                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DEFINITIONS (§ 22.1-276.01)

A. For the purposes of this article, unless the context requires a different
meaning:
			&#8220;Alternative education program&#8221; 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.
			&#8220;Bullying&#8221; 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. &#8220;Bullying&#8221;
includes cyberbullying. &#8220;Bullying&#8221; does not include ordinary
teasing, horseplay, argument, or peer conflict.
			&#8220;Cyberbullying&#8221; means bullying that occurs through the use of
technology, including through cell phones and other electronic devices or
technology capable of accessing the Internet.
			&#8220;Disruptive behavior&#8221; means a violation of school board
regulations governing student conduct that interrupts or obstructs the learning
environment.
			&#8220;Dress or grooming code&#8221; means any practice, policy, or portion
of a code of student conduct adopted by a school board that governs or restricts
the attire, appearance, or grooming, including hairstyle, of any enrolled
student.
			&#8220;Exclusion&#8221; means a Virginia school board&#8217;s denial of
school admission to a student who has been expelled or has been placed on a
long-term suspension of more than 30 calendar days by another school board 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been withdrawn by a private school in Virginia or another state.
			&#8220;Expulsion&#8221; means any disciplinary action imposed by a school
board or a committee thereof, as provided in school board 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
expulsion.
			&#8220;Long-term suspension&#8221; means any disciplinary action whereby a
student is not permitted to attend school for 11 to 45 school days.
			&#8220;Short-term suspension&#8221; means any disciplinary action whereby a
student is not permitted to attend school for a period not to exceed 10 school
days.

B. For the purposes of &#xA7;&#xA7; 22.1-277.04, 22.1-277.05, 22.1-277.2, and
22.1-277.2:1, &#8220;superintendent&#8217;s designee&#8221; means a (i) trained
hearing officer or (ii) professional employee within the administrative offices
of the school division who reports directly to the division superintendent and
who is not a school-based instructional or administrative employee.

HISTORY: 2001, cc. 688, 820; 2013, c. 575; 2018, c. 491; 2020, c. 678; 2025, c.
438.