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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>77797</law_id><section_number>22.1-276.01</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>22.1-2.1</reference><reference>22.1-208.01</reference><reference>22.1-254</reference><reference>22.1-291.4</reference><reference>22.1-79.3:1</reference><reference>23.1-819</reference><reference>9.1-184</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="22.1">Education</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="14">Pupils</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Discipline</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> For the purposes of this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Alternative education program</span>&#x201D; includes night school, adult education, or any other education program designed to offer instruction to students for whom the regular program of instruction may be inappropriate.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Bullying</span>&#x201D; means any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Bullying</span>&#x201D; includes <span class="dictionary">cyberbullying</span>. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Bullying</span>&#x201D; does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument, or peer conflict.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Cyberbullying</span>&#x201D; means <span class="dictionary">bullying</span> that occurs through the use of technology, including through cell phones and other electronic devices or technology capable of accessing the Internet.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Disruptive behavior</span>&#x201D; means a violation of <span class="dictionary">school board</span> regulations governing student conduct that interrupts or obstructs the learning environment.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Dress or grooming code</span>&#x201D; means any practice, policy, or portion of a code of student conduct adopted by a <span class="dictionary">school board</span> that governs or restricts the attire, <span class="dictionary">appearance</span>, or grooming, including hairstyle, of any enrolled student.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Exclusion</span>&#x201D; means a Virginia <span class="dictionary">school board</span>&#x2019;s denial of school admission to a student who has been expelled or has been placed on a <span class="dictionary">long-term suspension</span> of more than 30 calendar days by another <span class="dictionary">school board</span> or a private school, either in Virginia or another state, or for whom admission has been withdrawn by a private school in Virginia or another state.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Expulsion</span>&#x201D; means any disciplinary action imposed by a <span class="dictionary">school board</span> or a committee thereof, as provided in <span class="dictionary">school board</span> policy, whereby a student is not permitted to attend school within the school division and is ineligible for readmission for 365 calendar days after the date of the <span class="dictionary">expulsion</span>.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Long-term suspension</span>&#x201D; means any disciplinary action whereby a student is not permitted to attend school for 11 to 45 school days.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Short-term suspension</span>&#x201D; means any disciplinary action whereby a student is not permitted to attend school for a period not to exceed 10 school days. <a id="paragraph-279043" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-276.01/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> For the purposes of &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short-term suspension; procedures; readmission" href="/22.1-277.04/">22.1-277.04</a>, <a class="law" title="Long-term suspensions; procedures; readmission" href="/22.1-277.05/">22.1-277.05</a>, <a class="law" title="Authority to exclude students under certain circumstances; petition for readmission; alternative education program" href="/22.1-277.2/">22.1-277.2</a>, and <a class="law" title="Disciplinary authority of school boards under certain circumstances; alternative education program" href="/22.1-277.2_1/">22.1-277.2:1</a>, &#x201C;superintendent&#x2019;s designee&#x201D; means a (i) trained <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> officer or (ii) professional employee within the administrative offices of the school division who reports directly to the <span class="dictionary">division superintendent</span> and who is not a school-based instructional or administrative employee. <a id="paragraph-279044" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-276.01/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2001, cc. 688, 820; 2013, c. 575; 2018, c. 491; 2020, c. 678; 2025, c. 438.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
