{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/22.1-308.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/22.1-308.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/22.1-308.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/22.1-308.html"}],"law_id":61195,"edition_id":1,"section_id":61195,"structure_id":15538,"section_number":"22.1-308","catch_line":"Grievance procedure","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 22-217.5:2; 1979, c. 298; 1980, c. 559; 1992, c. 679.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Board of Education shall prescribe a grievance procedure which shall include the following:1\n\nExcept 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\n\nA 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\n\nA requirement that in reducing the grievance to writing, the teacher shall specify the specific relief sought through the use of the procedure;4\n\nThe right of the grievant and the respondent to present appropriate witnesses and be represented by legal counsel and another representative;5\n\nReasonable 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\n\nTermination 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\n\nThe 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\n\nA final step which shall provide for a final decision on the grievance by the school board;9\n\nThe provisions of §§ 22.1-309 through 22.1-313.B\n\nRepresentatives 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\n\nNothing 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.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":223638,"text":"The Board of Education shall prescribe a grievance procedure which shall include the following:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":223639,"text":"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;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":223640,"text":"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;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":223641,"text":"A requirement that in reducing the grievance to writing, the teacher shall specify the specific relief sought through the use of the procedure;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"A4"},"4":{"id":223642,"text":"The right of the grievant and the respondent to present appropriate witnesses and be represented by legal counsel and another representative;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"A4","prefix_anchor":"A4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"A5"},"5":{"id":223643,"text":"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;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"A5","prefix_anchor":"A5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A4","next_prefix":"A6"},"6":{"id":223644,"text":"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;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"A6","prefix_anchor":"A6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A5","next_prefix":"A7"},"7":{"id":223645,"text":"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;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"A7","prefix_anchor":"A7","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A6","next_prefix":"A8"},"8":{"id":223646,"text":"A final step which shall provide for a final decision on the grievance by the school board;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"A8","prefix_anchor":"A8","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A7","next_prefix":"A9"},"9":{"id":223647,"text":"The provisions of §§ 22.1-309 through 22.1-313.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","9"],"prefix":"9","entire_prefix":"A9","prefix_anchor":"A9","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A8","next_prefix":"B"},"10":{"id":223648,"text":"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.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A9","next_prefix":"C"},"11":{"id":223649,"text":"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.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15538,"edition_id":1,"name":"Grievances; Dismissal, Etc., of Teachers","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12824,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:56:08","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:56:08","permalink":{"id":183119,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15538,"identifier":"3","token":"22.1\/15\/3","url":"\/22.1\/15\/3\/","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":74295,"structure_id":15538,"section_number":"22.1-306","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/22.1-306\/","token":"22.1\/15\/3\/22.1-306","metadata":false},{"id":72528,"structure_id":15538,"section_number":"22.1-307","catch_line":"Dismissal of teacher; grounds","url":"\/22.1-307\/","token":"22.1\/15\/3\/22.1-307","metadata":false},{"id":61195,"structure_id":15538,"section_number":"22.1-308","catch_line":"Grievance procedure","url":"\/22.1-308\/","token":"22.1\/15\/3\/22.1-308","metadata":false},{"id":75012,"structure_id":15538,"section_number":"22.1-309","catch_line":"Notice to teacher of recommendation of dismissal; school board not to consider merits during notice; superintendent required to provide reasons for recommendation upon request","url":"\/22.1-309\/","token":"22.1\/15\/3\/22.1-309","metadata":false},{"id":59269,"structure_id":15538,"section_number":"22.1-310","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/22.1-310\/","token":"22.1\/15\/3\/22.1-310","metadata":false},{"id":71751,"structure_id":15538,"section_number":"22.1-311","catch_line":"Hearing before school board, hearing officer, or fact-finding panel","url":"\/22.1-311\/","token":"22.1\/15\/3\/22.1-311","metadata":false},{"id":68934,"structure_id":15538,"section_number":"22.1-312","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/22.1-312\/","token":"22.1\/15\/3\/22.1-312","metadata":false},{"id":78390,"structure_id":15538,"section_number":"22.1-313","catch_line":"Decision of school board; generally","url":"\/22.1-313\/","token":"22.1\/15\/3\/22.1-313","metadata":false},{"id":64437,"structure_id":15538,"section_number":"22.1-314","catch_line":"Decision of school board; issue of grievability; appeal","url":"\/22.1-314\/","token":"22.1\/15\/3\/22.1-314","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":72528,"structure_id":15538,"section_number":"22.1-307","catch_line":"Dismissal of teacher; grounds","url":"\/22.1-307\/","token":"22.1\/15\/3\/22.1-307","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":75012,"structure_id":15538,"section_number":"22.1-309","catch_line":"Notice to teacher of recommendation of dismissal; school board not to consider merits during notice; superintendent required to provide reasons for recommendation upon request","url":"\/22.1-309\/","token":"22.1\/15\/3\/22.1-309","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/22.1-308\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 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 1979, chapter 298; in 1980, chapter 559; in 1992, chapter 679.<\/p>","references":[{"id":55436,"section_number":"22.1-295.1","catch_line":"Employee personnel files; maintenance of employee records; confidentiality of certain records","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-295.1\/"},{"id":54343,"section_number":"22.1-79","catch_line":"Powers and duties","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-79\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":75012,"section_number":"22.1-309","catch_line":"Notice to teacher of recommendation of dismissal; school board not to consider merits during notice; superintendent required to provide reasons for recommendation upon request","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-309\/"}],"permalink":{"id":183129,"object_type":"law","relational_id":61195,"identifier":"22.1-308","token":"22.1\/15\/3\/22.1-308","url":"\/22.1-308\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/22.1-308\/","token":"22.1\/15\/3\/22.1-308","dublin_core":{"Title":"Grievance procedure","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 22.1-308","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Board<\/span> of Education shall prescribe a grievance<\/span> procedure which shall include the following: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Except in the case of dismissal<\/span> or placing on probation<\/span>, a first step which shall provide for an informal, initial processing of a grievance<\/span> by the most immediate appropriate supervisor through a discussion; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> A requirement that all stages of the grievance<\/span> beyond the first step be in writing on forms prescribed by the Board of Education and supplied by the school board<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> A requirement that in reducing the grievance<\/span> to writing, the teacher shall specify the specific relief sought through the use of the procedure; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> The right of the grievant and the respondent to present appropriate witnesses and be represented by legal counsel<\/span> and another representative; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Reasonable time limitations, prescribed by the Board, for the grievant to submit an initial complaint and to appeal<\/span> each decision through the steps of the grievance<\/span> procedure which shall correspond generally or be equivalent to the time prescribed for response at each step; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Termination of the right of the grievant to further appeal<\/span> upon failure of the grievant to comply with all substantial procedural requirements of the grievance<\/span> procedure without just cause; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> 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; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> A final step which shall provide for a final decision on the grievance<\/span> by the school board<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

9.<\/span> The provisions of §§ 22.1-309<\/a> through 22.1-313<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Representatives referred to in subsection A 4 of this section may examine, cross-examine, question and present evidence<\/span> on behalf of a grievant or respondent in the grievance<\/span> procedure without being in violation of the provisions of § 54.1-3904<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> 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<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nGRIEVANCE PROCEDURE (\u00a7 22.1-308)\n\nA. The Board of Education shall prescribe a grievance procedure which shall\ninclude the following:\n\n 1. Except in the case of dismissal or placing on probation, a first step which\n shall provide for an informal, initial processing of a grievance by the most\n immediate appropriate supervisor through a discussion;\n\n 2. A requirement that all stages of the grievance beyond the first step be in\n writing on forms prescribed by the Board of Education and supplied by the\n school board;\n\n 3. A requirement that in reducing the grievance to writing, the teacher shall\n specify the specific relief sought through the use of the procedure;\n\n 4. The right of the grievant and the respondent to present appropriate\n witnesses and be represented by legal counsel and another representative;\n\n 5. Reasonable time limitations, prescribed by the Board, for the grievant to\n submit an initial complaint and to appeal each decision through the steps of\n the grievance procedure which shall correspond generally or be equivalent to\n the time prescribed for response at each step;\n\n 6. Termination of the right of the grievant to further appeal upon failure of\n the grievant to comply with all substantial procedural requirements of the\n grievance procedure without just cause;\n\n 7. The right of the grievant, at his option, upon failure of the respondent to\n comply with all substantial procedural requirements without just cause, to\n advancement to the next step or, in the final step, to a decision in his\n favor;\n\n 8. A final step which shall provide for a final decision on the grievance by\n the school board;\n\n 9. The provisions of §§ 22.1-309 through 22.1-313.\n\nB. Representatives referred to in subsection A 4 of this section may examine,\ncross-examine, question and present evidence on behalf of a grievant or\nrespondent in the grievance procedure without being in violation of the\nprovisions of § 54.1-3904.\n\nC. Nothing in the procedure shall be construed to restrict any teacher’s\nright to seek or a school division administration’s right to provide\ncustomary review of complaints that are not included within the definition of a\ngrievance.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 22-217.5:2; 1979, c. 298; 1980, c. 559; 1992, c. 679.","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}}