reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-297. Assignment of teachers, principals and assistant principals by superintendent

A division superintendent shall have authority to assign to their respective positions in the school wherein they have been placed by the school board all teachers, principals and assistant principals. If the school board adopts a resolution authorizing the division superintendent to reassign such teachers, principals and assistant principals, the division superintendent may reassign any such teacher, principal or assistant principal for that school year to any school within such division, provided no change or reassignment during a school year shall affect the salary of such teacher, principal or assistant principal for that school year.
Code 1950, § 22-205; 1956, Ex. Sess., c. 61; 1968, c. 643; 1980, cc. 559, 575.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-298.2. Regulations governing education preparation programs

A. As used in this section, "education preparation program" includes four-year bachelor's degree programs in teacher education.
B. Education preparation programs shall meet the requirements for accreditation and program approval as prescribed by the Board of Education in its regulations.
C. The Board of Education regulations shall provide for education preparation programs offered by institutions of higher education, Virginia public school divisions, and certified providers for alternate routes to licensure.
D. The Board may prescribe requirements for admission to Virginia's approved education preparation programs in its regulations.
E. The Board shall establish accountability measures for approved education programs. Data shall be submitted to the Board on not less than a biennial basis.
F. The Board shall review and amend its regulations governing general education teacher preparation programs for kindergarten through twelfth grade to ensure graduates are required to demonstrate proficiency in (i) differentiating instruction for students depending on their needs; (ii) understanding the role of general education teachers on the individualized education program team; (iii) implementing effective models of collaborative instruction, including co-teaching; and (iv) understanding the goals and benefits of inclusive education for all students.
G. The Board shall review and amend its regulations governing administrator preparation programs to ensure graduates are required to demonstrate comprehension of (i) key special education laws and regulations, (ii) individualized education program development, (iii) the roles and responsibilities of special education teachers, and (iv) appropriate behavior management practices.
2006, cc. 27, 349; 2018, cc. 518, 748, 749; 2019, cc. 63, 407; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 451, 452.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-298.2:1. (Contingent effective date - see note) Teacher employment data; education preparation programs

The Department of Education shall aggregate and report to each education preparation program the following teacher employment data on such program's graduates, as available and to the extent that such data does not reveal personally identifiable information: the total number of graduates who obtain full licensure within three years of graduation; the percentage of all graduates who teach within three years of graduation; the total number of graduates employed in the Commonwealth by school division, graduation year, and type of school; the school characteristics, attributes of students, and educational outcomes where graduates initially taught; and information on teacher transfers and departures relative to initial employment.
2019, c. 598.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-298.3. Students with autism spectrum disorders; training required of personnel

A. Each school board shall ensure that aides assigned to work with a teacher who has primary oversight of students with autism spectrum disorders receive training in student behavior management within 60 days of assignment to such responsibility.
The Board of Education shall provide training standards that school boards may use to fulfill the requirements of this subsection.
B. The Board of Education shall establish a training program for school board employees who assist in the transportation of students on school buses, including individuals employed to operate school buses and school bus aides, on autism spectrum disorders, including the characteristics of autism spectrum disorders, strategies for interacting with students with autism spectrum disorders, and collaboration with other employees who assist in the transportation of students on school buses. Each school board employee who assists in the transportation of students with autism spectrum disorders on school buses shall participate in such training program.
2012, c. 755; 2018, c. 586.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-298.4. Teacher preparation programs; learning disabilities

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.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-298.5. Regulations governing licensure; endorsement in dual language instruction pre-kindergarten through grade six

A. As used in this section, "dual language instruction" means instruction that is delivered in English and in a second language.
B. In its regulations governing licensure established pursuant to § 22.1-298.1, the Board shall provide for licensure of teachers with an endorsement in dual language instruction pre-kindergarten through grade six. In establishing the requirements for such endorsement, the Board shall require, at minimum, coursework in dual language education; bilingual literacy development; methods of second language acquisition; theories of second language acquisition; instructional strategies for classroom management for the elementary classroom; and content-based curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
C. Each teacher with an endorsement in dual language instruction pre-kindergarten through grade six is exempt from the Virginia Communication and Literacy Assessment requirement but is subject to the subject matter-specific professional teacher's assessment requirements.
D. No teacher with an endorsement in dual language instruction pre-kindergarten through grade six is required to obtain an additional endorsement in early/primary education pre-kindergarten through grade three or elementary education pre-kindergarten through grade six in order to teach in pre-kindergarten through grade six.
2018, c. 391.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-298.6. Mental health awareness training

A. Each school board shall adopt and implement policies that require each teacher and other relevant personnel, as determined by the school board, employed on a full-time basis, to complete a mental health awareness training or similar program at least once.
B. Each school board shall provide required personnel the training required by subsection A and may contract with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, a community services board, a behavioral health authority, a nonprofit organization, or other certified trainer as defined in § 37.2-312.2 to provide such training. Such training may be provided via an online module.
2020, cc. 471, 472.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-298.7. Teachers and other licensed school board employees; cultural competency training

Each school board shall adopt and implement policies that require each teacher and any other school board employee holding a license issued by the Board to complete cultural competency training, in accordance with guidance issued by the Board, at least every two years.
2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 23, 24.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-298.8. Public elementary and secondary school teachers; certain training activities; frequency

No public elementary or secondary school teacher shall be required to participate more frequently than once every five years in any training described in clause (iii) of subsection A of § 22.1-279.6 or relating to secure mandatory test violations as set forth in §§ 22.1-19.1 and 22.1-292.1, unless the school board or division superintendent determines that additional training is necessary to comply with federal or state law or to remediate misconduct. Each such teacher who completes any such training shall sign a written attestation that the teacher has been trained in and understands the relevant subject matter.
2023, c. 641.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-299. License required of teachers; provisional licenses; exceptions

A. No teacher shall be regularly employed by a school board or paid from public funds unless such teacher holds a license or provisional license issued by the Board.
B. Notwithstanding the provision in § 22.1-298.1 that the provisional license is limited to three years, the following exceptions shall apply:
1. If a teacher employed in the Commonwealth under a provisional license is activated or deployed for military service within a school year (July 1-June 30), an additional year shall be added to the teacher's provisional license for each school year or portion thereof during which the teacher is activated or deployed. The additional year shall be granted the year following the return of the teacher from deployment or activation.
2. The Board shall extend for at least one additional year, but for no more than two additional years, the three-year provisional license of a teacher upon receiving from the division superintendent (i) a recommendation for such extension and (ii) satisfactory performance evaluations for such teacher for each year during the original three-year provisional license that such teacher was actually employed and received a filed performance evaluation.
3. The Board shall extend for at least one additional year, but for no more than two additional years, the three-year provisional license of a teacher employed in an accredited private elementary or secondary school or a school for students with disabilities that is licensed pursuant to Chapter 16 (§ 22.1-319 et seq.) upon receiving from the school administrator of such school (i) a recommendation for such extension and (ii) satisfactory performance evaluations for such teacher for each year of the original three-year provisional license.
C. In accordance with regulations prescribed by the Board, a person not meeting the requirements for a license or provisional license may be employed and paid from public funds by a school board temporarily as a substitute teacher to meet an emergency.
Code 1950, § 22-204; 1954, c. 638; 1958, c. 300; 1979, c. 532; 1980, c. 559; 1992, c. 132; 2000, c. 689; 2008, c. 51; 2013, cc. 588, 650; 2018, cc. 748, 749; 2020, cc. 172, 639; 2023, cc. 748, 800.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-299.2. National Teacher Certification Incentive Reward Program and Fund

A. From such funds as may be appropriated for such purpose and from such gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds as may be received on its behalf, there is hereby established the National Teacher Certification Incentive Reward Program (the "Program"), to be administered by the Board of Education, and a special nonreverting fund within the state treasury known as the National Teacher Certification Incentive Reward Program Fund (the "Fund"). The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller, and any moneys remaining in the Fund at the end of the biennium shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Interest earned on such funds shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it.
The State Treasurer shall manage the Fund, subject to the authority of the Board of Education to provide for its disbursement. The Fund shall be disbursed to award incentive grants to public school teachers obtaining national certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
To the extent funds are available in the Fund, teachers who obtain national certification shall receive an initial state-funded award of $5,000 and a subsequent award of $2,500 each year for the life of the certificate. Such awards shall continue to be paid upon renewal of the certificate. The Board shall establish procedures for determining amounts of awards if the moneys in the Fund are not sufficient to award each eligible teacher the appropriate award amount.
B. The Board may issue guidelines governing the Program as it deems necessary and appropriate.
1999, cc. 1030, 1032, 1037.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-299.5. Waiver of teacher licensure requirements; trade and industrial education programs

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.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-299.7. Microcredential program; certain STEM subjects

A. The Department of Education may establish a microcredential program for the purpose of permitting any public elementary or secondary school teacher who holds a renewable or provisional license or any individual who participates in any alternate route to licensure program to complete additional coursework and earn microcredentials in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) endorsement areas, including computer science, for which there is a high need for additional qualified teachers.
B. The Department of Education shall direct the Advisory Board on Teacher Education and Licensure to convene a workgroup including pertinent education stakeholders to determine how any microcredential awarded pursuant to any microcredential program established pursuant to subsection A will be used to award add-on endorsements and certifications for teachers in STEM endorsement areas, including computer science, for which there is a high need for additional qualified teachers.
C. Any course offered through any microcredential program established pursuant to subsection A shall be offered in-person or in a blended format of in-person and online instruction.
D. Any teacher who holds a renewable license and who participates, through any microcredential program offered pursuant to subsection A, in courses that do not contribute to an endorsement is eligible for professional development points toward renewal of his license for the number of in-person hours of coursework completed, upon providing a certificate of such participation from the course provider.
2019, cc. 227, 597.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-299.7:1. (For Effective Date, See 2022 Acts cc. 549, 550, cl. 2) Microcredential program; reading specialists

A. The Department shall establish a microcredential program for the purpose of permitting any public elementary or secondary school teacher who holds a renewable or provisional license or any individual who participates in any alternate route to licensure program to earn a series of microcredentials in the reading specialist endorsement area. Such microcredential program shall require candidates to complete a performance-based assessment intended to allow the educator to demonstrate competency in evidence-based literacy instruction and science-based reading research as well as the identification of and the appropriate interventions, accommodations, and teaching techniques for students with dyslexia or a related disorder.
B. The Board shall issue guidance that determines how the series of microcredentials awarded to teachers pursuant to the microcredential program established in accordance with subsection A will be used to award an add-on endorsement as a reading specialist. Any add-on endorsement that results from completion of such microcredential program shall be provisional for a period of five years.
C. A local school board may employ a teacher with an add-on endorsement as a reading specialist pursuant to this section to satisfy the requirement set forth in subsection G of § 22.1-253.13:2 if the local school board is unable to employ a teacher with a full endorsement as a reading specialist.
D. Teachers who hold a renewable license and who participate, through the microcredential program established in accordance with subsection A, in courses that do not contribute to an endorsement are eligible for professional development points toward renewal of their license for the number of in-person hours of coursework completed upon providing a certificate of such participation from the course provider.
2022, cc. 549, 550.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-299.8. Technical professional licenses; substitution of certain professional development activities for required coursework

The Board shall permit any individual who seeks a technical professional license to substitute the successful completion of an intensive, job-embedded, three-year program of professional development for the nine semester hours of professional studies required for such license.
2020, c. 684.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-300. Tuberculosis certificate

As a condition to employment, every public school employee, including without limitation teachers, cafeteria workers, janitors and bus drivers, shall submit a certificate signed by a licensed physician, or by a registered nurse licensed pursuant to Article 2 (§ 54.1-3016 et seq.) of Chapter 30 of Title 54.1, stating that such employee appears free of communicable tuberculosis. Such certificate shall be based on recorded results of such skin tests, X-rays and other examinations, singly or in combination, as are deemed necessary by a licensed physician that have been performed within the twelve months' period immediately preceding submission of the certificate. After consulting with the local health director, any school board may require the submission of such certificates annually, or at such intervals as it deems appropriate, as a condition to continued employment.
Code 1950, § 22-249; 1968, c. 445; 1970, c. 526; 1973, c. 491; 1974, c. 160; 1977, c. 220; 1979, c. 262; 1980, c. 559; 1994, c. 68; 2000, c. 476.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-301. Costs of medical examinations and of furnishing medical records

It shall be unlawful for any school board to require any instructional employee to pay the costs of a medical examination or the cost of furnishing medical records required as a condition to continued employment. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the immediate supervisor from requesting an employee to submit a physician's certificate verifying the illness of an employee at the employee's expense.
Code 1950, § 22-249; 1968, c. 445; 1970, c. 526; 1973, c. 491; 1974, c. 160; 1977, c. 220; 1979, c. 262; 1980, c. 559.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-303. Probationary terms of service for teachers

A. A probationary term of service of three years in the same school division shall be required before a teacher is issued a continuing contract. School boards shall provide each probationary teacher except probationary teachers who have prior successful teaching experience, as determined by the local school board in a school division, a mentor teacher, as described by Board guidelines developed pursuant to § 22.1-305.1, during the first year of the probationary period, to assist such probationary teacher in achieving excellence in instruction. During the probationary period, such probationary teacher shall be evaluated annually based upon the evaluation procedures developed by the employing school board for use by the division superintendent and principals in evaluating teachers as required by subsection C of § 22.1-295. A teacher in his first year of the probationary period shall be evaluated informally at least once during the first semester of the school year. The division superintendent shall consider such evaluations, among other things, in making any recommendations to the school board regarding the nonrenewal of such probationary teacher's contract as provided in § 22.1-305.
Any teacher hired on or after July 1, 2001, shall be required, as a condition of achieving continuing contract status, to have successfully completed training in instructional strategies and techniques for intervention for or remediation of students who fail or are at risk of failing the Standards of Learning assessments. Local school divisions shall be required to provide said training at no cost to teachers employed in their division. In the event a local school division fails to offer said training in a timely manner, no teacher will be denied continuing contract status for failure to obtain such training.
B. Once a continuing contract status has been attained in a school division in the Commonwealth, another probationary period need not be served in any other school division unless such probationary period, not to exceed two years, is made a part of the contract of employment. Further, when a teacher has attained continuing contract status in a school division in the Commonwealth and separates from and returns to teaching service in a school division in Virginia by the beginning of the third year, such teacher shall be required to serve a probationary period not to exceed two years, if made a part of the contract for employment.
C. For the purpose of calculating the years of service required to attain continuing contract status, at least 160 contractual teaching days during the school year shall be deemed the equivalent of one year in the first year of service by a teacher.
Code 1950, § 22-217.3; 1968, c. 691; 1969, Ex. Sess., c. 3; 1976, cc. 191, 226; 1979, c. 275; 1980, c. 559; 1985, c. 348; 1989, c. 100; 1999, cc. 831, 1030, 1037; 2000, c. 689; 2001, cc. 865, 872; 2006, c. 373; 2013, cc. 588, 650; 2020, cc. 53, 167; 2022, c. 355.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-303.1. Immunity from civil liability for certain individuals

Any teacher who, in good faith, participates in conducting a peer review of another teacher or a person who conducts a review of a teacher as a mentor teacher shall be immune from civil liability for any act, omission or statement made in the performance of these duties unless such act, omission or statement was made in bad faith or with malicious intent.
1988, c. 319; 1999, cc. 1030, 1037.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-305.1. Mentor teacher programs

A. The Board of Education shall establish, from such funds as may be appropriated by the General Assembly, mentor teacher programs utilizing specially trained public school teachers as mentors to provide assistance and professional support to teachers entering the profession and to improve the performance of experienced teachers who are not performing at an acceptable level.
The Board shall issue guidelines for such mentor teacher programs and shall set criteria for beginning and experienced teacher participation, including self-referral, and the qualifications and training of mentor teachers. Such guidelines shall provide that the mentor programs be administered by local school boards, with the assistance of an advisory committee made up of teachers, principals, and supervisors, and that mentors (i) be classroom teachers who have achieved continuing contract status and who work in the same building as the teachers they are assisting or be instructional personnel who are assigned solely as mentors; (ii) be assigned a limited number of teachers at one time; however, instructional personnel who are not assigned solely as mentors should not be assigned to more than four teachers at one time; and (iii) guide teachers in the program through demonstrations, observations, and consultations to promote instructional excellence. Local school boards shall strive to provide adequate release time for mentor teachers during the contract day.
B. The local school board shall serve as fiscal agent for the participating school boards in matters concerning the mentor teacher programs. The Department of Education shall allocate, from such funds as are appropriated, moneys to participating school divisions for the purpose of supporting such programs which shall include, but not be limited to, compensation for mentor teachers.
1989, c. 516; 1999, cc. 1030, 1037; 2013, cc. 588, 650.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-307. Dismissal of teacher; grounds

Teachers may be dismissed for incompetency, immorality, noncompliance with school laws and regulations, disability as shown by competent medical evidence when in compliance with federal law, conviction of a felony or a crime of moral turpitude, or other good and just cause. A teacher shall be dismissed if such teacher is or becomes the subject of a founded complaint of child abuse and neglect, pursuant to § 63.2-1505, and after all rights to any administrative appeal provided by § 63.2-1526 have been exhausted. The fact of such finding, after all rights to any administrative appeal provided by § 63.2-1526 have been exhausted, shall be grounds for the local school division to recommend that the Board of Education revoke such person's license to teach. No teacher shall be dismissed or placed on probation solely on the basis of the teacher's refusal to submit to a polygraph examination requested by the school board.
Code 1950, § 22-217.5; 1968, c. 691; 1975, c. 308; 1980, c. 559; 1993, c. 498; 1996, c. 961; 2008, c. 555; 2013, cc. 588, 650; 2017, c. 240; 2020, cc. 56, 168.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-308. Grievance procedure

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.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-309. Notice to teacher of recommendation of dismissal; school board not to consider merits during notice; superintendent required to provide reasons for recommendation upon request

In the event a division superintendent determines to recommend dismissal of any teacher, written notice shall be sent to the teacher notifying him of the proposed dismissal and informing him that within 10 business days after receiving the notice the teacher may request a hearing before the school board or, at the option of the local school board, a hearing officer appointed by the school board as provided in § 22.1-311. During such 10-business-day period and thereafter until a hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of this section, if one is requested by the teacher, the merits of the recommendation of the division superintendent shall not be considered, discussed or acted upon by the school board except as provided for in this section. At the request of the teacher, the division superintendent shall provide the reasons for the recommendation in writing or, if the teacher prefers, in a personal interview. In the event a teacher requests a hearing pursuant to § 22.1-311, the division superintendent shall provide, within 10 days of the request, the teacher or his representative with the opportunity to inspect and copy his personnel file and all other documents relied upon in reaching the decision to recommend dismissal. Within 10 days of the request of the division superintendent, the teacher or his representative shall provide the division superintendent with the opportunity to inspect and copy the documents to be offered in rebuttal to the decision to recommend dismissal. The division superintendent and the teacher or his representative shall be under a continuing duty to disclose and produce any additional documents identified later which may be used in the respective parties' cases-in-chief. The cost of copying such documents shall be paid by the requesting party.
For the purposes of this section, "personnel file" means any and all memoranda, entries, or other documents included in the teacher's file as maintained in the central school administration office or in any file on the teacher maintained within a school in which the teacher serves.
Code 1950, § 22-217.6; 1968, c. 691; 1975, c. 308; 1979, c. 298; 1980, c. 559; 1985, c. 441; 1992, c. 679; 2013, cc. 588, 650; 2014, cc. 13, 103.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-313. Decision of school board; generally

A. The school board shall retain its exclusive final authority over matters concerning employment and supervision of its personnel, including dismissals and suspensions.
B. In the case of a hearing before the school board, the school board shall give the teacher its written decision as soon as practicable but in no case more than 30 days after the hearing.
C. In the case of a hearing before a hearing officer appointed by the school board or a three-member fact-finding panel, the school board shall give the teacher its written decision as soon as practicable but in no case more than 30 days after receiving the record or recording of the hearing; however, should there be a further hearing before the school board, such decision shall be furnished the teacher as soon as practicable but in no case more than 30 days after such further hearing.
D. A teacher may be dismissed or suspended by a majority of a quorum of the school board.
E. The school board's attorney, assistants, or representative, if he or they represented a participant in the prior proceedings, the grievant, the grievant's attorney or representative, and notwithstanding the provisions of § 22.1-69, the superintendent shall be excluded from any executive session of the school board which has as its purpose reaching a decision on a grievance. However, immediately after a decision has been made and publicly announced, as in favor of or not in favor of the grievant, the school board's attorney or representative and the superintendent may join the school board in executive session to assist in the writing of the decision.
F. In those instances when licensed personnel are dismissed or resign due to a conviction of any felony, any offense involving the sexual molestation, physical or sexual abuse or rape of a child, any offense involving drugs, or due to having become the subject of a founded case of child abuse or neglect, the local school board shall notify the Board of Education within 10 business days of such dismissal or the acceptance of such resignation.
Code 1950, § 22-217.8; 1968, c. 691; 1974, c. 18; 1979, c. 298; 1980, c. 559; 1983, c. 327; 1992, c. 679; 2003, c. 187; 2008, cc. 474, 827; 2013, cc. 588, 650; 2020, c. 875.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-314. Decision of school board; issue of grievability; appeal

Decisions regarding whether or not a matter is grievable shall be made by the school board at the request of the school division administration or grievant and such decision shall be made within 10 business days of such request. The school board shall reach its decision only after allowing the school division administration and the grievant opportunity to present written or oral arguments regarding grievability. The decision as to whether the arguments shall be written or oral shall be in the discretion of the school board. Decisions of the school board may be appealed to the circuit court having jurisdiction in the school division for a hearing on the issue of grievability.
Proceedings for review of the decision of the school board shall be instituted by filing a notice of appeal with the school board within 10 business days after the date of the decision and giving a copy thereof to all other parties. Within 10 business days thereafter, the school board shall transmit to the clerk of the court to which the appeal is taken a copy of its decision, a copy of the notice of appeal, and the exhibits. The failure of the school board to transmit the record within the time allowed shall not prejudice the rights of the grievant. The court, on motion of the grievant, may issue a writ of certiorari requiring the school board to transmit the record on or before a certain date. Within 10 business days of receipt by the clerk of such record, the court, sitting without a jury, shall hear the appeal on the record transmitted by the school board and such additional evidence as may be necessary to resolve any controversy as to the correctness of the record. The court, in its discretion, may receive such other evidence as the ends of justice require. The court may affirm the decision of the school board or may reverse or modify the decision. The decision of the court shall be rendered no later than the fifteenth day from the date of the conclusion of the hearing. Such determination of grievability shall be made subsequent to the reduction of the grievance to writing but prior to any hearing or the right to such determination shall be deemed to have been waived.
Code 1950, § 22-217.8:01; 1979, c. 298; 1980, c. 559; 1987, c. 97; 2003, c. 187; 2013, cc. 588, 650.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-317. Superintendent of Public Instruction to be "designated state official."

The "designated state official" for this Commonwealth for the purposes of the Interstate Agreement on Qualification of Educational Personnel shall be the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall enter into contracts pursuant to Article III of the Agreement only with the approval of the specific text thereof by the Board of Education.
Code 1950, § 22-349; 1970, c. 193; 1980, c. 559.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-318. Filing and publication of contracts made pursuant to Agreement

True copies of all contracts made on behalf of this Commonwealth pursuant to the Interstate Agreement on Qualification of Educational Personnel shall be kept on file in the State Department of Education. The State Department of Education shall publish all such contracts in convenient form.
Code 1950, § 22-350; 1970, c. 193; 1980, c. 559.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-318.1. Strategic Compensation Grant Fund established

There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the Strategic Compensation Grant Fund, hereafter referred to as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All funds as may be appropriated for this purpose and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds as may be received on its behalf shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely for the purposes of awarding grants, pursuant to § 22.1-318.2, on a competitive basis to any local school division. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
2013, cc. 228, 691.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 15 - Teachers, Officers and Employees › § 22.1-318.2. Strategic Compensation Grant Initiative

A. As used in this section:
"Fund" means the Strategic Compensation Grant Fund established pursuant to § 22.1-318.1.
"Grant" means a grant issued pursuant to the Strategic Compensation Grant Initiative.
B. The Department shall develop guidelines, consistent with this section, setting forth the general requirements of qualifying for a grant.
C. Local school divisions may submit proposals to the Department to apply for a grant. Grants shall be awarded, on a competitive basis, for the purposes of awarding incentive payments to teachers. All proposals shall designate groups or types of teachers targeted for the incentives. Proposals may include plans to (i) reward teachers who help students make significant academic progress; (ii) incentivize team performance in schools achieving goals set by the school division; (iii) reward teachers assuming additional responsibilities, such as serving as a mentor to other teachers; (iv) pay incentives to effective teachers who have essential expertise and who are willing to transfer to positions at hard-to-staff or low-performing schools; (v) reward effective teachers who are assigned to teach critical shortage areas; or (vi) pay incentives to attract talented teachers with specified expertise in hard-to-staff positions. Any proposal that is designed to offer incentives for improved performance to an entire school team may include school leaders other than teachers.
D. Each proposal shall outline a strategic compensation model used to disburse awarded funds. Stakeholder involvement is required in the development and implementation of the model. No individual shall receive more than $5,000 per year. The compensation model shall include measurable and appropriate achievement goals for student academic progress and plans for the professional development of the designated teachers. The compensation model may include tiers or a range of incentives.
E. Any teacher awarded according to the terms of the proposal by the school division in its proposal shall (i) be licensed by the Board; (ii) be employed by the local school board under a contract; (iii) hold an endorsement in his subject area and grade level; (iv) be "highly qualified," as that term is defined by the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act, P.L. 89-10, as amended; (v) be evaluated using an effective system, consistent with the evaluations and criteria of the Board, including a weight of 40 percent on student academic progress for the summative rating; and (vi) be rated as "proficient" or better.
2013, cc. 228, 691.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 16 - Schools for Students with Disabilities › § 22.1-319. Definitions

As used in this chapter unless the context requires a different meaning:
"Board" means the Virginia Board of Education.
"Department" means the Department of Education.
"Person" means any individual, group of individuals, partnership, association, business trust, corporation, or other business entity.
"School for students with disabilities" or "school" or "schools" means a privately owned and operated preschool, school, or educational organization, no matter how titled, maintained or conducting classes for the purpose of offering instruction for a consideration, profit, or tuition to persons determined to have autism, deaf-blindness, a developmental delay, hearing loss including deafness, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, an orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, an emotional disturbance, a severe disability, a specific learning disability, a speech or language impairment, a traumatic brain injury, or a visual impairment including blindness.
"Superintendent" means the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Code 1950, § 22-330.17; 1970, c. 665; 1972, c. 523; 1974, c. 303; 1977, c. 444; 1980, c. 559; 1988, c. 574; 1993, c. 351; 1996, cc. 691, 832; 2004, c. 991; 2012, cc. 476, 507; 2019, c. 288.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 16 - Schools for Students with Disabilities › § 22.1-320. Exemptions

This chapter shall not apply to any of the following:
1. Any school that is licensed or approved pursuant to other statutes of the Commonwealth;
2. Any public or private high school accredited or recognized by the Board of Education that has offered or that may offer programs for students with disabilities covered in this chapter, if any tuition, fees and charges made by the school are collected in accordance with the regulations prescribed by the governing body of such school;
3. Tutorial instruction given in a private home or elsewhere as supplemental to regular classes for students enrolled in any public or private school or in preparation of an individual for an examination for professional practice or higher education; or
4. A program through which persons with disabilities are provided employment and training primarily in simple skills in a sheltered or protective environment.
Code 1950, § 22-330.18; 1970, c. 665; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 198; 1972, c. 523; 1973, c. 435; 1980, c. 559; 1988, c. 574; 1993, c. 351; 1996, cc. 691, 832; 2004, c. 991.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 16 - Schools for Students with Disabilities › § 22.1-321. Regulations

The Board of Education shall make regulations not inconsistent with law for the management and conduct of schools. The regulations may include standards for programs offered by the schools.
The Board may authorize the Superintendent to issue licenses to operate schools.
Code 1950, §§ 22-330.19, 22-330.20; 1970, c. 665; 1972, c. 523; 1976, c. 16; 1980, c. 559; 1988, c. 574; 2004, c. 991.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 16 - Schools for Students with Disabilities › § 22.1-321.1. Possession and administration of epinephrine

The Board shall promulgate regulations for the possession and administration of epinephrine in every school for students with disabilities, to be administered by any employee of the school who is authorized by a prescriber and trained in the administration of epinephrine to any student believed to be having an anaphylactic reaction.
2015, c. 387; 2022, c. 355.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 16 - Schools for Students with Disabilities › § 22.1-322. Advisory committees

The Board may appoint an advisory committee, to be composed of nine persons who shall serve for terms of two years each, the majority of whom shall be representative of the schools subject to regulation under this chapter and the balance of whom shall be representative of the public and shall have no connection with any school. No member of any advisory committee shall serve for more than two consecutive terms.
Code 1950, § 22-330.20; 1970, c. 665; 1976, c. 16; 1980, c. 559; 1988, c. 574; 1993, c. 351; 2004, c. 991.
2023 Code of Virginia › Title 22.1 - Education › Chapter 16 - Schools for Students with Disabilities › § 22.1-323. Licenses generally

A. No person shall open, operate, or conduct any school for students with disabilities in the Commonwealth without a license to operate such school issued by the Board. A license shall be issued for a school if it is in compliance with the regulations of the Board issued pursuant to this chapter, any fee for such license has been paid, and its facilities are approved by the Board after an inspection by the Department. No such license shall be transferable. The license shall be prominently displayed on the premises of the school in a place open for inspection by any interested person during the hours of operation.
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 22.1-19, the Board shall require, pursuant to regulation, any private school for students with disabilities that is licensed by the Board, as a condition for renewal of its initial license to operate, to obtain accreditation from an accrediting agency recognized by the Virginia Council for Private Education within three years of the issuance of its initial triennial license by the Board.
C. Any license issued to a residential school for students with disabilities, except a provisional or conditional license issued pursuant to § 22.1-323.1, may, upon written notification to the school, expire on a date subsequent to its stated expiration date and determined at the discretion of the Board, but in no case later than three years from the effective date. Licenses issued to residential schools for students with disabilities which are effective on or after July 1, 1992, may be issued for periods of up to three successive years. Licenses may be issued to private day special education schools for periods of up to three successive years.
D. The Superintendent or his authorized agents may make unannounced inspections of each school for students with disabilities each year.
Code 1950, § 22-330.21; 1970, c. 665; 1972, c. 523; 1980, c. 559; 1992, c. 666; 1994, c. 258; 2004, c. 991; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 172.