Each parent of a student enrolled in a public school has a duty to assist the school in enforcing the standards of student conduct and attendance in order that education may be conducted in an atmosphere free of disruption and threat to persons or property, and supportive of individual rights.
There are opportunities for parental and community involvement in every school in the school division.
The school principal may request the student’s parent(s) to meet with the principal or designee to review the school board’s standards of student conduct and the parent’s responsibility to participate with the school in disciplining the student and maintaining order, and to discuss improvement of the child’s behavior and educational progress.
In accordance with the due process procedures set forth in this article and the guidelines required by § 22.1-279.6 the school principal may notify the parent(s) of any student who violates a School Board policy or the compulsory school attendance requirements when such violation could result in the student’s suspension or the filing of a court petition, whether or not the school administration has imposed such disciplinary action or filed a petition. The notice shall state (i) the date and particulars of the violation; (ii) the obligation of the parent(s) to take actions to assist the school in improving the student’s behavior and ensuring the compulsory school attendance compliance; (iii) that, if the student is suspended, the parent may be required to accompany the student to meet with school officials; and (iv) that a petition with the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court may be filed under certain circumstances to declare the student a child in need of supervision.
No suspended student shall be admitted to the regular school program until such student and his or her parent(s) have met with school officials to discuss improvement of the student’s behavior, unless the school principal or designee determines that re-admission, without parent conference, is appropriate for the student.
Upon the failure of a parent to comply with the provisions of this section, the School Board may, by petition to the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, proceed against such parent for willful and unreasonable refusal to participate in efforts to improve the student’s behavior.