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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>74295</law_id><section_number>22.1-306</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>22.1-253.13:7</reference><reference>22.1-295.1</reference><reference>22.1-315</reference><reference>22.1-79</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="15">Teachers, Officers and Employees</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Grievances; Dismissal, Etc., of Teachers</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Business day</span>&#x201D; means any day that the relevant <span class="dictionary">school board</span> office is open.
		&#x201C;Day&#x201D; means calendar <span class="dictionary">days</span> unless a different meaning is clearly expressed in this article. Whenever the last day for performing an act required by this article falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the act may be performed on the next day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Dismissal</span>&#x201D; means the <span class="dictionary">dismissal</span> of any teacher during the term of such teacher&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">contract</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Grievance</span>&#x201D; means a complaint or dispute by a teacher relating to his employment, including (i) disciplinary action including <span class="dictionary">dismissal</span>; (ii) the application or interpretation of (a) personnel policies, (b) procedures, (c) rules and regulations, (d) <span class="dictionary">ordinances</span>, and (e) <span class="dictionary">statutes</span>; (iii) acts of reprisal against a teacher for filing or processing a <span class="dictionary">grievance</span>, participating as a <span class="dictionary">witness</span> in any step, meeting, or <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> relating to a <span class="dictionary">grievance</span>, or serving as a member of a <span class="dictionary">fact</span>-<span class="dictionary">finding</span> <span class="dictionary">panel</span>; and (iv) complaints of discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, <span class="dictionary">religion</span>, political affiliation, disability, age, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or <span class="dictionary">military status</span>. Each <span class="dictionary">school board</span> shall have the exclusive right to manage the affairs and operations of the school division. Accordingly, the term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">grievance</span>&#x201D; shall not include a complaint or dispute by a teacher relating to (a) establishment and revision of wages or salaries, position classifications, or general benefits; (b) suspension of a teacher or nonrenewal of the <span class="dictionary">contract</span> of a teacher who has not achieved continuing <span class="dictionary">contract</span> status; (c) the establishment or contents of <span class="dictionary">ordinances</span>, <span class="dictionary">statutes</span>, or personnel policies, procedures, rules, and regulations; (d) failure to promote; (e) discharge, layoff, or suspension from duties because of decrease in enrollment, decrease in enrollment or abolition of a particular subject, or insufficient funding; (f) hiring, transfer, assignment, and retention of teachers within the school division; (g) suspension from duties in emergencies; (h) the methods, means, and personnel by which the school division&#x2019;s operations are to be carried on; or (i) coaching or extracurricular activity sponsorship.
		While these management rights are reserved to the <span class="dictionary">school board</span>, failure to apply, where applicable, the rules, regulations, policies, or procedures as written or established by the <span class="dictionary">school board</span> is grievable.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Military status</span>&#x201D; means status as (i) a member of the uniformed forces, as defined in 10 U.S.C. &#xA7;&#xA0;101(a)(5), of the United States or a reserve component thereof named under 10 U.S.C. &#xA7;&#xA0;10101, (ii) a veteran as defined in 38 U.S.C. &#xA7;&#xA0;101(2), or (iii) a dependent as defined in 50 U.S.C. &#xA7;&#xA0;3911(4) except that the support provided by the service member to the individual shall have been provided 180 <span class="dictionary">days</span> immediately preceding an alleged action that if proven true would constitute unlawful discrimination under this section instead of 180 <span class="dictionary">days</span> immediately preceding an application for relief under 50 U.S.C. Chapter 50.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Religion</span>&#x201D; includes any outward expression of religious faith, including adherence to religious dressing and grooming practices and the carrying or display of religious items or symbols.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 22-217.5:1; 1979, c. 298; 1980, c. 559; 1981, c. 646; 1992, c. 679; 2013, cc. 588, 650; 2020, cc. 1137, 1140; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 477, 478; 2022, c. 799.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
