{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/22.1-254.2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/22.1-254.2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/22.1-254.2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/22.1-254.2.html"}],"law_id":82535,"edition_id":1,"section_id":82535,"structure_id":13989,"section_number":"22.1-254.2","catch_line":"Testing for high school equivalency; eligibility; guidelines","history":"1989, c. 225; 1997, c. 458; 1999, cc. 488, 552; 2003, c. 688; 2004, cc. 251, 939, 955; 2006, c. 335; 2010, c. 605; 2014, c. 84.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Board of Education shall establish a program of testing for high school equivalency through which a person may pass a high school equivalency examination approved by the Board of Education through which persons may earn a high school equivalency certificate or may earn a diploma as provided in subsection F of \u00a7 22.1-253.13:4. The following persons may participate in the testing program:1\n\nPersons who are at least 18 years of age and not enrolled in public school or not otherwise meeting the school attendance requirements set forth in § 22.1-254;2\n\nPersons 16 years of age or older who have been instructed by their parents in their home pursuant to § 22.1-254.1 and who have completed such home school instruction;3\n\nPersons who have been excused from school attendance pursuant to subsections B and D of § 22.1-254;4\n\nPersons for whom an individual student alternative education plan has been granted pursuant to subsection E of § 22.1-254;5\n\nPersons 16 through 18 years of age who are housed in adult correctional facilities and who are actively pursuing a passing score on a high school equivalency examination approved by the Board of Education but who are not enrolled in an individual student alternative education plan pursuant to subsection E of § 22.1-254;6\n\nPersons 16 years of age or older who have been expelled from school pursuant to §§ 22.1-277.06 through 22.1-277.08; and7\n\nPersons required by court order to participate in the testing program.\n\t\t\t\tUnder no circumstances shall persons under the age of 16 be eligible for the testing program.B\n\nFrom such funds as may be appropriated for this purpose, local school boards shall implement programs of preparation and testing for high school equivalency consistent with guidelines to be developed by the Board of Education. Such guidelines shall include a provision that allows preparatory and testing programs to be offered jointly by two or more school boards.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":295696,"text":"The Board of Education shall establish a program of testing for high school equivalency through which a person may pass a high school equivalency examination approved by the Board of Education through which persons may earn a high school equivalency certificate or may earn a diploma as provided in subsection F of \u00a7 22.1-253.13:4. The following persons may participate in the testing program:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":295697,"text":"Persons who are at least 18 years of age and not enrolled in public school or not otherwise meeting the school attendance requirements set forth in § 22.1-254;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":295698,"text":"Persons 16 years of age or older who have been instructed by their parents in their home pursuant to § 22.1-254.1 and who have completed such home school instruction;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":295699,"text":"Persons who have been excused from school attendance pursuant to subsections B and D of § 22.1-254;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"A4"},"4":{"id":295700,"text":"Persons for whom an individual student alternative education plan has been granted pursuant to subsection E of § 22.1-254;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"A4","prefix_anchor":"A4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"A5"},"5":{"id":295701,"text":"Persons 16 through 18 years of age who are housed in adult correctional facilities and who are actively pursuing a passing score on a high school equivalency examination approved by the Board of Education but who are not enrolled in an individual student alternative education plan pursuant to subsection E of § 22.1-254;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"A5","prefix_anchor":"A5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A4","next_prefix":"A6"},"6":{"id":295702,"text":"Persons 16 years of age or older who have been expelled from school pursuant to §§ 22.1-277.06 through 22.1-277.08; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"A6","prefix_anchor":"A6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A5","next_prefix":"A7"},"7":{"id":295703,"text":"Persons required by court order to participate in the testing program.\n\t\t\t\tUnder no circumstances shall persons under the age of 16 be eligible for the testing program.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"A7","prefix_anchor":"A7","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A6","next_prefix":"B"},"8":{"id":295704,"text":"From such funds as may be appropriated for this purpose, local school boards shall implement programs of preparation and testing for high school equivalency consistent with guidelines to be developed by the Board of Education. Such guidelines shall include a provision that allows preparatory and testing programs to be offered jointly by two or more school boards.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A7"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13989,"edition_id":1,"name":"Compulsory School Attendance","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12850,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:31","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:31","permalink":{"id":182135,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13989,"identifier":"1","token":"22.1\/14\/1","url":"\/22.1\/14\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12850,"edition_id":1,"name":"Pupils","identifier":"14","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12823,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:56","permalink":{"id":182133,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12850,"identifier":"14","token":"22.1\/14","url":"\/22.1\/14\/","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":64677,"structure_id":13989,"section_number":"22.1-254","catch_line":"Compulsory attendance required; excuses and waivers; alternative education program attendance; exemptions from article","url":"\/22.1-254\/","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-254","metadata":false},{"id":61216,"structure_id":13989,"section_number":"22.1-254.01","catch_line":"Certain students required to attend summer school or after-school sessions","url":"\/22.1-254.01\/","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-254.01","metadata":false},{"id":85817,"structure_id":13989,"section_number":"22.1-254.02","catch_line":"Students transferring from a public school","url":"\/22.1-254.02\/","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-254.02","metadata":false},{"id":75707,"structure_id":13989,"section_number":"22.1-254.1","catch_line":"Declaration of policy; requirements for home instruction of children","url":"\/22.1-254.1\/","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-254.1","metadata":false},{"id":82535,"structure_id":13989,"section_number":"22.1-254.2","catch_line":"Testing for high school equivalency; eligibility; guidelines","url":"\/22.1-254.2\/","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-254.2","metadata":false},{"id":60397,"structure_id":13989,"section_number":"22.1-255","catch_line":"Nonresident children","url":"\/22.1-255\/","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-255","metadata":false},{"id":77710,"structure_id":13989,"section_number":"22.1-256","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/22.1-256\/","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-256","metadata":false},{"id":72504,"structure_id":13989,"section_number":"22.1-258","catch_line":"Appointment of attendance officers; notification when pupil fails to report to school; plan; conference; court proceedings","url":"\/22.1-258\/","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-258","metadata":false},{"id":57994,"structure_id":13989,"section_number":"22.1-259","catch_line":"Teachers to keep daily attendance records","url":"\/22.1-259\/","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-259","metadata":false},{"id":73600,"structure_id":13989,"section_number":"22.1-260","catch_line":"Reports of children enrolled and not enrolled; nonattendance","url":"\/22.1-260\/","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-260","metadata":false},{"id":80115,"structure_id":13989,"section_number":"22.1-261","catch_line":"Attendance officer to make list of children not enrolled; duties of attendance officer","url":"\/22.1-261\/","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-261","metadata":false},{"id":58722,"structure_id":13989,"section_number":"22.1-262","catch_line":"Complaint to court when parent fails to comply with law","url":"\/22.1-262\/","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-262","metadata":false},{"id":83240,"structure_id":13989,"section_number":"22.1-263","catch_line":"Violation constitutes misdemeanor","url":"\/22.1-263\/","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-263","metadata":false},{"id":62028,"structure_id":13989,"section_number":"22.1-264","catch_line":"Misdemeanor to make false statements as to age","url":"\/22.1-264\/","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-264","metadata":false},{"id":81772,"structure_id":13989,"section_number":"22.1-264.1","catch_line":"Misdemeanor to make false statements as to school division or attendance zone residency; penalty","url":"\/22.1-264.1\/","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-264.1","metadata":false},{"id":81264,"structure_id":13989,"section_number":"22.1-265","catch_line":"Inducing children to absent themselves","url":"\/22.1-265\/","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-265","metadata":false},{"id":58598,"structure_id":13989,"section_number":"22.1-266","catch_line":"Law-enforcement officers and truant children","url":"\/22.1-266\/","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-266","metadata":false},{"id":55064,"structure_id":13989,"section_number":"22.1-267","catch_line":"Proceedings against habitually absent child","url":"\/22.1-267\/","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-267","metadata":false},{"id":56329,"structure_id":13989,"section_number":"22.1-268","catch_line":"Duty of attorneys for the Commonwealth to prosecute cases arising under article; jurisdiction of offenses","url":"\/22.1-268\/","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-268","metadata":false},{"id":65442,"structure_id":13989,"section_number":"22.1-269","catch_line":"Board to enforce","url":"\/22.1-269\/","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-269","metadata":false},{"id":70396,"structure_id":13989,"section_number":"22.1-269.1","catch_line":"Alternative attendance programs","url":"\/22.1-269.1\/","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-269.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":75707,"structure_id":13989,"section_number":"22.1-254.1","catch_line":"Declaration of policy; requirements for home instruction of children","url":"\/22.1-254.1\/","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-254.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":60397,"structure_id":13989,"section_number":"22.1-255","catch_line":"Nonresident children","url":"\/22.1-255\/","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-255","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/22.1-254.2\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1989. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 225 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1989 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 7 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 1997, chapter 458<\/a>; in 1999, chapters 488<\/a> and 552<\/a>; in 2003, chapter 688<\/a>; in 2004, chapters 251<\/a>, 939<\/a>, and 955<\/a>; in 2006, chapter 335<\/a>; in 2010, chapter 605<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 84<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":59319,"section_number":"22.1-253.13:4","catch_line":"Standard 4. Student achievement and graduation requirements","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-253.13_4\/"},{"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\/"},{"id":75707,"section_number":"22.1-254.1","catch_line":"Declaration of policy; requirements for home instruction of children","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-254.1\/"},{"id":68982,"section_number":"22.1-277.06","catch_line":"Expulsions; procedures; readmission","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-277.06\/"},{"id":75022,"section_number":"22.1-277.08","catch_line":"Expulsion of students for certain drug offenses","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-277.08\/"}],"permalink":{"id":182153,"object_type":"law","relational_id":82535,"identifier":"22.1-254.2","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-254.2","url":"\/22.1-254.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/22.1-254.2\/","token":"22.1\/14\/1\/22.1-254.2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Testing for high school equivalency; eligibility; guidelines","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 22.1-254.2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Board<\/span> of Education shall establish a program of testing for high school equivalency through which a person may pass a high school equivalency examination approved by the Board<\/span> of Education through which persons may earn a high school equivalency certificate or may earn a diploma as provided in subsection F of \u00a7 22.1-253.13:4<\/a>. The following persons may participate in the testing program: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Persons who are at least 18 years of age and not enrolled in public school or not otherwise meeting the school attendance requirements set forth in § 22.1-254<\/a>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Persons 16 years of age or older who have been instructed by their parents<\/span><\/span> in their home pursuant to § 22.1-254.1<\/a> and who have completed such home school instruction; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Persons who have been excused from school attendance pursuant to subsections B and D of § 22.1-254<\/a>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Persons for whom an individual student alternative education plan has been granted pursuant to subsection E of § 22.1-254<\/a>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Persons 16 through 18 years of age who are housed in adult correctional facilities and who are actively pursuing a passing score on a high school equivalency examination approved by the Board<\/span> of Education but who are not enrolled in an individual student alternative education plan pursuant to subsection E of § 22.1-254<\/a>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Persons 16 years of age or older who have been expelled from school pursuant to §§ 22.1-277.06<\/a> through 22.1-277.08<\/a>; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> Persons required by court order<\/span> to participate in the testing program.\n\t\t\t\tUnder no circumstances shall persons under the age of 16 be eligible for the testing program. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> From such funds as may be appropriated for this purpose, local school boards<\/span> shall implement programs of preparation and testing for high school equivalency consistent with guidelines to be developed by the Board<\/span> of Education. Such guidelines shall include a provision that allows preparatory and testing programs to be offered jointly by two or more school boards<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nTESTING FOR HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY; ELIGIBILITY; GUIDELINES (\u00a7 22.1-254.2)\n\nA. The Board of Education shall establish a program of testing for high school\nequivalency through which a person may pass a high school equivalency\nexamination approved by the Board of Education through which persons may earn a\nhigh school equivalency certificate or may earn a diploma as provided in\nsubsection F of \u00a7 22.1-253.13:4. The following persons may participate in the\ntesting program:\n\n 1. Persons who are at least 18 years of age and not enrolled in public school\n or not otherwise meeting the school attendance requirements set forth in\n § 22.1-254;\n\n 2. Persons 16 years of age or older who have been instructed by their parents\n in their home pursuant to § 22.1-254.1 and who have completed such home\n school instruction;\n\n 3. Persons who have been excused from school attendance pursuant to\n subsections B and D of § 22.1-254;\n\n 4. Persons for whom an individual student alternative education plan has been\n granted pursuant to subsection E of § 22.1-254;\n\n 5. Persons 16 through 18 years of age who are housed in adult correctional\n facilities and who are actively pursuing a passing score on a high school\n equivalency examination approved by the Board of Education but who are not\n enrolled in an individual student alternative education plan pursuant to\n subsection E of § 22.1-254;\n\n 6. Persons 16 years of age or older who have been expelled from school\n pursuant to §§ 22.1-277.06 through 22.1-277.08; and\n\n 7. Persons required by court order to participate in the testing program.\n \t\t\t\tUnder no circumstances shall persons under the age of 16 be eligible for\n the testing program.\n\nB. From such funds as may be appropriated for this purpose, local school boards\nshall implement programs of preparation and testing for high school equivalency\nconsistent with guidelines to be developed by the Board of Education. Such\nguidelines shall include a provision that allows preparatory and testing\nprograms to be offered jointly by two or more school boards.\n\nHISTORY: 1989, c. 225; 1997, c. 458; 1999, cc. 488, 552; 2003, c. 688; 2004, cc.\n251, 939, 955; 2006, c. 335; 2010, c. 605; 2014, c. 84.","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}}