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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>67592</law_id><section_number>22.1-203.2</section_number><catch_line>Guidelines for constitutional compliance for student prayer</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="22.1">Education</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="13">Programs, Courses of Instruction and Textbooks</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">Programs and Courses of Instruction Generally</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>To promote compliance with constitutional restrictions as well as observance of constitutional rights, the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> of Education shall, in consultation with the Office of the <span class="dictionary">Attorney General</span>, develop guidelines on constitutional rights and restrictions relating to prayer and other religious expression in the public schools. The <span class="dictionary">Board</span>&#x2019;s guidelines shall include, but shall not be limited to, provisions that address the following: the initiative and involvement of local <span class="dictionary">school boards</span>, individual schools, administrators, teachers, and students; the use of school facilities and equipment, including audio systems, and class time for prayer or other religious expression; and relevant state and federal constitutional concerns, such as freedom of religion and speech and separation of church and state. These guidelines shall not be subject to the requirements of the Administrative Process Act (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Short title; purpose" href="/2.2-4000/">2.2-4000</a> et seq.). However, in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to provide appropriate opportunity for input from the general public, teachers, and local <span class="dictionary">school boards</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> of Education shall conduct public <span class="dictionary">hearings</span> prior to establishing such guidelines. Thirty days prior to conducting such <span class="dictionary">hearings</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall give written notice by mail of the date, time, and place of the <span class="dictionary">hearings</span> to all local <span class="dictionary">school boards</span> and any other persons requesting to be notified of the <span class="dictionary">hearings</span> and publish notice of its intention to hold such <span class="dictionary">hearings</span> in the Virginia Register of Regulations. Interested parties shall be given reasonable opportunity to be heard and present information prior to the adoption of such guidelines.</p></section></text><history>1994, c. 801, &#xA7; 22.1-280.3; 2001, cc. 688, 820.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
