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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>64442</law_id><section_number>22.1-279.3:1</section_number><catch_line>Reports of certain acts to school authorities; reports of certain acts by school authorities to parents; reports of certain acts by school authorities to law enforcement</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>22.1-279.8</reference><reference>22.1-292.2</reference><reference>8.01-47</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> Reports shall be made to the <span class="dictionary">division superintendent</span> and to the principal or his designee on all incidents involving: <a id="paragraph-234499" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-279.3_1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Alcohol, marijuana, a controlled substance, an imitation controlled substance, or an anabolic steroid on a school bus, on school property, or at a school-sponsored activity, including the theft or attempted theft of student prescription medications; <a id="paragraph-234500" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-279.3_1/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The <span class="dictionary">assault</span> and <span class="dictionary">battery</span> that results in bodily injury of any person on a school bus, on school property, or at a school-sponsored activity; <a id="paragraph-234501" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-279.3_1/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The sexual <span class="dictionary">assault</span>, death, shooting, stabbing, cutting, or wounding of any person, abduction of any person as described in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Abduction and kidnapping defined; forced labor; punishment" href="/18.2-47/">18.2-47</a> or <a class="law" title="Abduction with intent to extort money or for immoral purpose" href="/18.2-48/">18.2-48</a>, or stalking of any person as described in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Stalking; penalty" href="/18.2-60.3/">18.2-60.3</a>, on a school bus, on school property, or at a school-sponsored activity; <a id="paragraph-234502" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-279.3_1/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Any written threats against school personnel while on a school bus, on school property, or at a school-sponsored activity; <a id="paragraph-234503" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-279.3_1/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> The illegal carrying of a firearm, as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Expulsion of students under certain circumstances; exceptions" href="/22.1-277.07/">22.1-277.07</a>, onto school property; <a id="paragraph-234504" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-279.3_1/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Any illegal conduct involving firebombs, explosive <span class="dictionary">materials</span> or devices, or hoax explosive devices, as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Manufacture, possession, use, etc., of fire bombs or explosive materials or devices; penalties" href="/18.2-85/">18.2-85</a>, or explosive or incendiary devices, as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/18.2-433.1/">18.2-433.1</a>, or chemical bombs, as described in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Setting off chemical bombs capable of producing smoke in certain public buildings" href="/18.2-87.1/">18.2-87.1</a>, on a school bus, on school property, or at a school-sponsored activity; <a id="paragraph-234505" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-279.3_1/#A6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Any threats or false threats to bomb, as described in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Threats to bomb, damage, or discharge a firearm within or at buildings or means of transportation; false information as to danger to such buildings, etc.; punishment; venue" href="/18.2-83/">18.2-83</a>, made against school personnel or involving school property or school buses; or <a id="paragraph-234506" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-279.3_1/#A7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> The <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> of any student for an incident occurring on a school bus, on school property, or at a school-sponsored activity, including the charge therefor. <a id="paragraph-234507" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-279.3_1/#A8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Except as may otherwise be required by federal <span class="dictionary">law</span>, regulation, or <span class="dictionary">jurisprudence</span>, each principal: <a id="paragraph-234508" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-279.3_1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Shall immediately report to the local <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency any incident described in subdivision A 1 that may constitute a <span class="dictionary">felony</span> <span class="dictionary">offense</span>; <a id="paragraph-234509" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-279.3_1/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Shall immediately report to the local <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency any incident described in subdivisions A 3 through 7, except that a principal is not required to but may report to the local <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency any incident described in subdivision A 4 committed by a student who has a disability; <a id="paragraph-234510" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-279.3_1/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> May report to the local <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency any other incident described in subsection A that is not required to be reported pursuant to subdivision 1 or 2; and <a id="paragraph-234511" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-279.3_1/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Shall immediately report any act enumerated in subdivisions A 1 through 5 that may constitute a criminal <span class="dictionary">offense</span> to the <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">parents</span></span> of any <span class="dictionary">minor</span> student who is the specific <span class="dictionary">object</span> of such act. Further, the principal shall report whether the incident has been reported to local <span class="dictionary">law</span> enforcement pursuant to this subsection and, if the incident has been so reported, that the <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">parents</span></span> may contact local <span class="dictionary">law</span> enforcement for further information, if they so desire. <a id="paragraph-234512" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-279.3_1/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 12 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="(Effective until July 1, 2026) Fingerprints and photographs of juveniles" href="/16.1-299/">16.1-299</a> et seq.) of Chapter 11 of Title 16.1, local <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement authorities shall report, and the principal or his designee and the <span class="dictionary">division superintendent</span> shall receive such reports, on <span class="dictionary">offenses</span>, wherever committed, by students enrolled at the school if the <span class="dictionary">offense</span> would be a <span class="dictionary">felony</span> if committed by an adult or would be a violation of the Drug Control Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Citation" href="/54.1-3400/">54.1-3400</a> et seq.) and occurred on a school bus, on school property, or at a school-sponsored activity, or would be an adult <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> involving any incidents described in subsection A, and whether the student is released to the <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of his <span class="dictionary">parent</span> or, if 18 years of age or more, is released on <span class="dictionary">bond</span>. As part of any report concerning an <span class="dictionary">offense</span> that would be an adult <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span> involving an incident described in subsection A, local <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement authorities and attorneys for the Commonwealth shall be authorized to disclose information regarding terms of release from detention, <span class="dictionary">court</span> dates, and terms of any <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> <span class="dictionary">orders</span> entered by the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, to the superintendent of such student&#x2019;s school division, upon request by the superintendent, if, in the determination of the <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement authority or attorney for the Commonwealth, such disclosure would not jeopardize the investigation or <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span> of the case. No disclosures shall be made pursuant to this section in violation of the confidentiality provisions of subsection A of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Confidentiality of Department records" href="/16.1-300/">16.1-300</a> or the record retention and redisclosure provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Receipt, dissemination and maintenance of records of certain law-enforcement information" href="/22.1-288.2/">22.1-288.2</a>. Further, any school superintendent who receives notification that a juvenile has committed an act that would be a <span class="dictionary">crime</span> if committed by an adult pursuant to subsection G of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Intake; petition; investigation" href="/16.1-260/">16.1-260</a> shall report such information to the principal of the school in which the juvenile is enrolled. <a id="paragraph-234513" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-279.3_1/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The principal or his designee shall submit a report of all incidents required to be reported pursuant to this section to the superintendent of the school division. The <span class="dictionary">division superintendent</span> shall annually report all such incidents to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Education for the purpose of recording the frequency of such incidents on forms that shall be provided by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> and shall make such information available to the public.
			In submitting reports of such incidents, principals and <span class="dictionary">division superintendents</span> shall accurately indicate any <span class="dictionary">offenses</span>, <span class="dictionary">arrests</span>, or charges as recorded by <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement authorities and required to be reported by such authorities pursuant to subsection C.
			A <span class="dictionary">division superintendent</span> who knowingly fails to comply or secure compliance with the reporting requirements of this subsection shall be subject to the <span class="dictionary">sanctions</span> authorized in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Punishment of division superintendents" href="/22.1-65/">22.1-65</a>. A principal who knowingly fails to comply or secure compliance with the reporting requirements of this section shall be subject to <span class="dictionary">sanctions</span> prescribed by the local <span class="dictionary">school board</span>, which may include, but need not be limited to, demotion or <span class="dictionary">dismissal</span>.
			The principal or his designee shall also notify the <span class="dictionary">parent</span> of any student involved in an incident required pursuant to this section to be reported, regardless of whether disciplinary action is taken against such student or the nature of the disciplinary action. Such notice shall relate to only the relevant student&#x2019;s involvement and shall not include information concerning other students.
			Whenever any student commits any reportable incident as set forth in this section, such student shall be required to participate in such prevention and intervention activities as deemed appropriate by the superintendent or his designee. Prevention and intervention activities shall be identified in the local school division&#x2019;s drug and violence prevention plans developed pursuant to the federal Improving America&#x2019;s Schools Act of 1994 (Title IV &#x2014; Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act). <a id="paragraph-234514" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-279.3_1/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> A statement providing a procedure and the purpose for the requirements of this section shall be included in <span class="dictionary">school board</span> policies required by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Standard 7. School board policies" href="/22.1-253.13_7/">22.1-253.13:7</a>.
			The Board of Education shall promulgate regulations to implement this section, including, but not limited to, establishing reporting dates and report formats. <a id="paragraph-234515" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-279.3_1/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> For the purposes of this section, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">parent</span>&#x201D; or &#x201C;<span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">parents</span></span>&#x201D; means any <span class="dictionary">parent</span>, guardian or other person having control or charge of a child. <a id="paragraph-234516" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-279.3_1/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> This section shall not be construed to diminish the authority of the Board of Education or to diminish the Governor&#x2019;s authority to coordinate and provide policy direction on official communications between the Commonwealth and the United States government. <a id="paragraph-234517" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-279.3_1/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="H"><p><span class="prefix-number">H.</span> Nothing in this section shall require delinquency charges to be filed or prevent schools from dealing with school-based <span class="dictionary">offenses</span> through graduated <span class="dictionary">sanctions</span> or educational programming before a delinquency charge is filed with the juvenile <span class="dictionary">court</span>. <a id="paragraph-234518" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-279.3_1/#H"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1981, c. 189; 1990, cc. 517, 797; 1991, c. 295; 1994, cc. 265, 285; 1995, cc. 759, 773; 1996, cc. 916, 964; 1999, c. 970; 2000, cc. 79, 611, &#xA7; 22.1-280.1; 2001, cc. 688, 820; 2002, c. 388; 2003, cc. 899, 954; 2004, cc. 517, 542, 939, 955; 2005, cc. 461, 484, 528; 2006, c. 146; 2010, c. 525; 2011, cc. 384, 410; 2013, c. 800; 2014, cc. 674, 719; 2018, c. 281; 2020, cc. 173, 335; 2022, cc. 793, 794.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
