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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>354553</law_id><section_number>22.1-253.13:9</section_number><catch_line>Exemplar School Recognition Program</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="60" identifier="22.1">Education</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="15" identifier="13.2">Standards of Quality</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Schools and local school divisions shall be recognized by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> of Education in accordance with guidelines it shall establish for the Exemplar School Recognition Program (the Program). The Program shall be designed to recognize and reward (i) schools that exceed <span class="dictionary">Board</span>-established requirements or show continuous improvement on academic and school quality indicators and (ii) schools, school divisions, and <span class="dictionary">school boards</span> that implement effective, innovative practices that are aligned with the Commonwealth&#x2019;s goals for public education. Such recognition may include:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Public announcements recognizing individual schools and divisions; <a id="paragraph-1320021" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-253.13_9/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Tangible rewards; <a id="paragraph-1320022" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-253.13_9/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> <span class="dictionary">Waivers</span> of certain <span class="dictionary">board</span> regulations; <a id="paragraph-1320023" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-253.13_9/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Exemptions from certain reporting requirements; or <a id="paragraph-1320024" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-253.13_9/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Other commendations deemed appropriate to recognize high achievement.
			In addition to <span class="dictionary">Board</span> recognition, local <span class="dictionary">school boards</span> shall adopt policies to recognize individual schools through public announcements or media releases as well as other appropriate recognition. <a id="paragraph-1320025" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/22.1-253.13_9/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2010, cc. 38, 103; 2011, cc. 119, 145; 2012, c. 794; 2015, c. 566; 2019, c. 576; 2020, c. 688.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
