{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/22.1-7.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/22.1-7.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/22.1-7.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/22.1-7.1.html"}],"law_id":354974,"edition_id":2,"section_id":354974,"structure_id":50683,"section_number":"22.1-7.1","catch_line":"Open school enrollment policy","history":"2012, c. 510; 2013, c. 805; 2015, c. 369; 2022, c. 355.","full_text":"A\n\nAny local school board may establish and implement policies to provide for the open enrollment to any school of any student residing within the school division upon the request of a parent or guardian. In developing such policies, a local school board may include the following conditions and limitations:\n\n1\n\nAn application process whereby a parent or guardian indicates a school preference for purposes of his child attending a school in the child’s school division but outside of the attendance area in which the child resides;\n\n2\n\nA requirement that the parent or guardian provide transportation for the student attending a school other than his assigned school;\n\n3\n\nA requirement that a student may be disqualified from attending a school other than his assigned school if he has been subject to a specified disciplinary action;\n\n4\n\nA prohibition on the recruitment of a student from one school to another by a school division employee;\n\n5\n\nA limitation on participation in certain athletic activities for a student who chooses to attend a school other than his assigned school;\n\n6\n\nA random, unbiased selection process in the event open enrollment requests exceed the capacity of a school;\n\n7\n\nA provision that a student shall be permitted to remain at the receiving school until the student has completed the highest grade level in the school; and\n\n8\n\nA preference to a student (i) who resides in a location that has been subject to a change in school attendance area during the previous two years, (ii) who has a sibling attending the receiving school, or (iii) whose parent or guardian is an employee of the receiving school.\n\nB\n\nA copy of the school division’s policies for open enrollment, if any, shall be posted on the division’s website and shall be available to the public upon request.\n\nC\n\nNothing in this section shall interfere with a local school board’s authority to adopt a pupil assignment plan pursuant to § 22.1-79.\n\nD\n\nFor the purposes of this section, “open enrollment” means a policy adopted and implemented by a local school board to allow any student to enroll in any school within the school division of attendance regardless of the location of the student’s residence.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1321784,"text":"Any local school board may establish and implement policies to provide for the open enrollment to any school of any student residing within the school division upon the request of a parent or guardian. In developing such policies, a local school board may include the following conditions and limitations:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":1321785,"text":"An application process whereby a parent or guardian indicates a school preference for purposes of his child attending a school in the child’s school division but outside of the attendance area in which the child resides;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":1321786,"text":"A requirement that the parent or guardian provide transportation for the student attending a school other than his assigned school;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":1321787,"text":"A requirement that a student may be disqualified from attending a school other than his assigned school if he has been subject to a specified disciplinary action;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"A4"},"4":{"id":1321788,"text":"A prohibition on the recruitment of a student from one school to another by a school division employee;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"A4","prefix_anchor":"A4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"A5"},"5":{"id":1321789,"text":"A limitation on participation in certain athletic activities for a student who chooses to attend a school other than his assigned school;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"A5","prefix_anchor":"A5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A4","next_prefix":"A6"},"6":{"id":1321790,"text":"A random, unbiased selection process in the event open enrollment requests exceed the capacity of a school;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"A6","prefix_anchor":"A6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A5","next_prefix":"A7"},"7":{"id":1321791,"text":"A provision that a student shall be permitted to remain at the receiving school until the student has completed the highest grade level in the school; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"A7","prefix_anchor":"A7","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A6","next_prefix":"A8"},"8":{"id":1321792,"text":"A preference to a student (i) who resides in a location that has been subject to a change in school attendance area during the previous two years, (ii) who has a sibling attending the receiving school, or (iii) whose parent or guardian is an employee of the receiving school.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"A8","prefix_anchor":"A8","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A7","next_prefix":"B"},"9":{"id":1321793,"text":"A copy of the school division’s policies for open enrollment, if any, shall be posted on the division’s website and shall be available to the public upon request.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A8","next_prefix":"C"},"10":{"id":1321794,"text":"Nothing in this section shall interfere with a local school board’s authority to adopt a pupil assignment plan pursuant to § 22.1-79.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"11":{"id":1321795,"text":"For the purposes of this section, “open enrollment” means a policy adopted and implemented by a local school board to allow any student to enroll in any school within the school division of attendance regardless of the location of the student’s residence.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":50683,"edition_id":2,"name":"System of Public Schools; General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":50682,"metadata":{"child_laws":20,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:31:28","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:58","permalink":{"id":1407953,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50683,"identifier":"1","token":"22.1\/1","url":"\/22.1\/1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50682,"edition_id":2,"name":"Education","identifier":"22.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":60,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":858,"child_structures":99},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:31:28","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:57","permalink":{"id":1407951,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50682,"identifier":"22.1","token":"22.1","url":"\/22.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":354174,"structure_id":50683,"section_number":"22.1-1","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Definitions","url":"\/22.1-1\/","token":"22.1\/1\/22.1-1","metadata":false},{"id":354361,"structure_id":50683,"section_number":"22.1-2","catch_line":"System of free public elementary and secondary schools to be maintained; administration","url":"\/22.1-2\/","token":"22.1\/1\/22.1-2","metadata":false},{"id":354360,"structure_id":50683,"section_number":"22.1-2.1","catch_line":"Provision of in-person instruction","url":"\/22.1-2.1\/","token":"22.1\/1\/22.1-2.1","metadata":false},{"id":354796,"structure_id":50683,"section_number":"22.1-3","catch_line":"Persons to whom public schools shall be free","url":"\/22.1-3\/","token":"22.1\/1\/22.1-3","metadata":false},{"id":354791,"structure_id":50683,"section_number":"22.1-3.1","catch_line":"Birth certificates required upon admission; required notice to the local law-enforcement agency","url":"\/22.1-3.1\/","token":"22.1\/1\/22.1-3.1","metadata":false},{"id":354792,"structure_id":50683,"section_number":"22.1-3.2","catch_line":"Notice of student's school status required as condition of admission; penalty","url":"\/22.1-3.2\/","token":"22.1\/1\/22.1-3.2","metadata":false},{"id":354793,"structure_id":50683,"section_number":"22.1-3.3","catch_line":"Transfer of students under certain circumstances","url":"\/22.1-3.3\/","token":"22.1\/1\/22.1-3.3","metadata":false},{"id":354794,"structure_id":50683,"section_number":"22.1-3.4","catch_line":"Enrollment of certain children placed in foster care","url":"\/22.1-3.4\/","token":"22.1\/1\/22.1-3.4","metadata":false},{"id":354795,"structure_id":50683,"section_number":"22.1-3.5","catch_line":"Enrollment of certain military children with disabilities; provision of special education services and accommodations","url":"\/22.1-3.5\/","token":"22.1\/1\/22.1-3.5","metadata":false},{"id":354922,"structure_id":50683,"section_number":"22.1-4","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/22.1-4\/","token":"22.1\/1\/22.1-4","metadata":false},{"id":354919,"structure_id":50683,"section_number":"22.1-4.1","catch_line":"Street addresses required in certain school admission documents","url":"\/22.1-4.1\/","token":"22.1\/1\/22.1-4.1","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":354920,"structure_id":50683,"section_number":"22.1-4.2","catch_line":"Designation of race or ethnicity","url":"\/22.1-4.2\/","token":"22.1\/1\/22.1-4.2","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":354921,"structure_id":50683,"section_number":"22.1-4.3","catch_line":"Participation by and notification of noncustodial parent","url":"\/22.1-4.3\/","token":"22.1\/1\/22.1-4.3","metadata":false},{"id":354938,"structure_id":50683,"section_number":"22.1-5","catch_line":"Regulations concerning admission of certain persons to schools; tuition charges","url":"\/22.1-5\/","token":"22.1\/1\/22.1-5","metadata":false},{"id":354937,"structure_id":50683,"section_number":"22.1-5.1","catch_line":"Organizations governing public school interscholastic programs; participation by students in military families","url":"\/22.1-5.1\/","token":"22.1\/1\/22.1-5.1","metadata":false},{"id":354962,"structure_id":50683,"section_number":"22.1-6","catch_line":"Permitted fees and charges","url":"\/22.1-6\/","token":"22.1\/1\/22.1-6","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Medley v. School Board of City of Danville, Virginia","case_number":"Civ. A. 71-C-44-D","citation":"350 F. Supp. 34","date":"1972-10-20","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2005389\/medley-v-school-board-of-city-of-danville-virginia\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 350 F.Supp. 34 (1972) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, W.D. Virginia"}}}},{"id":354961,"structure_id":50683,"section_number":"22.1-6.1","catch_line":"Menstrual supplies; availability; public elementary, middle, and high schools","url":"\/22.1-6.1\/","token":"22.1\/1\/22.1-6.1","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":354976,"structure_id":50683,"section_number":"22.1-7","catch_line":"Responsibility of each state board, agency, and institution having children in residence or in custody","url":"\/22.1-7\/","token":"22.1\/1\/22.1-7","metadata":false},{"id":354974,"structure_id":50683,"section_number":"22.1-7.1","catch_line":"Open school enrollment policy","url":"\/22.1-7.1\/","token":"22.1\/1\/22.1-7.1","metadata":false},{"id":354975,"structure_id":50683,"section_number":"22.1-7.2","catch_line":"Enrollment for students residing on a military installation or in military housing","url":"\/22.1-7.2\/","token":"22.1\/1\/22.1-7.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":354976,"structure_id":50683,"section_number":"22.1-7","catch_line":"Responsibility of each state board, agency, and institution having children in residence or in custody","url":"\/22.1-7\/","token":"22.1\/1\/22.1-7","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":354975,"structure_id":50683,"section_number":"22.1-7.2","catch_line":"Enrollment for students residing on a military installation or in military housing","url":"\/22.1-7.2\/","token":"22.1\/1\/22.1-7.2","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/22.1-7.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2012. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 510<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2013, chapter 805<\/a>; in 2015, chapter 369<\/a>; in 2022, chapter 355<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":354975,"section_number":"22.1-7.2","catch_line":"Enrollment for students residing on a military installation or in military housing","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-7.2\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":355000,"section_number":"22.1-79","catch_line":"Powers and duties","order_by":null,"url":"\/22.1-79\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1408027,"object_type":"law","relational_id":354974,"identifier":"22.1-7.1","token":"22.1\/1\/22.1-7.1","url":"\/22.1-7.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/22.1-7.1\/","token":"22.1\/1\/22.1-7.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Open school enrollment policy","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 22.1-7.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any local school board<\/span> may establish and implement policies to provide for the open enrollment<\/span> to any school of any student residing within the school division upon the request of a parent<\/span> or guardian. In developing such policies, a local school board<\/span> may include the following conditions and limitations: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> An application process whereby a parent<\/span> or guardian indicates a school preference for purposes of his child attending a school in the child’s school division but outside of the attendance area in which the child resides; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> A requirement that the parent<\/span> or guardian provide transportation for the student attending a school other than his assigned school; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> A requirement that a student may be disqualified from attending a school other than his assigned school if he has been subject to a specified disciplinary action; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> A prohibition on the recruitment of a student from one school to another by a school division employee; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> A limitation on participation in certain athletic activities for a student who chooses to attend a school other than his assigned school; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> A random, unbiased selection process in the event open enrollment<\/span> requests exceed the capacity of a school; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> A provision that a student shall be permitted to remain at the receiving school until the student has completed the highest grade level in the school; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> A preference to a student (i) who resides in a location that has been subject to a change in school attendance area during the previous two years, (ii) who has a sibling attending the receiving school, or (iii) whose parent<\/span> or guardian is an employee of the receiving school. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> A copy of the school division’s policies for open enrollment<\/span>, if any, shall be posted on the division’s website and shall be available to the public upon request. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Nothing in this section shall interfere with a local school board<\/span>’s authority to adopt a pupil assignment plan pursuant to § 22.1-79<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> For the purposes of this section, “open enrollment<\/span>” means a policy adopted and implemented by a local school board<\/span> to allow any student to enroll in any school within the school division of attendance regardless of the location of the student’s residence. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nOPEN SCHOOL ENROLLMENT POLICY (\u00a7 22.1-7.1)\n\nA. Any local school board may establish and implement policies to provide for\nthe open enrollment to any school of any student residing within the school\ndivision upon the request of a parent or guardian. In developing such policies,\na local school board may include the following conditions and limitations:\n\n 1. An application process whereby a parent or guardian indicates a school\n preference for purposes of his child attending a school in the child’s\n school division but outside of the attendance area in which the child resides;\n\n 2. A requirement that the parent or guardian provide transportation for the\n student attending a school other than his assigned school;\n\n 3. A requirement that a student may be disqualified from attending a school\n other than his assigned school if he has been subject to a specified\n disciplinary action;\n\n 4. A prohibition on the recruitment of a student from one school to another by\n a school division employee;\n\n 5. A limitation on participation in certain athletic activities for a student\n who chooses to attend a school other than his assigned school;\n\n 6. A random, unbiased selection process in the event open enrollment requests\n exceed the capacity of a school;\n\n 7. A provision that a student shall be permitted to remain at the receiving\n school until the student has completed the highest grade level in the school;\n and\n\n 8. A preference to a student (i) who resides in a location that has been\n subject to a change in school attendance area during the previous two years,\n (ii) who has a sibling attending the receiving school, or (iii) whose parent\n or guardian is an employee of the receiving school.\n\nB. A copy of the school division’s policies for open enrollment, if any,\nshall be posted on the division’s website and shall be available to the\npublic upon request.\n\nC. Nothing in this section shall interfere with a local school board’s\nauthority to adopt a pupil assignment plan pursuant to § 22.1-79.\n\nD. For the purposes of this section, “open enrollment” means a\npolicy adopted and implemented by a local school board to allow any student to\nenroll in any school within the school division of attendance regardless of the\nlocation of the student’s residence.\n\nHISTORY: 2012, c. 510; 2013, c. 805; 2015, c. 369; 2022, c. 355.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}