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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>56964</law_id><section_number>22.1-277.04</section_number><catch_line>Short-term suspension; procedures; readmission</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>22.1-254</reference><reference>22.1-276.01</reference><reference>22.1-277</reference><reference>22.1-277.2:1</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><p>A pupil may be suspended for not more than ten school days by either the school principal, any assistant principal, or, in their absence, any teacher. The principal, assistant principal, or teacher may suspend the pupil after giving the pupil oral or written notice of the charges against him and, if he denies them, an explanation of the <span class="dictionary">facts</span> as known to school personnel and an opportunity to present his version of what occurred. In the case of any pupil whose presence poses a continuing danger to persons or property, or whose presence is an ongoing threat of disruption, the pupil may be removed from school immediately and the notice, explanation of <span class="dictionary">facts</span>, and opportunity to present his version shall be given as soon as practicable thereafter.
		Upon suspension of any pupil, the principal, assistant principal, or teacher responsible for such suspension shall report the <span class="dictionary">facts</span> of the case in writing to the <span class="dictionary">division superintendent</span> or his designee and the <span class="dictionary">parent</span> of the pupil suspended. The <span class="dictionary">division superintendent</span> or his designee shall review forthwith the action taken by the principal, assistant principal, or teacher upon a <span class="dictionary">petition</span> for such review by any <span class="dictionary">party in interest</span> and confirm or disapprove such action based on an examination of the record of the pupil&#x2019;s behavior.
		The decision of the <span class="dictionary">division superintendent</span> or his designee may be appealed to the <span class="dictionary">school board</span> or a committee thereof in accordance with regulations of the <span class="dictionary">school board</span>; however, the decision of the <span class="dictionary">division superintendent</span> or his designee shall be final if so prescribed by <span class="dictionary">school board</span> regulations.
		The <span class="dictionary">school board</span> shall require that any oral or written notice to the <span class="dictionary">parent</span> of a student who is suspended from school attendance for not more than ten days include notification of the length of the suspension, information regarding the availability of community-based educational programs, alternative education programs or other educational options, and of the student&#x2019;s right to return to regular school attendance upon the expiration of the suspension. The costs of any community-based educational program, or alternative education program or educational option, which is not a part of the educational program offered by the school division, shall be borne by the <span class="dictionary">parent</span> of the student.
		<span class="dictionary">School boards</span> shall adopt policies and procedures to ensure that suspended students are able to access and complete graded work during and after the suspension.</p></section></text><history>1998, c. 806, &#xA7; 22.1-277.03; 2001, cc. 688, 820; 2020, c. 337.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
