{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/22.1-303.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/22.1-303.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/22.1-303.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/22.1-303.html"}],"law_id":55716,"edition_id":1,"section_id":55716,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-303","catch_line":"Probationary terms of service for teachers","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 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.","full_text":"A\n\nA 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.\n\t\t\tAny 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\n\nOnce 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\n\nFor 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.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":204206,"text":"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.\n\t\t\tAny 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.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":204207,"text":"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.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":204208,"text":"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.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14223,"edition_id":1,"name":"Terms of Employment Generally","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12824,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:21","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:21","permalink":{"id":182951,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14223,"identifier":"2","token":"22.1\/15\/2","url":"\/22.1\/15\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12824,"edition_id":1,"name":"Teachers, Officers and Employees","identifier":"15","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12823,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":182871,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12824,"identifier":"15","token":"22.1\/15","url":"\/22.1\/15\/","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":64907,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-293","catch_line":"School boards authorized to employ principals and assistant principals; license required; powers and duties","url":"\/22.1-293\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-293","metadata":false},{"id":67734,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-294","catch_line":"Probationary terms of service for principals, assistant principals, and supervisors; evaluation; reassigning principal, assistant principal, or supervisor to teaching position","url":"\/22.1-294\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-294","metadata":false},{"id":69191,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-295","catch_line":"Employment of teachers","url":"\/22.1-295\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-295","metadata":false},{"id":55436,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-295.1","catch_line":"Employee personnel files; maintenance of employee records; confidentiality of certain records","url":"\/22.1-295.1\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-295.1","metadata":false},{"id":56821,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-295.2","catch_line":"Employment discrimination prohibited","url":"\/22.1-295.2\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-295.2","metadata":false},{"id":75428,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-296","catch_line":"Payment of employees; reimbursement for private transportation; certain sick leave policies","url":"\/22.1-296\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-296","metadata":false},{"id":62723,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-296.1","catch_line":"Data on convictions for certain crimes and child abuse and neglect required; penalty","url":"\/22.1-296.1\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-296.1","metadata":false},{"id":74413,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-296.2","catch_line":"Fingerprinting required; reciprocity permitted","url":"\/22.1-296.2\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-296.2","metadata":false},{"id":55924,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-296.3","catch_line":"Certain private school employees subject to fingerprinting and criminal records checks","url":"\/22.1-296.3\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-296.3","metadata":false},{"id":69692,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-296.4","catch_line":"Child abuse and neglect data required","url":"\/22.1-296.4\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-296.4","metadata":false},{"id":59597,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-296.5","catch_line":"Employment verification required","url":"\/22.1-296.5\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-296.5","metadata":false},{"id":65919,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-297","catch_line":"Assignment of teachers, principals and assistant principals by superintendent","url":"\/22.1-297\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-297","metadata":false},{"id":86723,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-298","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/22.1-298\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-298","metadata":false},{"id":71301,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-298.1","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2030) Regulations governing licensure","url":"\/22.1-298.1\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-298.1","metadata":false},{"id":59407,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-298.2","catch_line":"Regulations governing education preparation programs","url":"\/22.1-298.2\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-298.2","metadata":false},{"id":60838,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-298.2:1","catch_line":"(Contingent effective date \u2014 see note) Teacher employment data; education preparation programs","url":"\/22.1-298.2_1\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-298.2_1","metadata":false},{"id":78939,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-298.3","catch_line":"Students with autism spectrum disorders; training required of personnel","url":"\/22.1-298.3\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-298.3","metadata":false},{"id":66256,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-298.4","catch_line":"Teacher preparation programs; learning disabilities","url":"\/22.1-298.4\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-298.4","metadata":false},{"id":56301,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-298.5","catch_line":"Regulations governing licensure; endorsement in dual language instruction pre-kindergarten through grade six","url":"\/22.1-298.5\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-298.5","metadata":false},{"id":80956,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-298.6","catch_line":"Mental health awareness training","url":"\/22.1-298.6\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-298.6","metadata":false},{"id":65764,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-298.7","catch_line":"Teachers and other licensed school board employees; cultural competency training","url":"\/22.1-298.7\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-298.7","metadata":false},{"id":85044,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-298.8","catch_line":"Public elementary and secondary school teachers; certain training activities; requirements and limitations; index","url":"\/22.1-298.8\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-298.8","metadata":false},{"id":71681,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-299","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2030) License required of teachers; provisional licenses; exceptions","url":"\/22.1-299\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-299","metadata":false},{"id":68324,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-299.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/22.1-299.1\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-299.1","metadata":false},{"id":70249,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-299.2","catch_line":"National Teacher Certification Incentive Reward Program and Fund","url":"\/22.1-299.2\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-299.2","metadata":false},{"id":81334,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-299.3","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/22.1-299.3\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-299.3","metadata":false},{"id":57049,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-299.4","catch_line":"Teach For America license","url":"\/22.1-299.4\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-299.4","metadata":false},{"id":72039,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-299.5","catch_line":"Waiver of teacher licensure requirements; trade and industrial education programs","url":"\/22.1-299.5\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-299.5","metadata":false},{"id":87315,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-299.6","catch_line":"Career and technical education; three-year licenses","url":"\/22.1-299.6\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-299.6","metadata":false},{"id":79194,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-299.7","catch_line":"Microcredential program; certain STEM subjects","url":"\/22.1-299.7\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-299.7","metadata":false},{"id":80524,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-299.7:1","catch_line":" (For effective date, see Acts 2022, cc. 549, 550, cl. 2) Microcredential program; reading specialists","url":"\/22.1-299.7_1\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-299.7_1","metadata":false},{"id":65219,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-299.8","catch_line":"Technical professional licenses; substitution of certain professional development activities for required coursework","url":"\/22.1-299.8\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-299.8","metadata":false},{"id":61649,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-300","catch_line":"Tuberculosis certificate","url":"\/22.1-300\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-300","metadata":false},{"id":76288,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-301","catch_line":"Costs of medical examinations and of furnishing medical records","url":"\/22.1-301\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-301","metadata":false},{"id":74415,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-302","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2027) Written contracts required; execution of contracts; qualifications of temporarily employed teachers; rules and requirements","url":"\/22.1-302\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-302","metadata":false},{"id":55716,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-303","catch_line":"Probationary terms of service for teachers","url":"\/22.1-303\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-303","metadata":false},{"id":63799,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-303.1","catch_line":"Immunity from civil liability for certain individuals","url":"\/22.1-303.1\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-303.1","metadata":false},{"id":83664,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-304","catch_line":"Reemployment of teacher who has not achieved continuing contract status; effect of continuing contract; resignation of teacher; reduction in number of teachers","url":"\/22.1-304\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-304","metadata":false},{"id":64910,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-305","catch_line":"Nonrenewal of contract of probationary teacher","url":"\/22.1-305\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-305","metadata":false},{"id":66269,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-305.1","catch_line":"Mentor teacher programs","url":"\/22.1-305.1\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-305.1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":74415,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-302","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2027) Written contracts required; execution of contracts; qualifications of temporarily employed teachers; rules and requirements","url":"\/22.1-302\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-302","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":63799,"structure_id":14223,"section_number":"22.1-303.1","catch_line":"Immunity from civil liability for certain individuals","url":"\/22.1-303.1\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-303.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/22.1-303\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 13 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 1968, chapter 691; in 1976, chapters 191 and 226; in 1979, chapter 275; in 1980, chapter 559; in 1985, chapter 348; in 1989, chapter 100; in 1999, chapters 831<\/a>, 1030<\/a>, and 1037<\/a>; in 2000, chapter 689<\/a>; in 2001, chapters 865<\/a> and 872<\/a>; in 2006, chapter 373<\/a>; in 2013, chapters 588<\/a> and 650<\/a>; in 2020, chapters 53<\/a> and 167<\/a>; in 2022, chapter 355<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":64910,"section_number":"22.1-305","catch_line":"Nonrenewal of contract of probationary teacher","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-305\/"},{"id":81336,"section_number":"22.1-349","catch_line":"Terms of employment of teachers","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-349\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":69191,"section_number":"22.1-295","catch_line":"Employment of teachers","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-295\/"},{"id":64910,"section_number":"22.1-305","catch_line":"Nonrenewal of contract of probationary teacher","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-305\/"},{"id":66269,"section_number":"22.1-305.1","catch_line":"Mentor teacher programs","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-305.1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":183093,"object_type":"law","relational_id":55716,"identifier":"22.1-303","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-303","url":"\/22.1-303\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/22.1-303\/","token":"22.1\/15\/2\/22.1-303","dublin_core":{"Title":"Probationary terms of service for teachers","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 22.1-303","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> A probationary term of service of three years in the same school division shall be required before a teacher is issued a continuing contract<\/span>. School boards<\/span> shall provide each probationary teacher except probationary teachers who have prior successful teaching experience, as determined by the local school board<\/span> in a school division, a mentor teacher, as described by Board guidelines developed pursuant to § 22.1-305.1<\/a>, 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<\/span> for use by the division superintendent<\/span> and principals in evaluating teachers as required by subsection C of § 22.1-295<\/a>. 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<\/span> shall consider such evaluations, among other things, in making any recommendations to the school board<\/span> regarding the nonrenewal of such probationary teacher’s contract<\/span> as provided in § 22.1-305<\/a>.\n\t\t\tAny teacher hired on or after July 1, 2001, shall be required, as a condition of achieving continuing contract<\/span> 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<\/span> status for failure to obtain such training. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Once a continuing contract<\/span> 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<\/span> of employment. Further, when a teacher has attained continuing contract<\/span> 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<\/span> for employment. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> For the purpose of calculating the years of service required to attain continuing contract<\/span> 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. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPROBATIONARY TERMS OF SERVICE FOR TEACHERS (\u00a7 22.1-303)\n\nA. A probationary term of service of three years in the same school division\nshall be required before a teacher is issued a continuing contract. School\nboards shall provide each probationary teacher except probationary teachers who\nhave prior successful teaching experience, as determined by the local school\nboard in a school division, a mentor teacher, as described by Board guidelines\ndeveloped pursuant to § 22.1-305.1, during the first year of the\nprobationary period, to assist such probationary teacher in achieving excellence\nin instruction. During the probationary period, such probationary teacher shall\nbe evaluated annually based upon the evaluation procedures developed by the\nemploying school board for use by the division superintendent and principals in\nevaluating teachers as required by subsection C of § 22.1-295. A teacher in\nhis first year of the probationary period shall be evaluated informally at least\nonce during the first semester of the school year. The division superintendent\nshall consider such evaluations, among other things, in making any\nrecommendations to the school board regarding the nonrenewal of such\nprobationary teacher’s contract as provided in § 22.1-305.\n\t\t\tAny teacher hired on or after July 1, 2001, shall be required, as a condition\nof achieving continuing contract status, to have successfully completed training\nin instructional strategies and techniques for intervention for or remediation\nof students who fail or are at risk of failing the Standards of Learning\nassessments. Local school divisions shall be required to provide said training\nat no cost to teachers employed in their division. In the event a local school\ndivision fails to offer said training in a timely manner, no teacher will be\ndenied continuing contract status for failure to obtain such training.\n\nB. Once a continuing contract status has been attained in a school division in\nthe Commonwealth, another probationary period need not be served in any other\nschool division unless such probationary period, not to exceed two years, is\nmade a part of the contract of employment. Further, when a teacher has attained\ncontinuing contract status in a school division in the Commonwealth and\nseparates from and returns to teaching service in a school division in Virginia\nby the beginning of the third year, such teacher shall be required to serve a\nprobationary period not to exceed two years, if made a part of the contract for\nemployment.\n\nC. For the purpose of calculating the years of service required to attain\ncontinuing contract status, at least 160 contractual teaching days during the\nschool year shall be deemed the equivalent of one year in the first year of\nservice by a teacher.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 22-217.3; 1968, c. 691; 1969, Ex. Sess., c. 3; 1976, cc.\n191, 226; 1979, c. 275; 1980, c. 559; 1985, c. 348; 1989, c. 100; 1999, cc. 831,\n1030, 1037; 2000, c. 689; 2001, cc. 865, 872; 2006, c. 373; 2013, cc. 588, 650;\n2020, cc. 53, 167; 2022, c. 355.","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}}