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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>78390</law_id><section_number>22.1-313</section_number><catch_line>Decision of school board; generally</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>22.1-298.1</reference><reference>22.1-311</reference><reference>22.1-315</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 id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">school board</span> shall retain its exclusive final authority over matters concerning employment and supervision of its personnel, including <span class="dictionary">dismissals</span> and suspensions. <a id="paragraph-280953" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-313/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> In the case of a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> before the <span class="dictionary">school board</span>, the <span class="dictionary">school board</span> shall give the teacher its written decision as soon as practicable but in no case more than 30 <span class="dictionary">days</span> after the <span class="dictionary">hearing</span>. <a id="paragraph-280954" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-313/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> In the case of a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> before a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> officer appointed by the <span class="dictionary">school board</span> or a three-member <span class="dictionary">fact</span>-<span class="dictionary">finding</span> <span class="dictionary">panel</span>, the <span class="dictionary">school board</span> shall give the teacher its written decision as soon as practicable but in no case more than 30 <span class="dictionary">days</span> after receiving the record or recording of the <span class="dictionary">hearing</span>; however, should there be a further <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> before the <span class="dictionary">school board</span>, such decision shall be furnished the teacher as soon as practicable but in no case more than 30 <span class="dictionary">days</span> after such further <span class="dictionary">hearing</span>. <a id="paragraph-280955" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-313/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> A teacher may be dismissed or suspended by a majority of a quorum of the <span class="dictionary">school board</span>. <a id="paragraph-280956" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-313/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The <span class="dictionary">school board</span>&#x2019;s attorney, assistants, or representative, if he or they represented a participant in the prior proceedings, the grievant, the grievant&#x2019;s attorney or representative, and notwithstanding the provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Superintendent to attend meetings" href="/22.1-69/">22.1-69</a>, the <span class="dictionary">superintendent</span> shall be excluded from any executive session of the <span class="dictionary">school board</span> which has as its purpose reaching a decision on a <span class="dictionary">grievance</span>. However, immediately after a decision has been made and publicly announced, as in favor of or not in favor of the grievant, the <span class="dictionary">school board</span>&#x2019;s attorney or representative and the <span class="dictionary">superintendent</span> may join the <span class="dictionary">school board</span> in executive session to assist in the writing of the decision. <a id="paragraph-280957" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-313/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> In those instances when licensed personnel are dismissed or resign due to a <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> of any <span class="dictionary">felony</span>, any <span class="dictionary">offense</span> involving the sexual molestation, physical or sexual abuse or <span class="dictionary">rape</span> of a child, any <span class="dictionary">offense</span> involving drugs, or due to having become the subject of a founded case of child abuse or neglect, the local <span class="dictionary">school board</span> shall notify the Board of Education within 10 <span class="dictionary">business days</span> of such <span class="dictionary">dismissal</span> or the acceptance of such resignation. <a id="paragraph-280958" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-313/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 22-217.8; 1968, c. 691; 1974, c. 18; 1979, c. 298; 1980, c. 559; 1983, c. 327; 1992, c. 679; 2003, c. 187; 2008, cc. 474, 827; 2013, cc. 588, 650; 2020, c. 875.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
