                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

SHORT-TERM SUSPENSION; PROCEDURES; READMISSION (§ 22.1-277.04)

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 facts 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 facts, 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 facts of the case in writing to
the division superintendent or his designee and the parent of the pupil
suspended. The division superintendent or his designee shall review forthwith
the action taken by the principal, assistant principal, or teacher upon a
petition for such review by any party in interest and confirm or disapprove such
action based on an examination of the record of the pupil&#8217;s behavior.
		The decision of the division superintendent or his designee may be appealed to
the school board or a committee thereof in accordance with regulations of the
school board; however, the decision of the division superintendent or his
designee shall be final if so prescribed by school board regulations.
		The school board shall require that any oral or written notice to the parent
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&#8217;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 parent of the student.
		School boards shall adopt policies and procedures to ensure that suspended
students are able to access and complete graded work during and after the
suspension.

HISTORY: 1998, c. 806, § 22.1-277.03; 2001, cc. 688, 820; 2020, c. 337.