{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/63.2-1511.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/63.2-1511.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/63.2-1511.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/63.2-1511.html"}],"law_id":66780,"edition_id":1,"section_id":66780,"structure_id":13945,"section_number":"63.2-1511","catch_line":"Complaints of abuse and neglect against school personnel; interagency agreement","history":"2001, c. 588, \u00a7 63.1-248.4:1; 2002, c. 747; 2003, cc. 986, 1013; 2005, cc. 767, 806; 2014, c. 412.","full_text":"A\n\nIf a teacher, principal or other person employed by a local school board or employed in a school operated by the Commonwealth is suspected of abusing or neglecting a child in the course of his educational employment, the complaint shall be investigated in accordance with §§ 63.2-1503, 63.2-1505 and 63.2-1516.1. Pursuant to § 22.1-279.1, no teacher, principal or other person employed by a school board or employed in a school operated by the Commonwealth shall subject a student to corporal punishment. However, this prohibition of corporal punishment shall not be deemed to prevent (i) the use of incidental, minor or reasonable physical contact or other actions designed to maintain order and control; (ii) the use of reasonable and necessary force to quell a disturbance or remove a student from the scene of a disturbance that threatens physical injury to persons or damage to property; (iii) the use of reasonable and necessary force to prevent a student from inflicting physical harm on himself; (iv) the use of reasonable and necessary force for self-defense or the defense of others; or (v) the use of reasonable and necessary force to obtain possession of weapons or other dangerous objects or controlled substances or paraphernalia that are upon the person of the student or within his control. In determining whether the actions of a teacher, principal or other person employed by a school board or employed in a school operated by the Commonwealth are within the exceptions provided in this section, the local department shall examine whether the actions at the time of the event that were made by such person were reasonable.B\n\nFor purposes of this section, “corporal punishment,” “abuse,” or “neglect” shall not include physical pain, injury or discomfort caused by the use of incidental, minor or reasonable physical contact or other actions designed to maintain order and control as permitted in clause (i) of subsection A or the use of reasonable and necessary force as permitted by clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v) of subsection A, or by participation in practice or competition in an interscholastic sport, or participation in physical education or an extracurricular activity.C\n\nIf, after an investigation of a complaint under this section, the local department determines that the actions or omissions of a teacher, principal, or other person employed by a local school board or employed in a school operated by the Commonwealth were within such employee’s scope of employment and were taken in good faith in the course of supervision, care, or discipline of students, then the standard in determining if a report of abuse or neglect is founded is whether such acts or omissions constituted gross negligence or willful misconduct.D\n\nEach local department and local school division shall adopt a written interagency agreement as a protocol for investigating child abuse and neglect reports. The interagency agreement shall be based on recommended procedures for conducting investigations developed by the Departments of Education and Social Services.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":242191,"text":"If a teacher, principal or other person employed by a local school board or employed in a school operated by the Commonwealth is suspected of abusing or neglecting a child in the course of his educational employment, the complaint shall be investigated in accordance with §§ 63.2-1503, 63.2-1505 and 63.2-1516.1. Pursuant to § 22.1-279.1, no teacher, principal or other person employed by a school board or employed in a school operated by the Commonwealth shall subject a student to corporal punishment. However, this prohibition of corporal punishment shall not be deemed to prevent (i) the use of incidental, minor or reasonable physical contact or other actions designed to maintain order and control; (ii) the use of reasonable and necessary force to quell a disturbance or remove a student from the scene of a disturbance that threatens physical injury to persons or damage to property; (iii) the use of reasonable and necessary force to prevent a student from inflicting physical harm on himself; (iv) the use of reasonable and necessary force for self-defense or the defense of others; or (v) the use of reasonable and necessary force to obtain possession of weapons or other dangerous objects or controlled substances or paraphernalia that are upon the person of the student or within his control. In determining whether the actions of a teacher, principal or other person employed by a school board or employed in a school operated by the Commonwealth are within the exceptions provided in this section, the local department shall examine whether the actions at the time of the event that were made by such person were reasonable.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":242192,"text":"For purposes of this section, “corporal punishment,” “abuse,” or “neglect” shall not include physical pain, injury or discomfort caused by the use of incidental, minor or reasonable physical contact or other actions designed to maintain order and control as permitted in clause (i) of subsection A or the use of reasonable and necessary force as permitted by clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v) of subsection A, or by participation in practice or competition in an interscholastic sport, or participation in physical education or an extracurricular activity.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":242193,"text":"If, after an investigation of a complaint under this section, the local department determines that the actions or omissions of a teacher, principal, or other person employed by a local school board or employed in a school operated by the Commonwealth were within such employee’s scope of employment and were taken in good faith in the course of supervision, care, or discipline of students, then the standard in determining if a report of abuse or neglect is founded is whether such acts or omissions constituted gross negligence or willful misconduct.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":242194,"text":"Each local department and local school division shall adopt a written interagency agreement as a protocol for investigating child abuse and neglect reports. The interagency agreement shall be based on recommended procedures for conducting investigations developed by the Departments of Education and Social Services.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13945,"edition_id":1,"name":"Complaints","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13898,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:23","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:23","permalink":{"id":271749,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13945,"identifier":"2","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/2","url":"\/63.2\/III\/15\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13898,"edition_id":1,"name":"Child Abuse and Neglect","identifier":"15","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13897,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:14","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:14","permalink":{"id":271709,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13898,"identifier":"15","token":"63.2\/III\/15","url":"\/63.2\/III\/15\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13897,"edition_id":1,"name":"Social Services Programs","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12789,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:14","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:14","permalink":{"id":271331,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13897,"identifier":"III","token":"63.2\/III","url":"\/63.2\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12789,"edition_id":1,"name":"Welfare (Social Services)","identifier":"63.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":270661,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12789,"identifier":"63.2","token":"63.2","url":"\/63.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":78112,"structure_id":13945,"section_number":"63.2-1508","catch_line":"Valid report or complaint","url":"\/63.2-1508\/","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/2\/63.2-1508","metadata":false},{"id":86098,"structure_id":13945,"section_number":"63.2-1509","catch_line":"Requirement that certain injuries to children be reported by physicians, nurses, teachers, etc.; penalty for failure to report","url":"\/63.2-1509\/","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/2\/63.2-1509","metadata":false},{"id":66188,"structure_id":13945,"section_number":"63.2-1510","catch_line":"Complaints by others of certain injuries to children","url":"\/63.2-1510\/","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/2\/63.2-1510","metadata":false},{"id":66780,"structure_id":13945,"section_number":"63.2-1511","catch_line":"Complaints of abuse and neglect against school personnel; interagency agreement","url":"\/63.2-1511\/","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/2\/63.2-1511","metadata":false},{"id":58834,"structure_id":13945,"section_number":"63.2-1512","catch_line":"Immunity of person making report, etc., from liability","url":"\/63.2-1512\/","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/2\/63.2-1512","metadata":false},{"id":55002,"structure_id":13945,"section_number":"63.2-1513","catch_line":"Knowingly making false reports; penalties","url":"\/63.2-1513\/","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/2\/63.2-1513","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":66188,"structure_id":13945,"section_number":"63.2-1510","catch_line":"Complaints by others of certain injuries to children","url":"\/63.2-1510\/","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/2\/63.2-1510","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":58834,"structure_id":13945,"section_number":"63.2-1512","catch_line":"Immunity of person making report, etc., from liability","url":"\/63.2-1512\/","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/2\/63.2-1512","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/63.2-1511\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2001. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 588<\/a> 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. It has been modified 4 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 2002, chapter 747<\/a>; in 2003, chapters 986<\/a> and 1013<\/a>; in 2005, chapters 767<\/a> and 806<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 412<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":79182,"section_number":"22.1-279.1","catch_line":"Corporal punishment prohibited","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-279.1\/"},{"id":69022,"section_number":"63.2-1503","catch_line":"Local departments to establish child-protective services; duties","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1503\/"},{"id":73140,"section_number":"63.2-1505","catch_line":"Investigations by local departments","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1505\/"},{"id":57358,"section_number":"63.2-1516.1","catch_line":"Investigation procedures when school employee is subject of the complaint or report; release of information in joint investigations","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1516.1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":271763,"object_type":"law","relational_id":66780,"identifier":"63.2-1511","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/2\/63.2-1511","url":"\/63.2-1511\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/63.2-1511\/","token":"63.2\/III\/15\/2\/63.2-1511","dublin_core":{"Title":"Complaints of abuse and neglect against school personnel; interagency agreement","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 63.2-1511","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> If a teacher, principal or other person employed by a local school board<\/span> or employed in a school operated by the Commonwealth is suspected of abusing or neglecting a child<\/span> in the course of his educational employment, the complaint shall be investigated in accordance with §§ 63.2-1503<\/a>, 63.2-1505<\/a> and 63.2-1516.1<\/a>. Pursuant to § 22.1-279.1<\/a>, no teacher, principal or other person employed by a school board<\/span> or employed in a school operated by the Commonwealth shall subject a student to corporal punishment. However, this prohibition of corporal punishment shall not be deemed to prevent (i) the use of incidental, minor<\/span> or reasonable physical contact or other actions designed to maintain order<\/span> and control; (ii) the use of reasonable and necessary force to quell a disturbance or remove a student from the scene of a disturbance that threatens physical injury to persons or damage to property; (iii) the use of reasonable and necessary force to prevent a student from inflicting physical harm on himself; (iv) the use of reasonable and necessary force for self-defense or the defense of others; or (v) the use of reasonable and necessary force to obtain possession<\/span> of weapons or other dangerous objects<\/span> or controlled substances or paraphernalia that are upon the person of the student or within his control. In determining whether the actions of a teacher, principal or other person employed by a school board<\/span> or employed in a school operated by the Commonwealth are within the exceptions provided in this section, the local department<\/span> shall examine whether the actions at the time of the event that were made by such person were reasonable. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> For purposes of this section, “corporal punishment,” “abuse,” or “neglect” shall not include physical pain, injury or discomfort caused by the use of incidental, minor<\/span> or reasonable physical contact or other actions designed to maintain order<\/span> and control as permitted in clause (i) of subsection A or the use of reasonable and necessary force as permitted by clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v) of subsection A, or by participation in practice or competition in an interscholastic sport, or participation in physical education or an extracurricular activity. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> If, after an investigation of a complaint under this section, the local department<\/span> determines that the actions or omissions of a teacher, principal, or other person employed by a local school board<\/span> or employed in a school operated by the Commonwealth were within such employee’s scope of employment and were taken in good faith in the course of supervision, care, or discipline of students, then the standard in determining if a report of abuse or neglect is founded is whether such acts or omissions constituted gross negligence<\/span> or willful misconduct. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Each local department<\/span> and local school division shall adopt a written interagency agreement as a protocol for investigating child<\/span> abuse and neglect reports. The interagency agreement shall be based on recommended procedures for conducting investigations developed by the Departments<\/span> of Education and Social Services<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCOMPLAINTS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT AGAINST SCHOOL PERSONNEL; INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT\n(\u00a7 63.2-1511)\n\nA. If a teacher, principal or other person employed by a local school board or\nemployed in a school operated by the Commonwealth is suspected of abusing or\nneglecting a child in the course of his educational employment, the complaint\nshall be investigated in accordance with §§ 63.2-1503, 63.2-1505 and\n63.2-1516.1. Pursuant to § 22.1-279.1, no teacher, principal or other\nperson employed by a school board or employed in a school operated by the\nCommonwealth shall subject a student to corporal punishment. However, this\nprohibition of corporal punishment shall not be deemed to prevent (i) the use of\nincidental, minor or reasonable physical contact or other actions designed to\nmaintain order and control; (ii) the use of reasonable and necessary force to\nquell a disturbance or remove a student from the scene of a disturbance that\nthreatens physical injury to persons or damage to property; (iii) the use of\nreasonable and necessary force to prevent a student from inflicting physical\nharm on himself; (iv) the use of reasonable and necessary force for self-defense\nor the defense of others; or (v) the use of reasonable and necessary force to\nobtain possession of weapons or other dangerous objects or controlled substances\nor paraphernalia that are upon the person of the student or within his control.\nIn determining whether the actions of a teacher, principal or other person\nemployed by a school board or employed in a school operated by the Commonwealth\nare within the exceptions provided in this section, the local department shall\nexamine whether the actions at the time of the event that were made by such\nperson were reasonable.\n\nB. For purposes of this section, “corporal punishment,”\n“abuse,” or “neglect” shall not include physical pain,\ninjury or discomfort caused by the use of incidental, minor or reasonable\nphysical contact or other actions designed to maintain order and control as\npermitted in clause (i) of subsection A or the use of reasonable and necessary\nforce as permitted by clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v) of subsection A, or by\nparticipation in practice or competition in an interscholastic sport, or\nparticipation in physical education or an extracurricular activity.\n\nC. If, after an investigation of a complaint under this section, the local\ndepartment determines that the actions or omissions of a teacher, principal, or\nother person employed by a local school board or employed in a school operated\nby the Commonwealth were within such employee’s scope of employment and\nwere taken in good faith in the course of supervision, care, or discipline of\nstudents, then the standard in determining if a report of abuse or neglect is\nfounded is whether such acts or omissions constituted gross negligence or\nwillful misconduct.\n\nD. Each local department and local school division shall adopt a written\ninteragency agreement as a protocol for investigating child abuse and neglect\nreports. The interagency agreement shall be based on recommended procedures for\nconducting investigations developed by the Departments of Education and Social\nServices.\n\nHISTORY: 2001, c. 588, \u00a7 63.1-248.4:1; 2002, c. 747; 2003, cc. 986, 1013; 2005,\ncc. 767, 806; 2014, c. 412.","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}}