{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/22.1-79.7.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/22.1-79.7.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/22.1-79.7.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/22.1-79.7.html"}],"law_id":354996,"edition_id":2,"section_id":354996,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-79.7","catch_line":"School meal policies; donations","history":"2018, cc. 384, 712; 2020, cc. 509, 575; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 106; 2022, c. 686.","full_text":"A\n\nEach local school board shall adopt policies that:\n\n1\n\nProhibit school board employees from requiring a student who cannot pay for a meal at school or who owes a school meal debt to throw away or discard a meal after it has been served to him, do chores or other work to pay for such meals, or wear a wristband or hand stamp;\n\n2\n\nRequire school board employees to direct any communication relating to a school meal debt to the student’s parent. Such policy may permit such communication to be made by a letter addressed to the parent to be sent home with the student;\n\n3\n\nProhibit the school board from filing a lawsuit against a student or the student’s parent because the student cannot pay for a meal at school or owes a school meal debt; and\n\n4\n\nProhibit the school board or any school board employee from denying a student the opportunity to participate in any extracurricular school activity because the student cannot pay for a meal at school or owes a school meal debt.\n\nB\n\nAny school board may solicit and receive any donation or other funds for the purpose of eliminating or offsetting any school meal debt at any time and shall use any such funds solely for such purpose.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1321865,"text":"Each local school board shall adopt policies that:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":1321866,"text":"Prohibit school board employees from requiring a student who cannot pay for a meal at school or who owes a school meal debt to throw away or discard a meal after it has been served to him, do chores or other work to pay for such meals, or wear a wristband or hand stamp;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":1321867,"text":"Require school board employees to direct any communication relating to a school meal debt to the student’s parent. Such policy may permit such communication to be made by a letter addressed to the parent to be sent home with the student;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":1321868,"text":"Prohibit the school board from filing a lawsuit against a student or the student’s parent because the student cannot pay for a meal at school or owes a school meal debt; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"A4"},"4":{"id":1321869,"text":"Prohibit the school board or any school board employee from denying a student the opportunity to participate in any extracurricular school activity because the student cannot pay for a meal at school or owes a school meal debt.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"A4","prefix_anchor":"A4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"B"},"5":{"id":1321870,"text":"Any school board may solicit and receive any donation or other funds for the purpose of eliminating or offsetting any school meal debt at any time and shall use any such funds solely for such purpose.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A4"}},"ancestry":[{"id":50781,"edition_id":2,"name":"General Powers and Duties of School Boards","identifier":"7","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":8,"parent_id":50682,"metadata":{"child_laws":29,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:33:12","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:00","permalink":{"id":1411097,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50781,"identifier":"7","token":"22.1\/7","url":"\/22.1\/7\/","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":354981,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-71","catch_line":"School board constitutes body corporate; corporate powers","url":"\/22.1-71\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-71","metadata":false},{"id":354982,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-72","catch_line":"Annual organizational meetings of school boards","url":"\/22.1-72\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-72","metadata":false},{"id":354983,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-73","catch_line":"Quorum","url":"\/22.1-73\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-73","metadata":false},{"id":354984,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-74","catch_line":"Minutes of meetings","url":"\/22.1-74\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-74","metadata":false},{"id":354985,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-75","catch_line":"Procedure in case of tie vote","url":"\/22.1-75\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-75","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":354986,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-76","catch_line":"Chairman; clerk; vice-chairman; deputy clerk; terms; compensation and bonds of clerk and deputy clerk; officers ineligible to serve as clerk and deputy clerk; approval of division superintendent's designee","url":"\/22.1-76\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-76","metadata":false},{"id":354987,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-77","catch_line":"Duties of clerk","url":"\/22.1-77\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-77","metadata":false},{"id":354988,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-78","catch_line":"Bylaws and regulations","url":"\/22.1-78\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-78","metadata":false},{"id":355000,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-79","catch_line":"Powers and duties","url":"\/22.1-79\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79","metadata":false},{"id":354989,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-79.1","catch_line":"Opening of the school year; approvals for certain alternative schedules","url":"\/22.1-79.1\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.1","metadata":false},{"id":354990,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-79.2","catch_line":"Uniforms in public schools; Board of Education guidelines","url":"\/22.1-79.2\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.2","metadata":false},{"id":354991,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-79.3","catch_line":"Policies regarding certain activities","url":"\/22.1-79.3\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.3","metadata":false},{"id":354992,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-79.3:1","catch_line":"Student cell phone and smart device possession and use policies; development and implementation","url":"\/22.1-79.3_1\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.3_1","metadata":false},{"id":354993,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-79.4","catch_line":"Threat assessment teams and oversight committees","url":"\/22.1-79.4\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.4","metadata":false},{"id":354994,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-79.5","catch_line":"Policy regarding retail tobacco products and hemp products intended for smoking","url":"\/22.1-79.5\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.5","metadata":false},{"id":354995,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-79.6","catch_line":"Employee lactation support policy","url":"\/22.1-79.6\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.6","metadata":false},{"id":354996,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-79.7","catch_line":"School meal policies; donations","url":"\/22.1-79.7\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.7","metadata":false},{"id":354997,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-79.7:1","catch_line":"School meals; availability to students","url":"\/22.1-79.7_1\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.7_1","metadata":false},{"id":354998,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-79.8","catch_line":"Policies regarding job assistance for certain persons","url":"\/22.1-79.8\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.8","metadata":false},{"id":354999,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-79.9","catch_line":"Promotion of broadband services for educational purposes","url":"\/22.1-79.9\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.9","metadata":false},{"id":355002,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-80","catch_line":"Development of park areas adjacent to public schools","url":"\/22.1-80\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-80","metadata":false},{"id":355003,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-81","catch_line":"Annual report","url":"\/22.1-81\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-81","metadata":false},{"id":355004,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-82","catch_line":"Employment of counsel to advise or defend school boards and officials; payment of costs, expenses and liabilities; consent of governing bodies required prior to institution of proceedings","url":"\/22.1-82\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-82","metadata":false},{"id":355005,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-83","catch_line":"Payment of employee's legal fees and expenses","url":"\/22.1-83\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-83","metadata":false},{"id":355006,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-84","catch_line":"Insurance","url":"\/22.1-84\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-84","metadata":false},{"id":355007,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-85","catch_line":"Fund for payment of hospital, medical, etc., services provided officers, employees and dependents","url":"\/22.1-85\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-85","metadata":false},{"id":355009,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-86","catch_line":"Meetings of people of school division; local committees","url":"\/22.1-86\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-86","metadata":false},{"id":355008,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-86.1","catch_line":"Appointment of student representatives to local school boards","url":"\/22.1-86.1\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-86.1","metadata":false},{"id":355010,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-87","catch_line":"Judicial review","url":"\/22.1-87\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-87","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":354995,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-79.6","catch_line":"Employee lactation support policy","url":"\/22.1-79.6\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.6","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":354997,"structure_id":50781,"section_number":"22.1-79.7:1","catch_line":"School meals; availability to students","url":"\/22.1-79.7_1\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.7_1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/22.1-79.7\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2018. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 384<\/a> and 712<\/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 2 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 2020, chapters 509<\/a> and 575<\/a>; in 2022, chapter 686<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1411163,"object_type":"law","relational_id":354996,"identifier":"22.1-79.7","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.7","url":"\/22.1-79.7\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/22.1-79.7\/","token":"22.1\/7\/22.1-79.7","dublin_core":{"Title":"School meal policies; donations","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 22.1-79.7","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Each local school board<\/span> shall adopt policies that: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Prohibit school board<\/span> employees from requiring a student who cannot pay for a meal at school or who owes a school meal debt to throw away or discard a meal after it has been served to him, do chores or other work to pay for such meals, or wear a wristband or hand stamp; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Require school board<\/span> employees to direct any communication relating to a school meal debt to the student’s parent<\/span>. Such policy may permit such communication to be made by a letter addressed to the parent<\/span> to be sent home with the student; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Prohibit the school board<\/span> from filing a lawsuit<\/span> against a student or the student’s parent<\/span> because the student cannot pay for a meal at school or owes a school meal debt; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Prohibit the school board<\/span> or any school board<\/span> employee from denying a student the opportunity to participate in any extracurricular school activity because the student cannot pay for a meal at school or owes a school meal debt. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Any school board<\/span> may solicit and receive any donation or other funds for the purpose of eliminating or offsetting any school meal debt at any time and shall use any such funds solely for such purpose. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSCHOOL MEAL POLICIES; DONATIONS (\u00a7 22.1-79.7)\n\nA. Each local school board shall adopt policies that:\n\n 1. Prohibit school board employees from requiring a student who cannot pay for\n a meal at school or who owes a school meal debt to throw away or discard a\n meal after it has been served to him, do chores or other work to pay for such\n meals, or wear a wristband or hand stamp;\n\n 2. Require school board employees to direct any communication relating to a\n school meal debt to the student’s parent. Such policy may permit such\n communication to be made by a letter addressed to the parent to be sent home\n with the student;\n\n 3. Prohibit the school board from filing a lawsuit against a student or the\n student’s parent because the student cannot pay for a meal at school or\n owes a school meal debt; and\n\n 4. Prohibit the school board or any school board employee from denying a\n student the opportunity to participate in any extracurricular school activity\n because the student cannot pay for a meal at school or owes a school meal\n debt.\n\nB. Any school board may solicit and receive any donation or other funds for the\npurpose of eliminating or offsetting any school meal debt at any time and shall\nuse any such funds solely for such purpose.\n\nHISTORY: 2018, cc. 384, 712; 2020, cc. 509, 575; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 106;\n2022, c. 686.","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"}}