                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

REEMPLOYMENT OF TEACHER WHO HAS NOT ACHIEVED CONTINUING CONTRACT STATUS; EFFECT
OF CONTINUING CONTRACT; RESIGNATION OF TEACHER; REDUCTION IN NUMBER OF TEACHERS
(§ 22.1-304)

A. If a teacher who has not achieved continuing contract status receives notice
of reemployment, he must accept or reject in writing within 15 days of receipt
of such notice. Except as provided in &#xA7; 22.1-305 and except in the case of
a reduction in force as provided in subsection F, written notice of nonrenewal
of the probationary contract must be given by the school board on or before June
15 of each year. If no such notice is given a teacher by June 15, the teacher
shall be entitled to a contract for the ensuing year in accordance with local
salary stipulations including increments.

B. Teachers employed after completing the probationary period shall be entitled
to continuing contracts during good behavior and competent service. Written
notice of noncontinuation of the contract by either party must be given by June
15 of each year; otherwise the contract continues in effect for the ensuing year
in conformity with local salary stipulations including increments.

C. A teacher may resign after June 15 of any school year with the approval of
the local school board or, upon authorization by the school board, with the
approval of the division superintendent. The teacher shall request release from
contract at least two weeks in advance of intended date of resignation. Such
request shall be in writing and shall set forth the cause of resignation.
			If the division superintendent has been authorized to approve resignations, a
teacher may, within one week, withdraw a request to resign. Upon the expiration
of the one-week period, the division superintendent shall notify the school
board of his decision to accept or reject the resignation. The school board,
within two weeks, may reverse the decision of the division superintendent.
			In the event that the board or the division superintendent declines to grant
the request for release on the grounds of insufficient or unjustifiable cause,
and the teacher breaches such contract, disciplinary action, which may include
written reprimand, suspension, or revocation of the teacher&#8217;s license, may
be taken pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Board of Education.

D. As soon after June 15 as the school budget shall have been approved by the
appropriating body, the school board shall furnish each teacher a statement
confirming continuation of employment, setting forth assignment and salary.
			Nothing in the continuing contract shall be construed to authorize the school
board to contract for any financial obligation beyond the period for which funds
have been made available with which to meet such obligation.

E. A school board may reduce the number of teachers, whether or not such
teachers have reached continuing contract status, because of decrease in
enrollment or abolition of particular subjects.

F. Within two weeks of the approval of the school budget by the appropriating
body, but no later than July 1, school boards shall notify all teachers who may
be subject to a reduction in force due to a decrease in the school board&#8217;s
budget as approved by the appropriating body.

G. If a school board implements a reduction in workforce pursuant to this
section, such reduction shall not be made solely on the basis of seniority but
must include consideration of, among other things, the performance evaluations
of the teachers potentially affected by the reduction in workforce.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 22-217.4; 1968, c. 691; 1978, c. 147; 1979, c. 98; 1980,
c. 559; 1992, c. 132; 1993, c. 294; 1996, c. 840; 2000, c. 709; 2001, c. 540;
2002, c. 714; 2003, c. 706; 2012, cc. 106, 687; 2013, cc. 588, 650; 2019, c.
587; 2020, c. 513.