{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/22.1-223.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/22.1-223.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/22.1-223.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/22.1-223.html"}],"law_id":67709,"edition_id":1,"section_id":67709,"structure_id":16114,"section_number":"22.1-223","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 22-360; 1978, c. 522; 1980, c. 559; 1999, c. 564; 2006, c. 335; 2014, c. 84; 2018, c. 717.","full_text":"As used in this article:\n\t\t“Adult basic education” means education for individuals over the age of compulsory school attendance specified in \u00a7 22.1-254 that enables them to express themselves orally and in writing, read, access information and resources, make decisions, act independently and interact with others, and continue lifelong learning to cope with and compete successfully in a global economy.\n\t\t“Adult education program” means an instructional program below the college credit level provided by public schools for individuals who are not enrolled in the regular public school program, including adult basic education, credit programs, cultural adult education, external diploma programs, general adult education, and high school equivalency programs.\n\t\t“Credit program” means a program of academic courses that are available to individuals over the age of compulsory school attendance specified in \u00a7 22.1-254 to enable them to complete the regular requirements for a high school diploma.\n\t\t“Cultural adult education” means English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), the preparation of foreign-born adults for participation in American life or for becoming American citizens, and other educational services for foreign-born individuals over the age of compulsory school attendance specified in \u00a7 22.1-254.\n\t\t“External diploma program” means a program in which individuals over the age of compulsory school attendance specified in \u00a7 22.1-254 who did not complete high school may earn a high school diploma by demonstrating with 100 percent mastery the 65 competencies established and validated by the American Council on Education.\n\t\t“General adult education” means academic, cultural, and avocational instruction for individuals over the age of compulsory school attendance specified in \u00a7 22.1-254 that may be obtained through programs other than credit programs, high school equivalency programs, or external diploma programs.\n\t\t“High school equivalency program” means a program of preparation and instruction to take a high school equivalency examination approved by the Board of Education for individuals over the age of compulsory school attendance specified in \u00a7 22.1-254 who did not complete high school, individuals who have been granted permission by the superintendent of the school division in which they are or were last enrolled to take a high school equivalency examination approved by the Board of Education, individuals who are at least 16 years of age, and individuals who have been ordered by a court to participate in the program.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":245258,"text":"As used in this article:\n\t\t“Adult basic education” means education for individuals over the age of compulsory school attendance specified in \u00a7 22.1-254 that enables them to express themselves orally and in writing, read, access information and resources, make decisions, act independently and interact with others, and continue lifelong learning to cope with and compete successfully in a global economy.\n\t\t“Adult education program” means an instructional program below the college credit level provided by public schools for individuals who are not enrolled in the regular public school program, including adult basic education, credit programs, cultural adult education, external diploma programs, general adult education, and high school equivalency programs.\n\t\t“Credit program” means a program of academic courses that are available to individuals over the age of compulsory school attendance specified in \u00a7 22.1-254 to enable them to complete the regular requirements for a high school diploma.\n\t\t“Cultural adult education” means English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), the preparation of foreign-born adults for participation in American life or for becoming American citizens, and other educational services for foreign-born individuals over the age of compulsory school attendance specified in \u00a7 22.1-254.\n\t\t“External diploma program” means a program in which individuals over the age of compulsory school attendance specified in \u00a7 22.1-254 who did not complete high school may earn a high school diploma by demonstrating with 100 percent mastery the 65 competencies established and validated by the American Council on Education.\n\t\t“General adult education” means academic, cultural, and avocational instruction for individuals over the age of compulsory school attendance specified in \u00a7 22.1-254 that may be obtained through programs other than credit programs, high school equivalency programs, or external diploma programs.\n\t\t“High school equivalency program” means a program of preparation and instruction to take a high school equivalency examination approved by the Board of Education for individuals over the age of compulsory school attendance specified in \u00a7 22.1-254 who did not complete high school, individuals who have been granted permission by the superintendent of the school division in which they are or were last enrolled to take a high school equivalency examination approved by the Board of Education, individuals who are at least 16 years of age, and individuals who have been ordered by a court to participate in the program.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":16114,"edition_id":1,"name":"Adult Education","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12954,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:06:22","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:06:22","permalink":{"id":181941,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":16114,"identifier":"3","token":"22.1\/13\/3","url":"\/22.1\/13\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12954,"edition_id":1,"name":"Programs, Courses of Instruction and Textbooks","identifier":"13","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12823,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:04","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:04","permalink":{"id":181369,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12954,"identifier":"13","token":"22.1\/13","url":"\/22.1\/13\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12823,"edition_id":1,"name":"Education","identifier":"22.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":180949,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12823,"identifier":"22.1","token":"22.1","url":"\/22.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":67709,"structure_id":16114,"section_number":"22.1-223","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/22.1-223\/","token":"22.1\/13\/3\/22.1-223","metadata":false},{"id":69647,"structure_id":16114,"section_number":"22.1-224","catch_line":"Duties of State Board","url":"\/22.1-224\/","token":"22.1\/13\/3\/22.1-224","metadata":false},{"id":77751,"structure_id":16114,"section_number":"22.1-225","catch_line":"Authority of school boards","url":"\/22.1-225\/","token":"22.1\/13\/3\/22.1-225","metadata":false},{"id":63778,"structure_id":16114,"section_number":"22.1-225.1","catch_line":"Department; Virginia-based nonprofit organizations; schools for adults to earn credentials, college credit, and high school diplomas","url":"\/22.1-225.1\/","token":"22.1\/13\/3\/22.1-225.1","metadata":false},{"id":63675,"structure_id":16114,"section_number":"22.1-226","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/22.1-226\/","token":"22.1\/13\/3\/22.1-226","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":69647,"structure_id":16114,"section_number":"22.1-224","catch_line":"Duties of State Board","url":"\/22.1-224\/","token":"22.1\/13\/3\/22.1-224","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/22.1-223\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 6 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1978, chapter 522; in 1980, chapter 559; in 1999, chapter 564<\/a>; in 2006, chapter 335<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 84<\/a>; in 2018, chapter 717<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":64677,"section_number":"22.1-254","catch_line":"Compulsory attendance required; excuses and waivers; alternative education program attendance; exemptions from article","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-254\/"}],"permalink":{"id":181943,"object_type":"law","relational_id":67709,"identifier":"22.1-223","token":"22.1\/13\/3\/22.1-223","url":"\/22.1-223\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/22.1-223\/","token":"22.1\/13\/3\/22.1-223","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 22.1-223","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this article:\n\t\t“Adult basic education<\/span>” means education for individuals over the age of compulsory school attendance specified in \u00a7 22.1-254<\/a> that enables them to express themselves orally and in writing, read, access information and resources, make decisions, act independently and interact with others, and continue lifelong learning to cope with and compete successfully in a global economy.\n\t\t“Adult education program<\/span>” means an instructional program below the college credit level provided by public schools for individuals who are not enrolled in the regular public school program, including adult basic education<\/span>, credit programs<\/span>, cultural adult education<\/span>, external diploma programs<\/span>, general adult education<\/span>, and high school equivalency programs<\/span>.\n\t\t“Credit program<\/span>” means a program of academic courses that are available to individuals over the age of compulsory school attendance specified in \u00a7 22.1-254<\/a> to enable them to complete the regular requirements for a high school diploma.\n\t\t“Cultural adult education<\/span>” means English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), the preparation of foreign-born adults for participation in American life or for becoming American citizens, and other educational services for foreign-born individuals over the age of compulsory school attendance specified in \u00a7 22.1-254<\/a>.\n\t\t“External diploma program<\/span>” means a program in which individuals over the age of compulsory school attendance specified in \u00a7 22.1-254<\/a> who did not complete high school may earn a high school diploma by demonstrating with 100 percent mastery the 65 competencies established and validated by the American Council on Education.\n\t\t“General adult education<\/span>” means academic, cultural, and avocational instruction for individuals over the age of compulsory school attendance specified in \u00a7 22.1-254<\/a> that may be obtained through programs other than credit programs<\/span>, high school equivalency programs<\/span>, or external diploma programs<\/span>.\n\t\t“High school equivalency program<\/span>” means a program of preparation and instruction to take a high school equivalency examination approved by the Board<\/span> of Education for individuals over the age of compulsory school attendance specified in \u00a7 22.1-254<\/a> who did not complete high school, individuals who have been granted permission by the superintendent<\/span> of the school division in which they are or were last enrolled to take a high school equivalency examination approved by the Board<\/span> of Education, individuals who are at least 16 years of age, and individuals who have been ordered by a court<\/span> to participate in the program.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 22.1-223)\n\nAs used in this article:\n\t\t“Adult basic education” means education for individuals over the\nage of compulsory school attendance specified in \u00a7 22.1-254 that enables them\nto express themselves orally and in writing, read, access information and\nresources, make decisions, act independently and interact with others, and\ncontinue lifelong learning to cope with and compete successfully in a global\neconomy.\n\t\t“Adult education program” means an instructional program below the\ncollege credit level provided by public schools for individuals who are not\nenrolled in the regular public school program, including adult basic education,\ncredit programs, cultural adult education, external diploma programs, general\nadult education, and high school equivalency programs.\n\t\t“Credit program” means a program of academic courses that are\navailable to individuals over the age of compulsory school attendance specified\nin \u00a7 22.1-254 to enable them to complete the regular requirements for a high\nschool diploma.\n\t\t“Cultural adult education” means English for speakers of other\nlanguages (ESOL), the preparation of foreign-born adults for participation in\nAmerican life or for becoming American citizens, and other educational services\nfor foreign-born individuals over the age of compulsory school attendance\nspecified in \u00a7 22.1-254.\n\t\t“External diploma program” means a program in which individuals\nover the age of compulsory school attendance specified in \u00a7 22.1-254 who did\nnot complete high school may earn a high school diploma by demonstrating with\n100 percent mastery the 65 competencies established and validated by the\nAmerican Council on Education.\n\t\t“General adult education” means academic, cultural, and\navocational instruction for individuals over the age of compulsory school\nattendance specified in \u00a7 22.1-254 that may be obtained through programs other\nthan credit programs, high school equivalency programs, or external diploma\nprograms.\n\t\t“High school equivalency program” means a program of preparation\nand instruction to take a high school equivalency examination approved by the\nBoard of Education for individuals over the age of compulsory school attendance\nspecified in \u00a7 22.1-254 who did not complete high school, individuals who have\nbeen granted permission by the superintendent of the school division in which\nthey are or were last enrolled to take a high school equivalency examination\napproved by the Board of Education, individuals who are at least 16 years of\nage, and individuals who have been ordered by a court to participate in the\nprogram.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 22-360; 1978, c. 522; 1980, c. 559; 1999, c. 564; 2006,\nc. 335; 2014, c. 84; 2018, c. 717.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}