Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia SB685: An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 1 of Title 22.1 a section numbered 22.1-4.4, relating to school board policies; communication and language accessibility for limited English proficient parents; requirements.
Status: Chaptered, April 13, 2026
School boards; language access plan for limited English proficient parents. Requires each school board to develop, implement, and post in a publicly accessible location on its website a language access plan consisting of policies and procedures designed to ensure meaningful communication with and informational accessibility for limited English proficient (LEP) parents, as that term is defined in the bill. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027. This bill is identical to HB 1278.
What the bill says
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 1 of Title 22.1 a section numbered 22.1-4.4, relating to school board policies; communication and language accessibility for limited English proficient parents; requirements. [S 685] Approved April 13, 2026 1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 1 of Title 22.1 a section numbered 22.1-4.4 as communication and language accessibility for limited English proficient parents. A. As used in this section: "Language assistance services" means oral interpretation and written translation services that are provided in an accu.
From the enrolled text, April 13, 2026:
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 1 of Title 22.1 a section numbered 22.1-4.4, relating to school board policies; communication and language accessibility for limited English proficient parents; requirements. [S 685] Approved April 13, 2026 1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 1 of Title 22.1 a section numbered 22.1-4.4 as communication and language accessibility for limited English proficient parents. A. As used in this section: "Language assistance services" means oral interpretation and written translation services that are provided in an accurate, timely, and effective manner to an LEP parent, at no cost to the LEP parent. "Limited English proficient parent" or "LEP parent" means an individual (i) who is the parent of a student enrolled or preparing to enroll in a public elementary or secondary school; (ii) who either (a) was not born in the United States or whose native language is a language other than English; (b) is a Native American or Alaska Native or a native resident of one of the outlying areas of the United States and who comes from an environment where a language other than English has had a significant impact on the individual's level of English language proficiency; or (c) is migratory, whose native language is a language other than English, and …