{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/22.1-26.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/22.1-26.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/22.1-26.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/22.1-26.html"}],"law_id":85010,"edition_id":1,"section_id":85010,"structure_id":13752,"section_number":"22.1-26","catch_line":"Joint and regional schools; regional public charter schools","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 22-7; 1954, c. 638; 1980, c. 559; 1999, c. 449; 2000, cc. 631, 712, 1028; 2002, c. 366; 2003, c. 165; 2004, c. 256; 2007, c. 45; 2008, c. 49.","full_text":"A\n\nTwo or more school boards may, with the consent of the State Board, establish joint or regional schools, including regional public charter schools as defined in § 22.1-212.5, comprehensive schools offering all-day academic programs and career and technical education, and regional residential charter schools for at-risk pupils, for the use of their respective school divisions and may jointly purchase, take, hold, lease, convey and condemn both real and personal property for such joint, regional, or regional public charter schools. The school boards, acting jointly, shall have the same power of condemnation as other school boards except that land so condemned shall not be in excess of 30 acres for the use of any one joint or regional school. The title to all property acquired for such purposes shall vest jointly in the school boards in such respective proportions as the school boards may determine, and the schools shall be managed and controlled by the school boards jointly, in accordance with such regulations as are promulgated by the State Board. With the approval of the participating school boards and the respective local governing bodies, title to property acquired for a joint school shall be vested in the governing body of such school. The school boards operating a regional public charter school shall determine the school division to which any regional public charter school is assigned for the purposes of any restrictions on the number of public charter schools imposed by § 22.1-212.11.B\n\nEffective July 1, 2008, joint, regional, or regional charter schools in operation prior to the promulgation of new regulations may request a waiver of the new regulation requirements. This waiver request shall be submitted to the Board of Education on a form and in a manner prescribed by the Board. If the Board of Education grants the waiver request, the approved school shall continue to operate under the previous regulations.C\n\nConsistent with the provisions of this section, two or more school boards may, with the consent of the State Board, establish joint or regional schools, including regional public charter schools, to serve as high schools offering (i) in addition to a comprehensive high school curriculum, specialized training to students desiring to pursue careers in law enforcement, fire fighting, emergency and rescue services, and other occupations addressing public safety and welfare; or (ii) a specialized curriculum leading to a high school diploma and a postsecondary credential, such as industry certification, career certificate, or degree; or (iii) both.\n\t\t\tSuch schools described in clause (i) may be designed to incorporate the instructional services of retired or disabled emergency, fire, rescue, and law-enforcement personnel and internships with local agencies and organizations providing such emergency, fire, rescue, and law-enforcement services.\n\t\t\tThe relevant school boards operating schools described in clause (ii) may, by agreement, establish alternative schedules for the delivery of instruction that may include alternatives to standard school day and year requirements, subject to the issuance of any necessary waivers by the Board of Education pursuant to § 22.1-79.1 and relevant Board regulations. Such school boards may contract with an accredited institution of higher education or other postsecondary school licensed or certified by the Board of Education or the State Council of Higher Education, as the case may be, pursuant to Chapter 16 (§ 22.1-319 et seq.) of this title or Article 3 (§ 23.1-213 et seq.) of Chapter 2 of Title 23.1, to deliver such instruction, which may include specialized instruction and training for students who are eligible to enroll in public high schools, consistent with §§ 22.1-3, 22.1-5, and 22.1-213.D\n\nJoint or regional schools, such as academic year Governor’s Schools, may set the school calendar so that the first day students are required to attend school shall comport with the calendar of any of the participating school divisions, including those granted a waiver, as prescribed in § 22.1-79.1. Such calendar must be approved by the governing board of the joint or regional school.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":304722,"text":"Two or more school boards may, with the consent of the State Board, establish joint or regional schools, including regional public charter schools as defined in § 22.1-212.5, comprehensive schools offering all-day academic programs and career and technical education, and regional residential charter schools for at-risk pupils, for the use of their respective school divisions and may jointly purchase, take, hold, lease, convey and condemn both real and personal property for such joint, regional, or regional public charter schools. The school boards, acting jointly, shall have the same power of condemnation as other school boards except that land so condemned shall not be in excess of 30 acres for the use of any one joint or regional school. The title to all property acquired for such purposes shall vest jointly in the school boards in such respective proportions as the school boards may determine, and the schools shall be managed and controlled by the school boards jointly, in accordance with such regulations as are promulgated by the State Board. With the approval of the participating school boards and the respective local governing bodies, title to property acquired for a joint school shall be vested in the governing body of such school. The school boards operating a regional public charter school shall determine the school division to which any regional public charter school is assigned for the purposes of any restrictions on the number of public charter schools imposed by § 22.1-212.11.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":304723,"text":"Effective July 1, 2008, joint, regional, or regional charter schools in operation prior to the promulgation of new regulations may request a waiver of the new regulation requirements. This waiver request shall be submitted to the Board of Education on a form and in a manner prescribed by the Board. If the Board of Education grants the waiver request, the approved school shall continue to operate under the previous regulations.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":304724,"text":"Consistent with the provisions of this section, two or more school boards may, with the consent of the State Board, establish joint or regional schools, including regional public charter schools, to serve as high schools offering (i) in addition to a comprehensive high school curriculum, specialized training to students desiring to pursue careers in law enforcement, fire fighting, emergency and rescue services, and other occupations addressing public safety and welfare; or (ii) a specialized curriculum leading to a high school diploma and a postsecondary credential, such as industry certification, career certificate, or degree; or (iii) both.\n\t\t\tSuch schools described in clause (i) may be designed to incorporate the instructional services of retired or disabled emergency, fire, rescue, and law-enforcement personnel and internships with local agencies and organizations providing such emergency, fire, rescue, and law-enforcement services.\n\t\t\tThe relevant school boards operating schools described in clause (ii) may, by agreement, establish alternative schedules for the delivery of instruction that may include alternatives to standard school day and year requirements, subject to the issuance of any necessary waivers by the Board of Education pursuant to § 22.1-79.1 and relevant Board regulations. Such school boards may contract with an accredited institution of higher education or other postsecondary school licensed or certified by the Board of Education or the State Council of Higher Education, as the case may be, pursuant to Chapter 16 (§ 22.1-319 et seq.) of this title or Article 3 (§ 23.1-213 et seq.) of Chapter 2 of Title 23.1, to deliver such instruction, which may include specialized instruction and training for students who are eligible to enroll in public high schools, consistent with §§ 22.1-3, 22.1-5, and 22.1-213.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":304725,"text":"Joint or regional schools, such as academic year Governor’s Schools, may set the school calendar so that the first day students are required to attend school shall comport with the calendar of any of the participating school divisions, including those granted a waiver, as prescribed in § 22.1-79.1. Such calendar must be approved by the governing board of the joint or regional school.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13752,"edition_id":1,"name":"School Divisions, Joint Schools and Contracts Between School Divisions","identifier":"4","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12823,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:47","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:47","permalink":{"id":183783,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13752,"identifier":"4","token":"22.1\/4","url":"\/22.1\/4\/","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":54756,"structure_id":13752,"section_number":"22.1-25","catch_line":"How school divisions made","url":"\/22.1-25\/","token":"22.1\/4\/22.1-25","metadata":false},{"id":85010,"structure_id":13752,"section_number":"22.1-26","catch_line":"Joint and regional schools; regional public charter schools","url":"\/22.1-26\/","token":"22.1\/4\/22.1-26","metadata":false},{"id":85423,"structure_id":13752,"section_number":"22.1-26.1","catch_line":"Agreements for satellite classrooms","url":"\/22.1-26.1\/","token":"22.1\/4\/22.1-26.1","metadata":false},{"id":85783,"structure_id":13752,"section_number":"22.1-26.2","catch_line":"Academic year Governor's Schools; certain practices prohibited and required","url":"\/22.1-26.2\/","token":"22.1\/4\/22.1-26.2","metadata":false},{"id":61266,"structure_id":13752,"section_number":"22.1-27","catch_line":"Contracts to furnish facilities and services","url":"\/22.1-27\/","token":"22.1\/4\/22.1-27","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":54756,"structure_id":13752,"section_number":"22.1-25","catch_line":"How school divisions made","url":"\/22.1-25\/","token":"22.1\/4\/22.1-25","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":85423,"structure_id":13752,"section_number":"22.1-26.1","catch_line":"Agreements for satellite classrooms","url":"\/22.1-26.1\/","token":"22.1\/4\/22.1-26.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/22.1-26\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 9 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 1954, chapter 638; in 1980, chapter 559; in 1999, chapter 449<\/a>; in 2000, chapters 631<\/a>, 712<\/a>, and 1028<\/a>; in 2002, chapter 366<\/a>; in 2003, chapter 165<\/a>; in 2004, chapter 256<\/a>; in 2007, chapter 45<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 49<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":72219,"section_number":"22.1-140.1","catch_line":"School Construction Fund and Program","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-140.1\/"},{"id":72978,"section_number":"22.1-227","catch_line":"Board designated to carry out provisions of federal act","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-227\/"},{"id":85783,"section_number":"22.1-26.2","catch_line":"Academic year Governor's Schools; certain practices prohibited and required","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-26.2\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":67024,"section_number":"22.1-212.5","catch_line":"Objectives; definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-212.5\/"},{"id":81351,"section_number":"22.1-3","catch_line":"Persons to whom public schools shall be free","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-3\/"},{"id":83939,"section_number":"22.1-319","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-319\/"},{"id":54182,"section_number":"22.1-5","catch_line":"Regulations concerning admission of certain persons to schools; tuition charges","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-5\/"},{"id":66917,"section_number":"22.1-79.1","catch_line":"Opening of the school year; approvals for certain alternative schedules","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-79.1\/"},{"id":71294,"section_number":"23.1-213","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/23.1-213\/"}],"permalink":{"id":183789,"object_type":"law","relational_id":85010,"identifier":"22.1-26","token":"22.1\/4\/22.1-26","url":"\/22.1-26\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/22.1-26\/","token":"22.1\/4\/22.1-26","dublin_core":{"Title":"Joint and regional schools; regional public charter schools","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 22.1-26","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Two or more school boards<\/span> may, with the consent of the State Board<\/span>, establish joint or regional schools, including regional public charter schools as defined in § 22.1-212.5<\/a>, comprehensive schools offering all-day academic programs and career and technical education, and regional residential charter schools for at-risk pupils, for the use of their respective school divisions and may jointly purchase, take, hold, lease, convey and condemn both real and personal property for such joint, regional, or regional public charter schools. The school boards<\/span>, acting jointly, shall have the same power of condemnation as other school boards<\/span> except that land so condemned shall not be in excess of 30 acres for the use of any one joint or regional school. The title to all property acquired for such purposes shall vest jointly in the school boards<\/span> in such respective proportions as the school boards<\/span> may determine, and the schools shall be managed and controlled by the school boards<\/span> jointly, in accordance with such regulations as are promulgated by the State Board<\/span>. With the approval of the participating school boards<\/span> and the respective local governing bodies, title to property acquired for a joint school shall be vested in the governing body<\/span> of such school. The school boards<\/span> operating a regional public charter school shall determine the school division to which any regional public charter school is assigned for the purposes of any restrictions on the number of public charter schools imposed by § 22.1-212.11<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Effective July 1, 2008, joint, regional, or regional charter schools in operation prior to the promulgation of new regulations may request a waiver<\/span> of the new regulation requirements. This waiver<\/span> request shall be submitted to the Board of Education on a form and in a manner prescribed by the Board. If the Board of Education grants the waiver<\/span> request, the approved school shall continue to operate under the previous regulations. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Consistent with the provisions of this section, two or more school boards<\/span> may, with the consent of the State Board<\/span>, establish joint or regional schools, including regional public charter schools, to serve as high schools offering (i) in addition to a comprehensive high school curriculum, specialized training to students desiring to pursue careers in law<\/span> enforcement, fire fighting, emergency and rescue services, and other occupations addressing public safety and welfare; or (ii) a specialized curriculum leading to a high school diploma and a postsecondary credential, such as industry certification, career certificate, or degree; or (iii) both.\n\t\t\tSuch schools described in clause (i) may be designed to incorporate the instructional services of retired or disabled emergency, fire, rescue, and law<\/span>-enforcement personnel and internships with local agencies and organizations providing such emergency, fire, rescue, and law<\/span>-enforcement services.\n\t\t\tThe relevant school boards<\/span> operating schools described in clause (ii) may, by agreement, establish alternative schedules<\/span> for the delivery of instruction that may include alternatives to standard school day and year requirements, subject to the issuance of any necessary waivers<\/span> by the Board of Education pursuant to § 22.1-79.1<\/a> and relevant Board regulations. Such school boards<\/span> may contract<\/span> with an accredited institution of higher education or other postsecondary school licensed or certified by the Board of Education or the State Council of Higher Education, as the case may be, pursuant to Chapter 16 (§ 22.1-319<\/a> et seq.) of this title or Article 3 (§ 23.1-213<\/a> et seq.) of Chapter 2 of Title 23.1, to deliver such instruction, which may include specialized instruction and training for students who are eligible to enroll in public high schools, consistent with §§ 22.1-3<\/a>, 22.1-5<\/a>, and 22.1-213<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Joint or regional schools, such as academic year Governor’s Schools, may set the school calendar so that the first day students are required to attend school shall comport with the calendar of any of the participating school divisions, including those granted a waiver<\/span>, as prescribed in § 22.1-79.1<\/a>. Such calendar must be approved by the governing board of the joint or regional school. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nJOINT AND REGIONAL SCHOOLS; REGIONAL PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS (\u00a7 22.1-26)\n\nA. Two or more school boards may, with the consent of the State Board, establish\njoint or regional schools, including regional public charter schools as defined\nin § 22.1-212.5, comprehensive schools offering all-day academic programs\nand career and technical education, and regional residential charter schools for\nat-risk pupils, for the use of their respective school divisions and may jointly\npurchase, take, hold, lease, convey and condemn both real and personal property\nfor such joint, regional, or regional public charter schools. The school boards,\nacting jointly, shall have the same power of condemnation as other school boards\nexcept that land so condemned shall not be in excess of 30 acres for the use of\nany one joint or regional school. The title to all property acquired for such\npurposes shall vest jointly in the school boards in such respective proportions\nas the school boards may determine, and the schools shall be managed and\ncontrolled by the school boards jointly, in accordance with such regulations as\nare promulgated by the State Board. With the approval of the participating\nschool boards and the respective local governing bodies, title to property\nacquired for a joint school shall be vested in the governing body of such\nschool. The school boards operating a regional public charter school shall\ndetermine the school division to which any regional public charter school is\nassigned for the purposes of any restrictions on the number of public charter\nschools imposed by § 22.1-212.11.\n\nB. Effective July 1, 2008, joint, regional, or regional charter schools in\noperation prior to the promulgation of new regulations may request a waiver of\nthe new regulation requirements. This waiver request shall be submitted to the\nBoard of Education on a form and in a manner prescribed by the Board. If the\nBoard of Education grants the waiver request, the approved school shall continue\nto operate under the previous regulations.\n\nC. Consistent with the provisions of this section, two or more school boards\nmay, with the consent of the State Board, establish joint or regional schools,\nincluding regional public charter schools, to serve as high schools offering (i)\nin addition to a comprehensive high school curriculum, specialized training to\nstudents desiring to pursue careers in law enforcement, fire fighting, emergency\nand rescue services, and other occupations addressing public safety and welfare;\nor (ii) a specialized curriculum leading to a high school diploma and a\npostsecondary credential, such as industry certification, career certificate, or\ndegree; or (iii) both.\n\t\t\tSuch schools described in clause (i) may be designed to incorporate the\ninstructional services of retired or disabled emergency, fire, rescue, and\nlaw-enforcement personnel and internships with local agencies and organizations\nproviding such emergency, fire, rescue, and law-enforcement services.\n\t\t\tThe relevant school boards operating schools described in clause (ii) may, by\nagreement, establish alternative schedules for the delivery of instruction that\nmay include alternatives to standard school day and year requirements, subject\nto the issuance of any necessary waivers by the Board of Education pursuant to\n§ 22.1-79.1 and relevant Board regulations. Such school boards may contract\nwith an accredited institution of higher education or other postsecondary school\nlicensed or certified by the Board of Education or the State Council of Higher\nEducation, as the case may be, pursuant to Chapter 16 (§ 22.1-319 et seq.)\nof this title or Article 3 (§ 23.1-213 et seq.) of Chapter 2 of Title 23.1,\nto deliver such instruction, which may include specialized instruction and\ntraining for students who are eligible to enroll in public high schools,\nconsistent with §§ 22.1-3, 22.1-5, and 22.1-213.\n\nD. Joint or regional schools, such as academic year Governor’s Schools,\nmay set the school calendar so that the first day students are required to\nattend school shall comport with the calendar of any of the participating school\ndivisions, including those granted a waiver, as prescribed in § 22.1-79.1.\nSuch calendar must be approved by the governing board of the joint or regional\nschool.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 22-7; 1954, c. 638; 1980, c. 559; 1999, c. 449; 2000, cc.\n631, 712, 1028; 2002, c. 366; 2003, c. 165; 2004, c. 256; 2007, c. 45; 2008, c.\n49.","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}}