Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia HB1455: An Act to amend and reenact § 22.1-79.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to school boards; opening of the school year; certain alternative schedules and schedule flexibility permitted.
Status: Chaptered, April 13, 2026
School boards; opening of the school year; certain alternative schedules and schedule flexibility permitted. Extends from no earlier than 14 days before Labor Day to no earlier than 14 days before September 1 of each year the requirement relating to the earliest date that each school board is permitted to schedule as the first day on which students are required to attend school each year. This bill is identical to SB 815.
What the bill says
An Act to amend and reenact § 22.1-79.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to school boards; opening of the school year; certain alternative schedules and schedule flexibility permitted. [H 1455] Approved April 13, 2026 1. That § 22.1-79.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as approvals for certain alternative schedules. A. Each local school board shall set the school calendar so that the first day students are required to attend school shall be no earlier than 14 days before [DELETED: Labor] [DELETED: Day] September 1 of each year. In each school division in which the school boar.
From the enrolled text, April 13, 2026:
An Act to amend and reenact § 22.1-79.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to school boards; opening of the school year; certain alternative schedules and schedule flexibility permitted. [H 1455] Approved April 13, 2026 1. That § 22.1-79.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as approvals for certain alternative schedules. A. Each local school board shall set the school calendar so that the first day students are required to attend school shall be no earlier than 14 days before [DELETED: Labor] [DELETED: Day] September 1 of each year. In each school division in which the school board sets the school calendar so that the first day students are required to attend school is before Labor Day, such school board shall close each school in the school division from the Friday immediately preceding Labor Day through Labor Day. The Board of Education may waive this requirement based on a school board certifying that it meets the good cause requirements of subsection B. B. For purposes of this section, "good cause" means a school division is providing its students, in the school year for which the waiver is sought, with instructional programs that are offered on a year-round basis by the school division in one or more of its elementary or middle or high schools. Any waiver provided …