprietary schools certified by the Board. The regulations shall require the human research committee to submit to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction or his designee at least annually a report on the human research projects reviewed and approved by the committee and shall require the committee to report any significant deviations from the proposals as approved.

1992, c. 603.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-289.016 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 14.1 / Article 3 / Section 22.1-289.016
Unlicensed and unregistered home-based child care; notice to parents
Status: in_force

Every unlicensed, unregistered home-based child care provider shall provide written notice to the parents of every child receiving care, at the time the home-based child care provider begins providing care for the child, stating that the home-based child care is not regulated by the Department and referring parents to a website maintained by the Department for additional information regarding licensed, registered, and unlicensed, unregistered home-based child care. The provisions of this section shall not apply to unlicensed, unregistered home-based child care in which all of the children receiving care are related to the provider by blood or marriage.

2020, cc. 860 , 861 ; 2026, c. 917 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-216 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 13 / Article 2 / Section 22.1-216
Use of public or private facilities and personnel under contract for special education
Status: in_force

A school board may provide special education for children with disabilities either directly with its own facilities and personnel or under contract with another school division or divisions or any other public or private nonsectarian school, agency or institution licensed or certified by the Board of Education or by a licensing authority in the state where the facility is located. Special education for children below the compulsory school attendance age may be provided in nonsectarian child-day programs licensed in accordance with state law.

Code 1950, § 22-10.6; 1974, c. 480; 1980, c. 559; 1994, cc. 376 , 854 ; 1996, c. 133 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-349 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 19 / Section 22.1-349
Terms of employment of teachers
Status: in_force

For the purpose of retirement and other statutory benefits, teachers employed as full-time instructional personnel by the Board of Visitors shall be deemed to be full-time state personnel and shall receive the same benefits as are accorded all other full-time state personnel. The Board of Visitors shall require the teachers at the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind to comply with the provisions of §§ 22.1-298.1 , 22.1-299 , and 22.1-303 . The Board of Visitors shall require any applicant for employment as full-time instructional personnel or other position requiring as a condition of employment direct contact with students to submit to a fingerprinting and criminal history record check through the Central Criminal Records Exchange to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in accordance with the provisions of §§ 22.1-296 and 22.1-296.1 . The Board of Visitors shall be deemed a governmental entity for the purpose of receiving from the Central Criminal Records Exchange any criminal history record information pertaining to an application for employment. Contracts for the employment of teachers shall be in the form prescribed by the school board of the school division in which the school is located. In cases of nonrenewal of contracts of probationary teachers, the decisions shall be appealable to the Board of Visitors. For all other purposes, the Virginia Personnel Act (§ 2.2-2900 et seq.) shall apply to the teachers of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind.

The Board of Visitors shall establish salary schedules for all professional personnel that are competitive with those in effect for the school divisions in which the facility is located.

1984, c. 413; 1993, c. 2; 2006, cc. 27 , 349 ; 2009, c. 210 ; 2023, c. 670 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-349.3 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 19.1 / Section 22.1-349.3
Establishment and operation of college partnership laboratory schools; requirements
Status: in_force

A. A college partnership laboratory school is subject to all federal and state laws and regulations and constitutional provisions prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services.

B. Enrollment in college partnership laboratory schools shall be open through a lottery process on a space-available basis to any student who is deemed to reside within the Commonwealth. A waiting list shall be established if adequate space is not available to accommodate all students whose parents have requested to be entered in the lottery process. Such waiting list shall also be prioritized through a lottery process, and parents shall be informed of their student's position on the list. For college partnership laboratory schools that form a collaborative partnership with one or more local school divisions in accordance with subsection G, (i) enrollment in the college partnership laboratory school shall be administered by one of the partnering divisions and (ii) the parents of any enrolled student shall be notified of such collaborative partnership and provided with contact information for an administrator in such partnering division that the parent can contact with questions or concerns about program administration or the student's experience at the college partnership laboratory school.

C. A college partnership laboratory school shall be administered and managed by a governing board. Pursuant to a contract and as specified in § 22.1-349.4 , a college partnership laboratory school is subject to the requirements of the Standards of Quality, including the Standards of Learning and the Standards of Accreditation, and such regulations as are determined by the Board. Each college partnership laboratory shall identify in a conspicuous and publicly accessible manner and location on the school's website the members and meeting schedule of the school's governing board; a summary of the operational, budgetary, and contractual decisions of such governing board; and the Board regulations to which such school is subject.

D. Pursuant to a college partnership laboratory school agreement, a college partnership laboratory school is responsible for its own operations, including such budget preparation, contracts for services, and personnel matters as are specified in the agreement. A college partnership laboratory school may also negotiate and contract with a school board, the governing body of an institution of higher education, or any third party for the use of a school building or grounds, the operation and maintenance of such building or grounds, and the provision of any service, activity, or undertaking that the college partnership laboratory school is required to perform in order to carry out the educational program described in its contract. Any services for which a college partnership laboratory school contracts with a school board or institution of higher education shall not exceed the cost to the school division or institution to provide such services.

E. No college partnership laboratory school shall charge tuition for courses required for high school graduation. However, (i) tuition may be charged for courses for which the student receives college credit and enrichment courses that are not required to earn a Board-approved high school diploma and, (ii) for college partnership laboratory schools that form a collaborative partnership with one or more local school divisions in accordance with subsection G, the school board of the partnering school division that administers student enrollment in accordance with subsection A may charge tuition in accordance with § 22.1-5 for students who do not reside within the partnering school division.

F. An approved college partnership laboratory school shall be designated as a local education agency but shall not constitute a school division.

G. College partnership laboratory schools are encouraged to develop collaborative partnerships with local school divisions for the purpose of building seamless education opportunities for all preschool through postsecondary students in the Commonwealth. An educational program provided to students enrolled in a local school division pursuant to a collaborative partnership between the college partnership laboratory school and the local school division is the educational program of the local school division for purposes of the Standards of Accreditation.

2010, cc. 816 , 871 , § 23-299.2; 2012, cc. 176 , 580 ; 2014, c. 754 ; 2016, c. 588 ; 2020, c. 1137 ; 2026, c. 790 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-21 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 3 / Section 22.1-21
Appointment and qualification
Status: in_force

The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall be appointed by the Governor, after consultation with the Board of Education among others, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly, for a term coincident with that of the Governor making the appointment. Any vacancy shall be filled in the same manner. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall be an experienced educator.

Code 1950, § 22-22; 1977, c. 542; 1980, c. 559.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-180 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 12 / Article 1 / Section 22.1-180
Requirements for persons employed to transport pupils attending religious or private schools
Status: in_force

No person, partnership, association or corporation operating any religious or private school shall hire, employ or enter into any agreement with any person for the purpose of transporting pupils by motor vehicle unless such person shall present the documents and meet the qualifications required of operators of public school buses by subsection A of § 22.1-178 . The State Department of Education shall furnish the forms prescribed for the purposes of § 22.1-178 to any person, partnership, association or corporation who shall request such forms for the purpose of compliance with this section.

Code 1950, § 22-276.2; 1968, c. 432; 1980, c. 559; 2005, c. 928 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-208.2:1.1 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 13 / Article 1 / Section 22.1-208.2:1.1
Repealed
Status: repealed

Repealed by Acts 2004, c. 872 , cl. 4, effective May 4, 2005.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-84 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 7 / Section 22.1-84
Insurance
Status: in_force

A school board may provide for insurance on school properties against loss by fire and against such other losses as it deems necessary and may provide liability insurance, or may provide self-insurance, for certain or all of its officers and employees and for student teachers and other persons performing functions or services for any school in the school division, even though any such student teacher or other person performs such functions or services without payment therefor, to cover the costs and expenses incident to liability, including those for settlement, suit or satisfaction of judgment, arising from their conduct in discharging their duties or in performing functions or services for a school. The liability insurance coverage shall be placed with insurance companies authorized to do business in this Commonwealth.

Code 1950, §§ 22-56.2, 22-72; 1954, c. 289; 1956, Ex. Sess., c. 60; 1959, Ex. Sess., c. 79, § 1; 1966, c. 691; 1970, c. 71; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 161; 1972, c. 511; 1975, cc. 308, 328; 1976, c. 407; 1980, c. 559.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-386 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 29 / Section 22.1-386
Board to develop and issue grant guidelines; application; administration
Status: in_force

The Board shall develop and issue guidelines for the general requirements of qualifying for a grant and shall develop the grant application form. Such guidelines shall be exempt from the provisions of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.).

2024, c. 151 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-126.1 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 9 / Article 1 / Section 22.1-126.1
Acquisition of property for educational purposes by counties, cities and towns
Status: in_force

Any county, city or town or any combination thereof acting jointly may acquire for educational purposes by gift, purchase, condemnation or otherwise, real property and any improvements thereon within the county, city, town or combination thereof acquiring the property or within any county or city adjacent to any such county, city or town and may construct buildings thereon to be used for educational purposes. The powers of condemnation granted by this section shall be subject to the provisions of § 25.1-102 to the same extent as though such county, city or town were a corporation possessing the power of eminent domain. Whenever the property is not within a county, city or town acquiring the property, not more than 50 acres may be acquired. Property acquired pursuant to this section shall be under the control of the school board of the county, city or town acquiring it, or, in the case of joint action by two or more counties, cities or towns or combinations thereof, control of such property shall be under a board chosen in the manner and for the term provided in § 22.1-53 . Such property may be leased on such terms as may be agreed upon to any public institution of higher education to provide for education beyond high school of residents in the general region of such political subdivisions, or the property may, with the approval of the governing body of each such participating political subdivision, be conveyed to any such institution of higher education upon such terms and conditions as shall be agreed upon by such governing bodies and the governing body of the institution and approved by the Governor.

1995, c. 250 ; 2003, c. 940 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-289.07 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 14.1 / Article 1 / Section 22.1-289.07
Information related to shaken baby syndrome
Status: in_force

The Department shall make information about shaken baby syndrome, its effects, and resources for help and support for caretakers in a printable format, and information about how to acquire information about shaken baby syndrome and its effects in an audiovisual format, available to the public on its website. Such information shall be provided to every child day program and home-based child care system required to be licensed by the Department at the time of initial licensure and upon request.

2020, cc. 860 , 861 ; 2026, c. 917 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-217.3 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 13 / Article 2 / Section 22.1-217.3
Special education transition; identification of faculty member responsible for school transition and planning coordination
Status: in_force

Each public high school in the Commonwealth shall publicly identify on its official website the faculty member responsible for special education transition planning and coordination at such high school.

2023, cc. 280 , 281 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-89.3 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 8 / Article 1 / Section 22.1-89.3
Repealed
Status: repealed

Repealed by Acts 2022, c. 355 , cl. 2.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-45 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 5 / Article 3 / Section 22.1-45
Referendum to revert to appointment by school board selection commission
Status: in_force

A. Upon a petition (i) filed with the circuit court of any county which has changed the method of appointment of the members of the school board to appointment by the governing body as a result of a referendum as provided in this article or former §§ 22-79.1 through 22-79.6, (ii) signed by a number of registered voters of the county equal to fifteen per centum of the number of votes cast in the county in the preceding presidential election, and (iii) asking that a referendum be held on the question of changing the method of selection of members of the county school board, the court shall, by order entered of record, require the regular election officials on the day fixed in such order to open the polls and take the sense of the qualified voters of the county on the question printed on the ballot as herein provided. The clerk of the county shall cause a notice of such referendum to be published in some newspaper published or having a general circulation in the county once a week for three successive weeks prior to such referendum and shall post a copy of such notice during the same time at the front door of the courthouse of the county. The ballots used in such referendum shall be printed as follows:

"Shall the present method of selecting the members of the county school board be changed from appointment by the governing body of the county to appointment by a school board selection commission?

Yes [ ]

No [ ]"

The ballots shall be counted, returns made and canvassed as in other elections, and the results certified by the electoral board to the State Board of Elections, the clerk of the county and the circuit court; and the court shall enter of record the results of such referendum.

B. If the majority of the votes cast in such referendum shall be for the proposition, a school board selection commission shall be appointed as provided in § 22.1-35 and the commission shall appoint the members of the county school board and the tie breaker as provided in Article 2 (§ 22.1-34 et seq.) of this chapter as the terms of the incumbents expire or as vacancies otherwise occur.

If a majority of the votes cast in such referendum are against the proposition, the members of the school board and the tie breaker shall continue to be appointed by the governing body as provided in this article.

1980, c. 559.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-117 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 8 / Article 5 / Section 22.1-117
Fiscal agents of certain school divisions
Status: in_force

The fiscal agent for the school board of a school division composed of part or all of more than one county or city shall be the treasurer of one of the participating counties or cities, as agreed upon by the division school board and the governing bodies. In the event agreement on the selection of a fiscal agent cannot be reached, the Board of Education shall designate such fiscal agent. For his services as fiscal agent, the treasurer shall be paid such salary as the school board and treasurer may agree upon. In the event the school board and the treasurer so designated cannot agree on such compensation, the amount of salary to be paid shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. The amount so fixed by the court shall be binding upon both the treasurer and the school board. Nothing contained in this section shall affect the regular salary or expense allowance of the treasurer as fixed annually by the State Compensation Board.

Code 1950, § 22-100.10; 1954, c. 391; 1980, c. 559.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-332 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 16 / Section 22.1-332
List of schools holding valid licenses
Status: in_force

The Department shall maintain a list of schools holding valid licenses under the provisions of this chapter that shall be available for the information of the public.

Code 1950, § 22-330.32; 1970, c. 665; 1980, c. 559; 1988, c. 574; 2004, c. 991 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-26.2 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 4 / Section 22.1-26.2
Academic year Governor's Schools; certain practices prohibited and required
Status: in_force

A. No academic year Governor's School or governing board member, director, administrator, or employee thereof shall discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the process of admitting students to such school.

B. Each local school board that jointly manages and controls a regional academic year Governor's school pursuant to § 22.1-26 shall collaborate to ensure that each public middle school that is eligible to send students to attend such Governor's school offers coursework, curriculum, and instruction that is comparable in content and in rigor in order to provide each student in each such middle school with the opportunity to gain admission to and excel academically at such Governor's school.

2022, c. 485 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-326.1 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 16 / Section 22.1-326.1
Repealed
Status: repealed

Repealed by Acts 2004, c. 991 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-20.2:1 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 2 / Section 22.1-20.2:1
Artificial intelligence system use and safety in instructional settings; AIS Innovation in Education Pilot Program established; guidance
Status: in_force

A. As used in this section:

"AIS in instructional settings" means the use of artificial intelligence systems to support teaching, learning, assessment, or school operations.

"Artificial intelligence system" or "AIS" means any machine learning-based system that, for any explicit or implicit objective, infers from the inputs such system receives how to generate outputs, including content, decisions, predictions, and recommendations, that can influence physical or virtual environments. "Artificial intelligence system" or "AIS" does not include any artificial intelligence system or general purpose artificial intelligence model that is used for development, prototyping, and research activities before such artificial intelligence system or general purpose artificial intelligence model is made available to deployers or consumers.

"Division-managed AIS platform" means an AIS technology solution deployed within a division-managed environment that (i) aligns with the Standards of Learning and high-quality instructional materials; (ii) provides administrators visibility into platform usage; and (iii) prohibits the use of school or student data for model training outside of the school division's control.

"Division-managed environment" means use of an AIS that is administered within and by a school division through role-based access controls, administrative oversight, audit logging, and configurable moderation, consistent with school board policy.

"Pilot Program" means the AIS Innovation in Education Pilot Program established pursuant to subsection D.

B. The Department, in consultation with local school divisions and other relevant stakeholders, shall (i) compile information on current uses of artificial intelligence systems for student instruction in public schools in the Commonwealth and (ii) establish and post in a publicly accessible location on its website guidance for the safe, ethical, and equitable use of an AIS in instructional settings in public elementary and secondary schools. Such guidance shall:

1. Address:

a. Student data privacy and security in general and in the context of artificial intelligence systems, including compliance with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. § 1232g) and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (15 U.S.C. § 6501 et seq.), and any other applicable federal and state laws relating to student privacy;

b. Resources and training for teachers;

c. Transparency and explicability of the use of an AIS in instructional settings;

d. Data privacy agreements with the applicable school division that prohibits the use of any division-level or student data for training or improving any external AIS models;

e. Best practices for (i) guarding against bias and discrimination in the use of any AIS; (ii) developing clear protocols for AIS use by teachers and students in public elementary and secondary schools and embedded professional development resources designed to strengthen educator literacy in the ethical, responsible, and effective use of an AIS, including prohibitions on relying solely on an AIS to make certain high-stakes decisions, as defined by the Department; and (iii) ensuring the accessibility of and equitable access to AIS resources in the school setting; and

f. How school divisions can ensure that any approved use of an AIS in instruction aligns with the Standards of Learning and supports use of high-quality instructional materials;

2. Include suggestions for functional guardrails that prioritize the use of division-managed AIS platforms operated within division-managed environments; and

3. Ensure that any approved use of an AIS in instruction provides teachers with access to transcripts of student interactions with an AIS and allows teachers and administrators to monitor use through dashboards, automated alerts, and audit logs.

C. Each school board shall establish, implement, and enforce policies consistent with the guidance developed by the Department pursuant to subsection B.

D. (Expires July 1, 2030) With such funds as are appropriated for such purpose, the Department shall establish and oversee the AIS Innovation in Education Pilot Program for the purpose of funding, evaluating, and scaling safe and innovative uses of an AIS in public elementary and secondary schools by providing support to school divisions in piloting AIS applications for instruction, tutoring, student engagement, operational efficiency, and teacher support. In establishing and overseeing the Pilot Program, the Department shall:

1. Develop guidelines for the administration of the Pilot Program;

2. In selecting school divisions for participation in the Pilot Program, prioritize proposals from school divisions serving diverse student populations, including high-poverty, rural, and under-resourced school divisions;

3. Require each school division selected for participation in the Pilot Program to (i) include professional development for educators on AIS literacy and responsible use and (ii) develop and submit evaluation plans for measuring the impact of AIS use on student learning, teacher workload, and equity outcomes; and

4. Submit to the Chairs of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by December 1 of each year a report on the Pilot Program established pursuant to this subsection, which shall include, as applicable, (i) a description of projects funded and implemented in school divisions participating in the Pilot Program; (ii) a description and evaluation of the effectiveness, safety, equity, risks, and adverse impacts of the outcomes of individual school divisions participating in the Pilot Program and across all participating school divisions as a whole; and (iii) recommendations regarding the expansion or regulation of AIS use in public schools in the Commonwealth.

2026, cc. 937 , 943 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-280.1 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 14 / Article 3 / Section 22.1-280.1
Repealed
Status: repealed

Repealed by Acts 2001, cc. 688 and 820 , cl. 2.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-207.1:1 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 13 / Article 1 / Section 22.1-207.1:1
Family life education; certain curricula and Standards of Learning
Status: in_force

A. Any family life education curriculum offered by a local school division shall require the Standards of Learning objectives related to dating violence and the characteristics of abusive relationships to be taught at least once in middle school and at least twice in high school, as described in the Board's family life education guidelines.

B. Any high school family life education curriculum offered by a local school division shall incorporate age-appropriate elements of effective and evidence-based programs on (i) the prevention of dating violence, domestic abuse, sexual harassment, including sexual harassment using electronic means, sexual violence, and human trafficking and (ii) the law and meaning of consent. Such age-appropriate elements of effective and evidence-based programs on the prevention of sexual violence may include instruction that increases student awareness of the fact that consent is required before sexual activity.

C. Any family life education curriculum offered in any elementary school, middle school, or high school shall incorporate age-appropriate elements of effective and evidence-based programs on the importance of the personal privacy and personal boundaries of other individuals and tools for a student to use to ensure that he respects the personal privacy and personal boundaries of other individuals.

D. Any family life education curriculum offered by a local school division shall incorporate age-appropriate elements of effective and evidence-based programs on the harmful physical and emotional effects of female genital mutilation; associated criminal penalties; and the rights of the victim, including any civil action pursuant to § 8.01-42.5 .

E. Any family life education curriculum offered by a local school division may incorporate age-appropriate elements of effective and evidence-based programs on the prevention, recognition, and awareness of child abduction, child abuse, child sexual exploitation, child sexual abuse, and, in any such curriculum offered in high school, human trafficking of children.

2011, c. 634 ; 2016, c. 434 ; 2017, cc. 299 , 692 ; 2018, cc. 383 , 519 ; 2019, cc. 372 , 595 , 596 ; 2022, c. 459 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-273.1 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 14 / Article 2 / Section 22.1-273.1
Annual screening for scoliosis
Status: in_force

Within the time periods specified in regulations promulgated by the Board of Education, each school board shall provide parent educational information or implement a program of regular screening for scoliosis for pupils in grades five through ten, unless such students are pupils admitted for the first time to a public school who have been so tested as part of the comprehensive physical examination required by § 22.1-270 or the parents of such students have indicated their preference that their children not participate in such screening. Local school boards shall develop procedures for parents to indicate such preference.

The Board of Education shall promulgate regulations for the implementation of such screenings, which shall address, but shall not be limited to, requirements and training for school personnel and volunteers who may conduct such screenings; procedures for the notification of parents when evidence of scoliosis is detected; and such other provisions as the Board deems necessary. Local school divisions may seek volunteers from among professional health care providers.

2003, c. 894 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-280.2:4 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 14 / Article 3 / Section 22.1-280.2:4
School boards; firearms on school property
Status: in_force

No school board may authorize or designate any person to possess a firearm on school property other than those persons expressly authorized by statute.

2020, c. 1037 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-160 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 10 / Section 22.1-160
School boards authorized to anticipate payment of loans
Status: in_force

Any school board which is indebted for any money borrowed from the Literary Fund may anticipate the payment of the principal amount of any such loan or loans, or any part thereof, by the payment of such principal amount with interest thereon to the date of such anticipated payment and may borrow money and issue bonds for the purpose of raising funds to pay any notes or other obligations of the school board now and hereafter held by the Literary Fund.

Code 1950, § 22-115; 1980, c. 559.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-298.4 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 15 / Article 2 / Section 22.1-298.4
Teacher preparation programs; learning disabilities
Status: in_force

The Department of Education shall collaborate with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to ensure that all teacher preparation programs offered at public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth or otherwise available convey information on the identification of students at risk for learning disabilities, including dyslexia, other language-based learning disabilities, and attention deficit disorder.

2016, c. 649 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-296.1 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 15 / Article 2 / Section 22.1-296.1
Data on convictions for certain crimes and child abuse and neglect required; penalty
Status: in_force

A. As a condition of employment for all of its public school employees, whether full-time or part-time, permanent, or temporary, every school board shall require on its application for employment certification of whether the applicant has been convicted of any violent felony set forth in the definition of barrier crime in subsection A of § 19.2-392.02 ; any offense involving the sexual molestation, physical or sexual abuse, or rape of a child, or the solicitation of any such offense; or any crime of moral turpitude. Any individual making a materially false statement regarding any such offense is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and, in the case of a teacher, upon conviction, the fact of such conviction is grounds for the Board to revoke his license to teach.

B. No school board shall employ any individual who has been convicted of any:

1. Offense involving the sexual molestation of, physical or sexual abuse, or rape of a child, or the solicitation of any such offense.

2. Violent felony or crime of moral turpitude set forth in the definition of barrier crime in subsection A of § 19.2-392.02 , provided, however, that any school board may employ such an individual if (i) such felony conviction does not involve the sexual molestation, physical or sexual abuse, or rape of a child, or the solicitation of any such offense; (ii) such an individual (a) has had his civil rights restored by the Governor; (b) has completed all terms of supervision and has been released from supervision for more than 20 years; (c) is, in the opinion of the school board, of upstanding character; and (d) has demonstrated commitment to public or community service and rehabilitation after completing all terms of supervision; and (iii) the school board certifies in writing that such an individual meets the requirements set forth in this subsection.

C. Any school board may employ any individual who has been convicted of any felony or crime of moral turpitude that is not set forth in the definition of barrier crime in subsection A of § 19.2-392.02 and does not involve the sexual molestation, physical or sexual abuse, or rape of a child, or the solicitation of any such offense, provided that in the case of a felony conviction, such individual has had his civil rights restored by the Governor.

D. Every school board shall also require on its application for employment, as a condition of employment requiring direct contact with students, whether full-time or part-time, permanent, or temporary, certification that the applicant has not been the subject of a founded case of child abuse and neglect. Any person making a materially false statement regarding a finding of child abuse and neglect is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and upon conviction, the fact of such conviction is grounds for the Board to revoke such person's license to teach.

E. As a condition of awarding a contract for the provision of services that require the contractor or his employees to have direct contact with students on school property during regular school hours or during school-sponsored activities, the school board shall require the contractor to provide certification of whether any individual who will provide such services has been convicted of any violent felony set forth in the definition of barrier crime in subsection A of § 19.2-392.02 ; any offense involving the sexual molestation, physical or sexual abuse, or rape of a child, or the solicitation of any such offense; or any crime of moral turpitude.

Any individual making a materially false statement regarding any such offense is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor and, upon conviction, the fact of such conviction is grounds for the revocation of the contract to provide such services and, when relevant, the revocation of any license required to provide such services. School boards shall not be liable for materially false statements regarding the certifications required by this subsection.

This subsection shall not apply to a contractor or his employees providing services to a school division in an emergency or exceptional situation, such as when student health or safety is endangered or when repairs are needed on an urgent basis to ensure that school facilities are safe and habitable, when it is reasonably anticipated that the contractor or his employees will have no direct contact with students.

F. No school board shall award a contract for the provision of services that require the contractor or his employees to have direct contact with students on school property during regular school hours or during school-sponsored activities when any individual who provides such services has been convicted of any:

1. Offense involving the sexual molestation, physical or sexual abuse, or rape of a child, or the solicitation of any such offense.

2. Violent felony or crime of moral turpitude set forth in the definition of barrier crime in subsection A of § 19.2-392.02 , provided, however, that any school board may award a contract for the provision of such services if (i) such felony conviction does not involve the sexual molestation, physical or sexual abuse, or rape of a child, or the solicitation of any such offense; (ii) such an individual (a) has had his civil rights restored by the Governor; (b) has completed all terms of supervision and has been released from supervision for more than 20 years; (c) is, in the opinion of the school board, of upstanding character; and (d) has demonstrated commitment to public or community service and rehabilitation after completing all terms of supervision; and (iii) the school board certifies in writing that such an individual meets the requirements set forth in this subsection.

G. Any school board may award a contract for the provision of services that require the contractor or his employees to have direct contact with students on school property during regular school hours or during school-sponsored activities when any individual who provides such services has been convicted of any felony or crime of moral turpitude that is not set forth in the definition of barrier crime in subsection A of § 19.2-392.02 and does not involve the sexual molestation, physical or sexual abuse, or rape of a child, or the solicitation of any such offense, provided that in the case of a felony conviction, such individual has had his civil rights restored by the Governor.

H. For the purposes of this section, "school board" includes the Board of Visitors of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind, which, for the purpose of receiving criminal history record information pertaining to an application for employment from the Central Criminal Records Exchange, shall be a governmental entity.

1985, c. 487; 1987, c. 359; 1996, c. 960 ; 1997, c. 103 ; 2003, c. 723 ; 2006, c. 790 ; 2007, cc. 245 , 431 ; 2008, c. 555 ; 2020, c. 877 ; 2023, cc. 670 , 703 ; 2025, c. 642 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-63 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 6 / Section 22.1-63
Certain officers ineligible for or to hold office of superintendent
Status: in_force

A. No member of the governing body of a county, city or town and no member of a school board shall be eligible for the office of division superintendent of schools in the school division in which he serves.

B. No federal officer or employee, no state officer, except an officer appointed by the Governor, no state employee, no deputy of such officers, no officer or employee or the deputy of an officer of a city, county or town, no member of the governing body of a county, city or town, no member of a school board and no chairman of any political party shall be eligible to hold the office of division superintendent of schools.

Code 1950, § 22-35; 1954, c. 334; 1956, c. 620; 1980, c. 559.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-271.1 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 14 / Article 2 / Section 22.1-271.1
Definitions
Status: in_force

For the purpose of § 22.1-271.2 :

"Admit" or "admission" means the official enrollment or reenrollment for attendance at any grade level, whether full-time or part-time, of any student by any school.

"Admitting official" means the school principal or his designated representative if a public school; if a nonpublic school or child-care center, the principal, headmaster or director of the school or center.

"Documentary proof" means written certification that a student has been immunized, such certificate to be on a form provided by the State Department of Health and signed by the licensed immunizing physician or an employee of the immunizing local health department.

"Student" means any person who seeks admission to a school, or for whom admission to a school is sought by a parent or guardian, and who will not have attained the age of 20 years by the start of the school term for which admission is sought.

"Immunized" or "immunization" means initial immunization and any boosters or reimmunizations required by § 32.1-46 .

"School" means (i) any public school from kindergarten through grade 12 operated under the authority of any locality within the Commonwealth, (ii) any private or religious school that offers instruction at any level or grade from kindergarten through grade twelve, and (iii) any private or religious nursery school or preschool, or any private or religious child-care center required to be licensed by the Commonwealth.

1982, c. 510; 1983, c. 433; 2005, c. 928 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-20 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 2 / Section 22.1-20
Retention of pupil personnel records
Status: in_force

The Board of Education is authorized to promulgate regulations governing the retention of pupil personnel records in public schools.

Code 1950, § 22-53.1; 1968, c. 351; 1970, c. 154; 1980, c. 559.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-271.3 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 14 / Article 2 / Section 22.1-271.3
Guidelines for school attendance for children infected with human immunodeficiency virus; school personnel training required; notification of school personnel in certain cases
Status: in_force

A. The Board, in cooperation with the Board of Health, shall develop, and revise as necessary, model guidelines for school attendance for children infected with human immunodeficiency virus. The Board shall distribute copies of these guidelines to each division superintendent and every school board member in the Commonwealth immediately following development or revision.

B. Each school board shall adopt guidelines for school attendance for children with human immunodeficiency virus. Such guidelines shall be consistent with the model guidelines for such school attendance developed by the Board.

C. Every school board shall ensure that all school personnel having direct contact with students receive appropriate training in the etiology, prevention, transmission modes, and effects of blood-borne pathogens, specifically, hepatitis B and human immunodeficiency viruses or any other infections that are the subject of regulations promulgated by the Safety and Health Codes Board of the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Program within the Department of Labor and Industry.

D. Upon notification by a school employee who believes he has been involved in a possible exposure-prone incident that may have exposed the employee to the blood or body fluids of a student, the division superintendent shall contact the local health director who, upon immediate investigation of the incident, shall determine if a potentially harmful exposure has occurred and make recommendations, based upon all information available to him, regarding how the employee can reduce any risks from such exposure. The division superintendent shall share these recommendations with the school employee. Except as permitted by § 32.1-45.1 , the division superintendent and the school employee shall not divulge any information provided by the local health director regarding such student. The information provided by the local health director shall be subject to any applicable confidentiality requirements set forth in Chapter 2 (§ 32.1-35 et seq.) of Title 32.1.

1989, c. 613; 1997, c. 685 ; 2003, c. 1 ; 2022, c. 355 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-219 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 13 / Article 2 / Section 22.1-219
Use of federal, state or local funds not restricted
Status: in_force

Nothing in this article shall be construed to restrict or prohibit the use of any federal, state or local funds made available under any federal, state or local appropriation or grant.

Code 1950, § 22-10.9; 1974, c. 480; 1980, c. 559.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-61 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 6 / Section 22.1-61
When Board to appoint superintendent
Status: in_force

In the event that a school board fails to appoint a division superintendent within the time prescribed by § 22.1-60 , the State Board shall appoint such division superintendent.

Code 1950, § 22-33; 1954, c. 638; 1972, c. 434; 1980, c. 559.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-222 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 13 / Article 2 / Section 22.1-222
Repealed
Status: repealed

Repealed by Acts 1985, c. 421.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-212.2:4 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 13 / Article 1 / Section 22.1-212.2:4
Interscholastic athletics; student-athletes; compensation and representation for name, image, or likeness
Status: in_force

A. As used in this section:

"Athlete agent" means an individual who holds a valid certificate of registration as an athlete agent issued pursuant to Chapter 5.2 (§ 54.1-526 et seq.) of Title 54.1.

"Attorney" means an attorney licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth.

"Compensation" means any type of remuneration or anything of value. "Compensation" does not include any (i) scholarship provided to a student-athlete that covers some or all of the cost of attendance at a high school at which the student-athlete is enrolled or (ii) benefit a student-athlete may receive in accordance with the rules of the relevant athletic association or conference.

"High school" means any public or private high school in the Commonwealth.

"Student-athlete" means an individual enrolled at a high school who participates in interscholastic athletics.

B. No high school or agent thereof, athletic association, athletic conference, or other organization with authority over interscholastic athletics shall:

1. Prohibit or prevent a student-athlete from earning compensation for the use of his name, image, or likeness, except as otherwise permitted in this section;

2. Prohibit or prevent a student-athlete from obtaining professional representation by an athlete agent or legal representation by an attorney in connection with issues related to name, image, or likeness; or

3. Declare a student-athlete ineligible for interscholastic athletic competition because he earns compensation for the use of his name, image, or likeness or obtains professional representation by an athlete agent or legal representation by an attorney in connection with issues related to name, image, or likeness.

C. No athletic association, athletic conference, or other organization with authority over interscholastic athletics shall prohibit or prevent a high school from becoming a member of the association, conference, or organization or participating in interscholastic athletics sponsored by such association, conference, or organization as a consequence of any student-athlete earning compensation for the use of his name, image, or likeness or obtaining representation by an athlete agent or attorney in connection with issues related to name, image, or likeness.

D. No student-athlete shall earn compensation for the use of his name, image, or likeness in connection with any of the following:

1. Alcohol and alcoholic beverages;

2. Adult entertainment;

3. Cannabis, cannabinoids, cannabidiol, or other derivatives, not including hemp or hemp products;

4. Controlled substances, as defined in § 54.1-3401 ;

5. Performance enhancing drugs or substances such as steroids or human growth hormone;

6. Drug paraphernalia, as defined in § 18.2-265.1 ;

7. Tobacco, tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, nicotine vapor products, and similar products and devices;

8. Weapons, including firearms and ammunition for firearms; and

9. Casinos or gambling, including sports betting.

E. Any high school may prohibit a student-athlete from earning compensation for the use of his name, image, or likeness while the student-athlete is engaged in academic, official team, or athletic program activities, including class, tutoring, competition, practice, travel, academic services, community service, promotional activities, and other athletic program activities.

F. No student-athlete shall use a high school's facilities; apparel; equipment; uniforms; or intellectual property, including logos, indicia, registered and unregistered trademarks, and products protected by copyright, for any opportunity to earn compensation for the use of his name, image, or likeness, unless otherwise permitted by such high school.

G. Prior to executing an agreement concerning the use of his name, image, or likeness, a student-athlete shall disclose such agreement to the high school at which he is enrolled in a manner designated by the high school. If a student-athlete discloses a potential agreement that conflicts with an existing high school agreement, the high school shall disclose the relevant terms of the conflicting agreement to the student-athlete.

H. A high school may prohibit a student-athlete from using his name, image, or likeness to earn compensation if the proposed use conflicts with an existing high school agreement relating to interscholastic athletics.

I. No high school shall, except as otherwise permitted in this section, enter into, renew, or modify any agreement that prohibits a student-athlete from using his name, image, or likeness to earn compensation while the student-athlete is engaged in non-academic, unofficial team, or non-athletic program activities.

J. Nothing in this section shall be construed to impact the employment status of a student-athlete or qualify a student-athlete as an employee of a high school solely because the student-athlete engages in name, image, or likeness opportunities.

K. Any student-athlete who is aggrieved by any action of a high school or agent thereof, athletic association, athletic conference, or other organization with authority over interscholastic athletics in violation of any provision of this section may bring an action for injunctive relief.

L. The Department shall publish in a publicly accessibly format on its website information about laws that are applicable to any contract entered into by a student-athlete relating to compensation for the use of his name, image, or likeness.

2024, c. 694 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-289.027 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 14.1 / Article 3 / Section 22.1-289.027
Offenses; penalty
Status: in_force

Any person, and each officer and each member of the governing board of any association or corporation that operates a child day program or home-based child care system, shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor if he:

1. Interferes with any representative of the Superintendent in the discharge of his duties under this chapter;

2. Makes to the Superintendent or any representative of the Superintendent any report or statement, with respect to the operation of any child day program or home-based child care system, that is known by such person to be false or untrue;

3. Operates or engages in the conduct of a child day program or home-based child care system without first obtaining a license as required by this chapter or after such license has been revoked or suspended or has expired and not been renewed. No violation shall occur if the agency has applied to the Department for renewal prior to the expiration date of the license. Every day's violation of this subdivision shall constitute a separate offense; or

4. Operates or engages in the conduct of a child day program or home-based child care system serving more persons than the maximum stipulated in the license.

2020, cc. 860 , 861 ; 2026, c. 917 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-289.052 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 14.1 / Article 8 / Section 22.1-289.052
Asbestos inspection required for child day centers
Status: in_force

The Superintendent shall not issue a license to any child day center that is located in a building built prior to 1978 until he receives a written statement that the building has been inspected for asbestos, as defined by § 2.2-1162 , and in accordance with the regulations for initial asbestos inspections pursuant to the federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, 40 C.F.R. Part 763 — Asbestos Containing Materials in Schools. The inspection shall be conducted by personnel competent to identify the presence of asbestos and licensed in Virginia as an asbestos inspector and as an asbestos management planner pursuant to Chapter 5 (§ 54.1-500 et seq.) of Title 54.1. The written statement shall state whether (i) no asbestos was detected, (ii) asbestos was detected and response actions to abate any risk to human health have been completed, or (iii) asbestos was detected and response actions to abate any risk to human health have been recommended in accordance with a specified schedule and plan pursuant to applicable state and federal statutes and regulations. The statement shall include identification of any significant hazard areas, the date of the inspection and be signed by the person who inspected for the asbestos. If asbestos was detected, an operations and maintenance plan shall be developed in accordance with the regulations of the federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act and the statement shall be signed by the person who prepared the operations and maintenance plan. Any inspection, preparation of an operations and maintenance plan or response action shall be performed by competent personnel who have been licensed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 5 of Title 54.1.

When asbestos has been detected, the applicant for licensure shall also submit to the Superintendent a written statement that response actions to abate any risk to human health have been or will be initiated in accordance with a specified schedule and plan as recommended by an asbestos management planner licensed in Virginia. This statement shall be signed by the applicant for licensure.

The written statements required by this section shall be submitted for approval to the Superintendent's representative prior to issuance of a license. The provisions of this section shall not apply to child day centers located in buildings required to be inspected pursuant to Article 5 (§ 2.2-1162 et seq.) of Chapter 11 of Title 2.2.

2020, cc. 860 , 861 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-277.07:1 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 14 / Article 3 / Section 22.1-277.07:1
Policies prohibiting possession of firearms
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, each school division may develop and implement procedures addressing disciplinary actions against students, and may establish disciplinary policies prohibiting the possession of firearms on school property, school buses, and at school-sponsored activities.

2004, c. 560 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-289 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 14 / Article 5 / Section 22.1-289
Transfer and management of scholastic records; disclosure of information in court notices; penalty
Status: in_force

A. As used in this section:

"Scholastic record" means those records that are directly related to a student and are maintained by an educational agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution. These include, but are not limited to, documentation pertinent to the educational growth and development of students as they progress through school, student disciplinary records, achievement and test data, cumulative health records, reports of assessments for eligibility for special education services, and Individualized Education Programs. Such records may be recorded in any way, including, but not limited to, handwriting, print, computer media, video or audio tape, film, microfilm, and microfiche.

A notice of adjudication or conviction received by a superintendent relating to an incident that did not occur on school property or during a school-sponsored activity shall not be a part of a student's scholastic record.

"Scholastic record" also does not include records of instructional, supervisory, administrative, and ancillary educational personnel that are kept in the sole possession of the maker of the record and are not accessible or revealed to any other person except a temporary substitute for the maker of the record.

B. Whenever a pupil transfers from one school division to another, the scholastic record or a copy of the scholastic record and a copy of the complete student disciplinary record, including copies of any relevant correspondence sent to the pupil or such pupil's parent and copies of any correspondence and documentation relating to such pupil's placement in an alternative education program pursuant to § 22.1-209.1:2 or 22.1-277.2:1 , shall be transferred to the school division to which the pupil transfers upon request from such school division. Permission of the parent, guardian, or other person having control or charge of the student shall not be required for transfer of such scholastic and disciplinary records to another school or school division within or outside the Commonwealth.

C. Any notice of disposition received pursuant to § 16.1-305.1 shall not be retained after the student has been awarded a diploma or a certificate as provided in § 22.1-253.13:4 .

D. Every student's scholastic record shall be available to the student and his parent, guardian, or other person having control or charge of the student for inspection during the regular school day. Permission of the parent, guardian, or other person having control or charge of the student, or of a student who is 18 years of age or older, shall not be required for transfer of such scholastic record to another school or school division within or outside this Commonwealth.

Consistent with federal law and regulation, each school shall annually notify parents of students currently enrolled and in attendance of their rights under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20 U.S.C. § 1232g) and related regulations.

A school responding to a request for the transfer of the scholastic record from another school division need not provide written notice of the transfer of the record, including the identity of the requester, to the parent, guardian, or other person having control or charge of the student, or to a student who is 18 years of age or older, if the school has previously included in the annual notice required by this subsection a statement that it forwards such records to such requesting school divisions.

E. Whenever the division superintendent is notified by the Department of Juvenile Justice, pursuant to § 16.1-287 , or by a school division employee responsible for education programs in a local jail or a detention center, that a pupil who last attended a school within the school division is a pupil in a school of a juvenile correctional center of the Department of Juvenile Justice, or a pupil in an educational program in a local jail or detention center, the school division superintendent or his designee shall transfer the scholastic record of such pupil to the designated juvenile correctional center or local jail or a detention center, as the case may be, within five work days. The Department of Juvenile Justice shall transfer the scholastic record of a student who has been discharged from a juvenile correctional center to the relevant school division within five work days of the student's discharge.

The Board of Education shall adopt regulations concerning the transfer and management of scholastic records from one school division to another, to the learning centers of the Department of Juvenile Justice, and to educational programs in local jails and detention centers.

Upon receiving notice of a foster care placement of a student across jurisdictional lines, the sending school division and the receiving school division, as such school divisions are defined in subsection D of § 22.1-3.4 , shall expedite the transfer of the scholastic record of the student.

F. The division superintendent or his designee shall notify the local police or sheriff's department for investigation as a possible missing child of any enrolled pupil whose scholastic record he is unable to obtain within 60 days or sooner, if the division superintendent or his designee has reason to suspect that the pupil is a missing child.

G. Superintendents and their designees shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability in connection with any notice to a police or sheriff's department of a pupil lacking a scholastic record or failure to give such notice as required by this section.

H. Except as provided in §§ 16.1-309 and 22.1-287 and this section, a superintendent or his designee, or other school personnel who unlawfully discloses information obtained pursuant to § 16.1-305.1 is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.

I. After a child with a disability, as defined in § 22.1-213 , graduates from, ages out of, or otherwise leaves any public elementary or secondary school in the Commonwealth, such school shall retain the special education records of such child for at least seven years. Each such school shall notify the parents of each such child of the opportunity to obtain such records during such retention period.

Code 1950, § 22-275.28; 1975, c. 639; 1980, c. 559; 1985, c. 593; 1990, c. 797; 1991, c. 295; 1993, cc. 740, 889; 1994, cc. 808 , 835 , 913 ; 1996, c. 1000 ; 2000, c. 86 ; 2005, c. 343 ; 2006, c. 47 ; 2012, cc. 803 , 835 ; 2024, cc. 8 , 61 , 468 , 502 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-151 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 10 / Section 22.1-151
Evidence of loan
Status: in_force

A. A loan from the Literary Fund shall be evidenced by bonds or notes payable to the Commonwealth of Virginia for the benefit of the Literary Fund, executed or signed by the mayor or the chairman of the governing body and the chairman of the school board and attested by the clerk thereof. Evidence of debt taken for such loans shall be deposited with the State Treasurer and kept by him.

B. Upon the request of a locality, any memorandum of lien held on behalf of the Literary Fund prior to July 1, 2007, and deposited with the State Treasurer or recorded in the appropriate circuit court shall be marked as released. The release of such lien shall in no way affect the obligations of the locality under the loan.

Code 1950, § 22-112; 1954, c. 476; 1958, c. 162; 1980, c. 559; 2007, c. 121 ; 2008, c. 365 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-215 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 13 / Article 2 / Section 22.1-215
School divisions to provide special education; plan to be submitted to Board
Status: in_force

Each school division shall provide free and appropriate education, including special education, for (i) the children with disabilities residing within its jurisdiction and (ii) the children with disabilities who do not reside within its jurisdiction but reside in the Commonwealth and are enrolled in a full-time virtual school program provided by the school division, in accordance with regulations of the Board of Education. A school division that is required to provide a free and appropriate education, including special education, for a nonresident student who is enrolled in its full-time virtual school program pursuant to this section shall be entitled to any federal and state funds applicable to the education of such student. In the case of a student who is a resident of the Commonwealth but does not reside in the school division in which he is enrolled in a full-time virtual school program, the school division in which the student resides shall be released from the obligation to provide a free and appropriate education, including special education, for such student.

For the purposes of this section, "children with disabilities, residing within its jurisdiction" shall include: (a) those individuals of school age identified as appropriate to be placed in public school programs who are residing in a state facility operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services located within the school division, or (b) those individuals of school age who are Virginia residents and are placed and living in a foster care home or child-caring institution or group home located within the school division and licensed under the provisions of Chapter 17 (§ 63.2-1700 et seq.) of Title 63.2 as a result of being in the custody of a local department of social services or welfare or being privately placed, not solely for school purposes.

The Board of Education shall promulgate regulations to identify those children placed within facilities operated by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services who are eligible to be appropriately placed in public school programs.

The cost of the education provided to children residing in state facilities who are appropriate to place within the public schools shall remain the responsibility of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. The cost of the education provided to children who are not residents of the Commonwealth and are placed and living in a foster care home or child-caring institution or group home located within the school division and licensed under the provisions of Chapter 17 (§ 63.2-1700 et seq.) of Title 63.2 shall be billed to the sending agency or person by the school division as provided in subsection C of § 22.1-5 . No school division shall refuse to educate any such child or charge tuition to any such child.

Each school division shall submit to the Board of Education in accordance with the schedule and by the date specified by the Board, a plan acceptable to the Board for such education for the period following and a report indicating the extent to which the plan required by law for the preceding period has been implemented. However, the schedule specified by the Board shall not require plans to be submitted more often than annually unless changes to the plan are required by federal or state law or regulation.

Each local school division shall complete a self-assessment and action planning instrument addressing inclusion practices, as developed by the Department, once every three years and report the results of the assessment and plans for improvement to the Department, the division's superintendent, the division's special education director, and the chairs of the local school board and local special education advisory committee.

Code 1950, § 22-10.5; 1974, c. 480; 1978, c. 386; 1980, c. 559; 1985, c. 158; 1988, c. 101; 1994, c. 854 ; 1996, cc. 583 , 594 ; 2009, cc. 813 , 840 ; 2012, cc. 476 , 507 ; 2014, c. 433 ; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 451 , 452 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-16.8 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 2 / Section 22.1-16.8
Instructional material; sexually explicit content; parental notification
Status: in_force

A. As used in this section:

"Instructional material" means any material, regardless of its format, assigned and provided to a student by a public school teacher directly for the completion of an assignment or curricular objective of a specific instructional program. "Instructional material" does not include any book or other audiovisual material available in any public school library unless such book or audiovisual material is specifically required or assigned by a public school teacher directly for completion of an assignment or curricular objective of a specific instructional program.

"Sexually explicit content" has the same meaning as provided in subsection A of § 2.2-2827 .

B. The Department shall develop and make available to each school board model policies for ensuring parental notification of any instructional material that includes sexually explicit content and include information, guidance, procedures, and standards relating to:

1. Ensuring parental notification;

2. Directly identifying the specific instructional material and sexually explicit subjects; and

3. Permitting the parent of any student to review instructional material that includes sexually explicit content and provide, as an alternative, nonexplicit instructional material and related academic activities to any student whose parent so requests.

C. Each school board shall adopt policies that are consistent with but may be more comprehensive than the model policies developed by the Department pursuant to subsection B.

D. Nothing in this section, any model policy or amendments thereto adopted by the Department pursuant to subsection B, or any policy or amendments thereto adopted by a school board pursuant to subsection C shall be (i) construed to permit the censoring of books in any public elementary or secondary school or (ii) utilized as a rationale or basis for the removal of books from any public elementary or secondary school.

2022, c. 100 ; 2026, cc. 321 , 322 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-208.01 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 13 / Article 1 / Section 22.1-208.01
Character education required
Status: in_force

A. Each school board shall establish, within its existing programs or as a separate program, a character education program in its schools, which may occur during the regular school year, during the summer in a youth development academy offered by the school division, or both. The Department of Education shall develop curricular guidelines for school divisions to use in establishing a character education program through a summer youth development academy. The purpose of the character education program shall be to instill in students civic virtues and personal character traits so as to improve the learning environment, promote student achievement, reduce disciplinary problems, and develop civic-minded students of high character. The components of each program shall be developed in cooperation with the students, their parents, and the community at large. The basic character traits taught may include (i) trustworthiness, including honesty, integrity, reliability, and loyalty; (ii) respect, including the precepts of the Golden Rule, tolerance, and courtesy; (iii) responsibility, including hard work, economic self-reliance, accountability, diligence, perseverance, and self-control; (iv) fairness, including justice, consequences of bad behavior, principles of nondiscrimination, and freedom from prejudice; (v) caring, including kindness, empathy, compassion, consideration, generosity, and charity; and (vi) citizenship, including patriotism, the Pledge of Allegiance, respect for the American flag, concern for the common good, respect for authority and the law, and community-mindedness.

Classroom instruction may be used to supplement a character education program; however, each program shall be interwoven into the school procedures and environment and structured to instruct primarily through example, illustration, and participation, in such a way as to complement the Standards of Learning. The program shall also address the inappropriateness of bullying, as defined in § 22.1-276.01 .

This provision is intended to educate students regarding those core civic values and virtues that are efficacious to civilized society and are common to the diverse social, cultural, and religious groups of the Commonwealth. Consistent with this purpose, Virginia's civic values, which are the principles articulated in the Bill of Rights (Article I) of the Constitution of Virginia and the ideals reflected in the seal of the Commonwealth, as described in § 1-500 , may be taught as representative of such civic values. Nothing herein shall be construed as requiring or authorizing the indoctrination in any particular religious or political belief.

B. The Board of Education shall establish criteria for character education programs consistent with the provisions of this section. The Department of Education shall assist school divisions in implementing character education programs and practices that are designed to promote the development of personal qualities as set forth in this section and the Standards of Quality and that will improve family and community involvement in the public schools. With such funds as are made available for this purpose, the Department of Education shall provide resources and technical assistance to school divisions regarding successful character education programs and shall (i) identify and analyze effective character education programs and practices and (ii) collect and disseminate among school divisions information regarding such programs and practices and potential funding and support sources. The Department of Education may also provide resources supporting professional development for administrators and teachers in the delivery of any character education programs.

C. The Department of Education shall award, with such funds as are appropriated for this purpose, grants to school boards for the implementation of innovative character education programs, including a summer youth development academy.

1998, c. 725 ; 1999, c. 944 ; 2003, c. 777 ; 2005, cc. 461 , 484 , 839 ; 2012, c. 703 ; 2013, c. 575 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-289.023 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 14.1 / Article 3 / Section 22.1-289.023
Enforcement and sanctions; special orders; civil penalties
Status: in_force

A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, following a proceeding as provided in § 2.2-4019 , the Superintendent may issue a special order (i) for violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, § 54.1-3408 , or any regulation adopted under any provision of this chapter which violation adversely affects, or is an imminent and substantial threat to, the health, safety, or welfare of the person cared for therein, or (ii) for permitting, aiding, or abetting the commission of any illegal act in a child day program or home-based child care system. Notice of the Superintendent's intent to take any of the actions enumerated in subdivisions B 1 through 6 shall be provided by the Department, and a copy of such notice shall be posted in a prominent place at each public entrance of the licensed premises to advise consumers of serious or persistent violations. The issuance of a special order shall be considered a case decision as defined in § 2.2-4001 . Actions set forth in subsection B may be appealed by (a) a child day program or home-based child care system operated by an agency of the Commonwealth in accordance with § 22.1-289.02 5 or (b) any other child day program or home-based child care system in accordance with the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.). The Superintendent shall not delegate his authority to impose civil penalties in conjunction with the issuance of special orders.

B. The Superintendent may take the following actions regarding child day programs and home-based child care systems through the issuance of a special order and may require a copy of the special order provided by the Department to be posted in a prominent place at each public entrance of the licensed premises to advise consumers of serious or persistent violations:

1. Place a licensee on probation upon finding that the licensee is substantially out of compliance with the terms of its license and that the health and safety of children are at risk;

2. Reduce licensed capacity or prohibit new admissions when the Superintendent concludes that the licensee cannot make necessary corrections to achieve compliance with regulations except by a temporary restriction of its scope of service;

3. Mandate training for the licensee or licensee's employees, with any costs to be borne by the licensee, when the Superintendent concludes that the lack of such training has led directly to violations of regulations;

4. Assess civil penalties of not more than $500 per inspection upon finding that the child day program or home-based child care system is substantially out of compliance with the terms of its license and the health and safety of children are at risk; however, no civil penalty shall be imposed pursuant to this subdivision on any child day program or home-based child care system operated by an agency of the Commonwealth;

5. Require licensees to contact parents, guardians, or other responsible persons in writing regarding health and safety violations; and

6. Prevent licensees who are substantially out of compliance with the licensure terms or in violation of the regulations from receiving public funds.

C. The Board shall adopt regulations to implement the provisions of this section.

2020, cc. 860 , 861 ; 2026, c. 917 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-207.4:2 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 13 / Article 1 / Section 22.1-207.4:2
Participation in the Afterschool Meal Program
Status: in_force

A. As used in this section:

"At-risk afterschool care center" includes locations that offer educational or enrichment activities to children or teenagers, including schools, community centers, and libraries, approved by the Department to operate the Program.

"Program" means the Afterschool Meal Program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

B. Each school board that governs a local school division that contains any public elementary or secondary school that has a student population that qualifies for free and reduced-price meals at a minimum percentage of 50 percent in the prior school year and simultaneously offers educational or enrichment activities and is consequently eligible to participate in the Program shall apply to the Department to participate in the Program for each such school to subsequently and simultaneously serve federally reimbursable meals and offer an afterschool education or enrichment program, pursuant to FNS guidelines and state health and safety standards. The Department shall administer the Program on behalf of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and shall conduct the processes for application to the Program, approval for participation in the Program, and monitoring of schools participating in the Program.

C. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any school in the local school division from applying to the Department to participate in the Program if that school offers afterschool programs that:

1. Provide organized and regularly scheduled afterschool activities for children after school or on the weekends, holidays, or breaks during the regular school year;

2. Include educational or enrichment activities such as arts and crafts, computer lessons, or homework assistance; and

3. Are located in an area that meets eligibility requirements for participation in the Program, pursuant to FNS guidelines.

D. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any school in the local school division from partnering with agencies or organizations that participate in the Program, which partnership may include sponsoring at-risk afterschool care centers that operate at the school or at a location outside of the school and that already participate in the Program, to satisfy the requirements set forth in subsection B.

E. Any school may contact the Department for assistance in determining if a school or an afterschool program meets the requirements for eligibility to participate in the Program.

F. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall issue a waiver to the requirement set forth in subsection B in the sole circumstance that an evaluation of a school or group of schools that is eligible to participate in the Program determines that participation in the program is not financially viable to such school or group of schools. The Department shall develop a process and criteria for considering such waivers, including a process and criteria for conducting such Program evaluations.

2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 292 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-212.28 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 13 / Article 1.5 / Section 22.1-212.28
Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"School Division of Innovation" or "SDI" means a school division in which the local school board has developed and for which the Board has approved pursuant to regulations as set forth in this article a plan of innovation to improve student learning; educational performance; and college, career, and citizenship readiness skills in each school in the local school division.

"Innovation" means a new or creative alternative to existing instructional or administrative practices or school structures that evidence-based practice suggests will be effective in improving student learning and educational performance.

2017, c. 760 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-280.2:3 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 14 / Article 3 / Section 22.1-280.2:3
School boards; safety and security personnel
Status: in_force

A. The school board in each school division in which the local law-enforcement agency employs school resource officers, as defined in § 9.1-101 , shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with such local law-enforcement agency that sets forth the powers and duties of such school resource officers. The provisions of such memorandum of understanding shall be based on the model memorandum of understanding developed by the Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety pursuant to subdivision A 12 of § 9.1-184 , which may be modified by the parties in accordance with their particular needs. Each such school board and local law-enforcement agency shall review and amend or affirm such memorandum at least once every two years or at any time upon the request of either party. Each school board shall ensure the current division memorandum of understanding is conspicuously published on the division website and provide notice and opportunity for public input during each memorandum of understanding review period.

B. The chief local law-enforcement officer for any local school division in which a public elementary or secondary school does not employ a school resource officer, as defined in § 9.1-101 , shall designate a law-enforcement officer to receive, either in-person or online, the training set forth in subsection E of § 22.1-279.8 . Such officer shall serve as the law-enforcement liaison for the school administrator described in subsection E of § 22.1-279.8 in each public elementary or secondary school that does not employ a school resource officer.

2019, cc. 455 , 502 ; 2020, cc. 52 , 171 ; 2022, c. 769 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-349.11 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 19.1 / Section 22.1-349.11
Immunity
Status: in_force

A college partnership laboratory school is immune from liability to the same extent as is the public institution of higher education that establishes the school, and the employees and volunteers in a college partnership laboratory school are immune from liability to the same extent as are the employees of the institution of higher education that establishes the school.

2010, cc. 816 , 871 , § 23-299.10; 2016, c. 588 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-141.2 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 9 / Article 3 / Section 22.1-141.2
Authority to modernize public school lease agreements
Status: in_force

A. Prior to undertaking the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of a new public school building or facility or the improvement or renovation of an existing school building or facility, a local school board may evaluate whether entering into a lease with a private entity will assist the school board in meeting the standards set forth in § 22.1-141.1 .

B. In order to meet the design, construction, maintenance, and operation standards set forth in § 22.1-141.1 , a school board may enter into a lease with a private entity that may include the following: (i) design of the building and facilities; (ii) construction of the building and facilities; (iii) financing of the project as defined in § 15.2-1815 ; (iv) operation of the heating, cooling, and renewable energy systems, including interconnect agreements with the regulated electric utility, maintenance of all such systems, responding to comfort complaints, and any other operational or maintenance-related issues during the lease term; and (v) such other terms as mutually agreed upon by the local school board and the private entity. Such lease may (a) be for the real property primarily used by the local school board and owned by the private entity, (b) be a capital or operating lease, (c) be exempt from real property taxation pursuant to subdivision (a)(1) of Article X, Section 6 of the Constitution of Virginia, and (d) contain a covenant that the rent shall not be reduced from the rent stated in the lease. Such lease shall not exceed 35 years in duration. The Virginia Public Procurement Act (§ 2.2-4300 et seq.) or the Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act (§ 56-575.1 et seq.) shall apply to any lease agreement solicited by a local school board pursuant to this section.

2019, cc. 818 , 819 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-299.5 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 15 / Article 2 / Section 22.1-299.5
Waiver of teacher licensure requirements; trade and industrial education programs
Status: in_force

A. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any division superintendent may apply to the Department of Education for a biennial waiver of the teacher licensure requirements for any individual whom the local school board hires or seeks to hire to teach in a trade and industrial education program who has obtained or is working toward an industry credential relating to the program area and who has at least 4,000 hours of recent and relevant employment experience, as defined by the Board pursuant to regulation.

B. The Department of Education shall establish a procedure for submitting, receiving, and acting upon such biennial waiver applications.

2016, c. 435 ; 2018, cc. 748 , 749 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-17.6 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 2 / Section 22.1-17.6
Public elementary and secondary schools and local school divisions; information and forms
Status: in_force

A. The Board shall adopt policies to ensure that the Department does not require public elementary or secondary schools or local school divisions to (i) provide information that is already available to or housed within the Department; (ii) provide the same written information more than once during a school year, absent a change in the underlying information; (iii) complete forms for students with disabilities unless such forms are necessary to ensure compliance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1431 et seq.); or (iv) provide information that is not necessary to comply with state or federal law unless such information is relevant to student outcomes or the efficient operation of the public schools, provided that the Department may require such schools and local school divisions to provide any such information or complete any such forms if the Department demonstrates a compelling need or demonstrates that it does not have a more expeditious method for obtaining the information or completing the forms.

B. The Department shall annually evaluate and determine the continued need for the information that it collects from public elementary and secondary schools and local school divisions. In making such evaluation and determination, the Department shall consider whether the information that it collects is required by state or federal law.

C. The Board shall report to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by November 15 of each year on (i) information that public elementary and secondary schools and local school divisions are required to provide to the Department pursuant to state law, (ii) the results of the annual evaluation and determination made by the Department pursuant to subsection B, (iii) any reports required of public elementary or secondary schools or local school divisions that the Department has consolidated, (iv) any information that the Department no longer collects from public elementary or secondary schools or local school divisions, and (v) any forms that the Department no longer requires public elementary or secondary schools or local school divisions to complete.

2016, c. 521 ; 2022, c. 355 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-291.1:1 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 15 / Article 1 / Section 22.1-291.1:1
School counselors; staff time
Status: in_force

A. As used in this section:

"Appraisal and advisement" means the act of assisting students in exploring their abilities, interests, skills, and achievement to make decisions and develop immediate and long-range goals and plans.

"Consultation, collaboration, and referrals" means the act of (i) providing information to and receiving information from individuals or teams to support a student's needs; (ii) working and communicating with parents, teachers, administrators, other school staff, and community stakeholders to (a) promote achievement for a specific student or (b) promote systemic change to address the needs of groups of underserved or underrepresented groups of students; and (iii) referring students to outside providers and resources as necessary.

"Crisis counseling" means the act of providing counseling to individual students or small groups of students to help such students navigate critical situations such as emergencies and crises.

"Direct counseling" means school counseling curriculum lessons and activities, individual counseling, small group counseling, crisis counseling, appraisal and advisement, and consultation, collaboration, and referrals. "Direct counseling" does not include program planning and school support.

"Individual counseling" means the act of providing developmentally appropriate, goal-focused, and brief counseling sessions to individual students to address issues relating to mental health and wellness, social and emotional development, academic achievement, and college and career readiness.

"Program planning and school support" means the act of defining, planning, managing, and assessing school counseling activities. "Program planning and school support" includes the act of reviewing data, creating annual student outcome goals, creating action plans and results reports, holding annual administrative conferences, monitoring use-of-time, creating annual and weekly calendars, and facilitating school counseling advisory councils.

"School counseling curriculum lessons and activities" means the act of providing data-informed lessons or activities at the classroom level or on a schoolwide basis to provide students with the knowledge, attitudes, and skills appropriate for their developmental levels.

"Small group counseling" means the act of providing counseling to small groups of students with similar developmental or situational challenges with the goal of improving achievement, attendance, mental health or wellness, or behavioral outcomes.

B. Each school counselor employed by a school board in a public elementary or secondary school shall spend at least 80 percent of his staff time during normal school hours in the direct counseling of individual students or groups of students and may spend up to 20 percent of his staff time during normal school hours on program planning and school support.

2019, c. 139 ; 2023, cc. 347 , 349 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-289.019 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 14.1 / Article 3 / Section 22.1-289.019
Inspections of child day programs and home-based child care systems; prioritization
Status: in_force

The Superintendent shall prioritize inspections of child day programs and home-based child care systems in the following order: (i) inspections conducted in response to a complaint involving a licensed, registered, license-exempt, or unlicensed child day program or home-based child care system; (ii) inspections of licensed or registered child day programs and home-based child care systems that are not conducted in response to a complaint; (iii) inspections of license-exempt or unlicensed child day programs and home-based child care systems that have entered into a contract with the Department or its agents or designees or a local department of social services to provide child care services funded by the Child Care and Development Block Grant, other than inspections conducted in response to a complaint; and (iv) inspections of license-exempt and unlicensed child day programs and home-based child care systems that are not conducted in response to a complaint.

2020, cc. 860 , 861 ; 2026, c. 917 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-187 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 12 / Article 1 / Section 22.1-187
Exemption from payment of tolls by certain students, etc
Status: in_force

It shall be unlawful to collect any toll for the use of any road, highway, bridge, or ferry in the Commonwealth, except those financed under the Transportation Development and Revenue Bond Act (§ 33.2-1700 et seq.) or other act authorizing the construction by the State or a political subdivision thereof of projects financed by the issuance of bonds payable solely from tolls and other revenues of the project, (i) by any student or other person using the road, highway, bridge, or ferry daily for going to or from immediate attendance upon any school, institution of higher education, or other educational institution in the Commonwealth, or classes in water safety training conducted under the auspices of the American Red Cross, or (ii) by the vehicle carrying the student or other person.

Any such student or other person or the parent or guardian of any such student may apply for and receive from the principal of any school, institution of higher education, or other educational institution in the Commonwealth a card certifying that the student or other person uses such road, highway, bridge, or ferry daily for regularly attending such school, institution of higher education, or educational institution or classes at any such school or institution. Such card exhibited to the person in charge of any tollgate on any road, highway, bridge, or ferry in the Commonwealth shall be accepted in lieu of all charges for the passage through such tollgate of any such student, person, or the vehicle carrying him when using the road, highway, bridge, or ferry daily for going to or from immediate attendance at any such school, institution of higher education, or other educational institution or classes at any such school or institution.

Any person using any such card, except for the purpose herein specified, shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor.

Code 1950, § 22-277; 1956, c. 237; 1958, c. 465; 1980, c. 559.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-308 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 15 / Article 3 / Section 22.1-308
Grievance procedure
Status: in_force

A. The Board of Education shall prescribe a grievance procedure which shall include the following:

1. Except in the case of dismissal or placing on probation, a first step which shall provide for an informal, initial processing of a grievance by the most immediate appropriate supervisor through a discussion;

2. A requirement that all stages of the grievance beyond the first step be in writing on forms prescribed by the Board of Education and supplied by the school board;

3. A requirement that in reducing the grievance to writing, the teacher shall specify the specific relief sought through the use of the procedure;

4. The right of the grievant and the respondent to present appropriate witnesses and be represented by legal counsel and another representative;

5. Reasonable time limitations, prescribed by the Board, for the grievant to submit an initial complaint and to appeal each decision through the steps of the grievance procedure which shall correspond generally or be equivalent to the time prescribed for response at each step;

6. Termination of the right of the grievant to further appeal upon failure of the grievant to comply with all substantial procedural requirements of the grievance procedure without just cause;

7. The right of the grievant, at his option, upon failure of the respondent to comply with all substantial procedural requirements without just cause, to advancement to the next step or, in the final step, to a decision in his favor;

8. A final step which shall provide for a final decision on the grievance by the school board;

9. The provisions of §§ 22.1-309 through 22.1-313 .

B. Representatives referred to in subsection A 4 of this section may examine, cross-examine, question and present evidence on behalf of a grievant or respondent in the grievance procedure without being in violation of the provisions of § 54.1-3904 .

C. Nothing in the procedure shall be construed to restrict any teacher's right to seek or a school division administration's right to provide customary review of complaints that are not included within the definition of a grievance.

Code 1950, § 22-217.5:2; 1979, c. 298; 1980, c. 559; 1992, c. 679.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-207.1 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 13 / Article 1 / Section 22.1-207.1
Family life education
Status: in_force

A. As used in this section, "abstinence education" means an educational or motivational component that has as its exclusive purpose teaching the social, psychological, and health gains to be realized by teenagers' abstaining from sexual activity before marriage.

B. The Board of Education shall develop Standards of Learning and curriculum guidelines for a comprehensive, sequential family life education curriculum in grades kindergarten through 12. Such curriculum guidelines shall include instruction as appropriate for the age of the student in family living and community relationships; the benefits, challenges, responsibilities, and value of marriage for men, women, children, and communities; the value of family relationships; abstinence education; the value of postponing sexual activity; the benefits of adoption as a positive choice in the event of an unwanted pregnancy; human sexuality; human reproduction; the prevention of human trafficking, including the human trafficking of children; dating violence, the characteristics of abusive relationships, steps to take to deter sexual assault, the availability of counseling and legal resources, and, in the event of such sexual assault, the importance of immediate medical attention and advice, as well as the requirements of the law; the etiology, prevention, and effects of sexually transmitted diseases; and mental health education and awareness.

C. All such instruction shall be designed to promote parental involvement, foster positive self-concepts, and provide mechanisms for coping with peer pressure and the stresses of modern living according to the students' developmental stages and abilities. The Board shall also establish requirements for appropriate training for teachers of family life education, which shall include training in instructional elements to support the various curriculum components.

D. Each school board shall conduct a review of its family life education curricula at least once every seven years, shall evaluate whether such curricula reflect contemporary community standards, and shall revise such curricula if necessary.

1987, c. 371; 1999, c. 422 ; 2002, c. 554 ; 2004, c. 1030 ; 2007, c. 32 ; 2008, c. 417 ; 2009, cc. 437 , 583 ; 2017, c. 692 ; 2019, c. 595 ; 2020, c. 687 ; 2022, c. 459 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-137 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 9 / Article 2 / Section 22.1-137
Fire drills
Status: in_force

Every public school shall hold fire drills during the school session in accordance with the requirements of the Statewide Fire Prevention Code (§ 27-94 et seq.).

Code 1950, § 22-156; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 163; 1980, c. 559; 1993, c. 212; 2016, c. 524 ; 2024, c. 432 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-353 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 20 / Section 22.1-353
Application for and acceptance of gifts and grants
Status: in_force

The Consortium is authorized to apply for, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from public or private sources to enable it to carry out its objectives.

1992, c. 785.
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-76 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 7 / Section 22.1-76
Chairman; clerk; vice-chairman; deputy clerk; terms; compensation and bonds of clerk and deputy clerk; officers ineligible to serve as clerk and deputy clerk; approval of division superintendent's designee
Status: in_force

A. Except as provided in § 22.1-57.3:3 , at its annual meeting each school board shall elect one of its members as chairman, shall approve a designee of the division superintendent to attend meetings of the school board in the absence or inability to attend of the superintendent and on recommendation of the division superintendent shall appoint a clerk of the school board. The school board may also elect one of its members as vice-chairman and may appoint a deputy clerk who shall be empowered to act in all matters in case of the absence or inability to act of the chairman or clerk, respectively, or as otherwise provided by resolution of the school board. The term of the chairman, clerk and any vice-chairman and deputy clerk shall be one year.

B. The school board shall fix the compensation of the clerk and any deputy clerk.

C. The school board shall require the clerk and any deputy clerk each to furnish a corporate surety bond conditioned upon the faithful performance and discharge of his duties as such. The school board shall fix the amount of each bond which shall not be less than $10,000. The premium for each bond shall be paid by the school board.

D. No mayor, member of the governing body, other officer or deputy officer of a city, town or county, other than the division superintendent, shall be eligible for appointment as clerk or deputy clerk of a school board in such city, town or county.

Code 1950, §§ 22-48, 22-48.1, 22-48.2, 22-71, 22-98; 1952, cc. 280, 593; 1954, c. 638; 1980, c. 559; 1995, c. 842 .
Va. Code Ann. § 22.1-299.6 — Virginia Code / Title 22.1 / Chapter 15 / Article 2 / Section 22.1-299.6
Career and technical education; three-year licenses
Status: in_force

A. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Board shall provide for the issuance of three-year licenses to qualified individuals to teach, either full time or part time, high school career and technical education courses in specific subject areas.

B. The Board shall issue a three-year license to teach high school career and technical education courses in a specific subject area to an individual who:

1. Submits an application to the Board, in the form prescribed by the Board, that includes a recommendation for such a license from the local school board;

2. Meets certain basic conditions for licensure as prescribed by the Board;

3. Meets one of the following requirements: (i) holds, at a minimum, a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and has completed coursework in the career and technical education subject area in which the individual seeks to teach, (ii) holds the required professional license in the specific career and technical education subject area in which the individual seeks to teach, where applicable, or (iii) holds an industry certification credential, as that term is defined in § 22.1-298.1 , in the specific career and technical education subject area in which the individual seeks to teach;

4. Has at least four years of full-time work experience or its equivalent in the specific career and technical education subject area in which the individual seeks to teach; and

5. If appropriate, has obtained qualifying scores on the communication and literacy professional teacher's assessment prescribed by the Board.

C. The employing school board shall assign a mentor to supervise an individual issued a three-year license pursuant to this section during his first two years of teaching.

D. Except as otherwise provided in subsection E, any individual issued a three-year license pursuant to this section may be granted subsequent three-year extensions of such license by the Board upon recommendation of the local school board.

E. Any individual issued a three-year license pursuant to this section who completes (i) nine semester hours of specialized professional studies credit from a regionally accredited institution of higher education or (ii) an alternative course of professional studies proposed by the local school board and approved by the Department of Education shall be granted a three-year extension of such license by the Board and may be granted subsequent three-year extensions of such license by the Board upon recommendation of the local school board. Any such specialized professional studies credit or alternative course of professional studies may be completed through distance learning programs and shall include human growth and development; curriculum, instructional, and technology procedures; and classroom and behavior management.

F. No three-year license issued by the Board pursuant to this section shall be deemed a provisional license or a renewable license, as those terms are defined in § 22.1-298.1 .

G. Individuals issued a three-year license pursuant to this section shall not be eligible for continuing contract status while teaching under such license and shall be subject to the probationary terms of employment specified in § 22.1-303 .

H. The provisions of this article and of Board regulations governing the denial, suspension, cancellation, revocation, and reinstatement of licensure shall apply to three-year licenses issued pursuant to this section.

I. The Board shall report at least triennially to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health on the issuance of three-year licenses pursuant to this section by high school, local school division, and career and technical education subject area.

2016, cc. 642 , 651 ; 2018, cc. 748 , 749 .