CODE OF VIRGINIA

LONG-TERM SUSPENSIONS; PROCEDURES; READMISSION (§ 22.1-277.05)

A. A pupil may be suspended from attendance at school for more than ten days
after providing written notice to the pupil and his parent of the proposed
action and the reasons therefor and of the right to a hearing before the school
board, or a committee thereof, or the superintendent or his designee, in
accordance with regulations of the school board. If the regulations provide for
a hearing by the superintendent or his designee, the regulations shall also
provide for an appeal of the decision to the full school board. Such appeal
shall be decided by the school board within thirty days.If the regulations
provide for a hearing by a committee of the school board, the regulations shall
also provide that such committee may confirm or disapprove the suspension of a
student. Any such committee of the school board shall be composed of at least
three members. If the committee’s decision is not unanimous, the pupil or
his parent may appeal the committee’s decision to the full school board.
Such appeal shall be decided by the school board within thirty days.

B. A school board shall include in the written notice of a suspension for more
than ten days required by this section, notification of the length of the
suspension. In the case of a suspension for more than ten days, such written
notice shall provide information concerning the availability of community-based
educational, alternative education, or intervention programs. Such notice shall
also state that the student is eligible to return to regular school attendance
upon the expiration of the suspension or to attend an appropriate alternative
education program approved by the school board during or upon the expiration of
the suspension. The costs of any community-based educational, alternative
education, or intervention program that is not a part of the educational program
offered by the school division that the student may attend during his suspension
shall be borne by the parent of the student.Nothing in this section shall be
construed to prohibit the school board from permitting or requiring students
suspended pursuant to this section to attend an alternative education program
provided by the school board for the term of such suspension.

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