Virginia Law

A. A license may be suspended for the following reasons:

1. Physical, mental, or emotional incapacity as shown by a competent medical authority;

2. Incompetence or neglect of duty;

3. Failure or refusal to comply with school laws and regulations, including willful violation of contractual obligations;

4. Acts related to secure mandatory tests as specified in subsection A of § 22.1-292.1 of the Code of Virginia;

5. Knowingly and willfully with the intent to compromise the outcome of an athletic competition procure, sell, or administer anabolic steroids or cause such drugs to be procured, sold, or administered to a student who is a member of a school athletic team, or fail to report the use of such drugs by a student to the school principal and division superintendent as required by clause (iii) of subsection A of § 22.1-279.3:1 of the Code of Virginia. Any person whose license is suspended or revoked by the board pursuant to this section shall be ineligible for three school years for employment in the public schools of the Commonwealth; or

6. Other good and just cause in the best interest of the public schools of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

B. Procedures.

1. A complaint may be filed by anyone, but it shall be the duty of a division superintendent, principal, or other responsible school employee to file a complaint in any case in which he has knowledge that a basis for suspension exists, as set forth in subsection A of this section. The person making the complaint shall submit the complaint in writing to the appropriate division superintendent. If the subject of the complaint is the division superintendent, the person making the complaint may submit the complaint to the chair of the local school board.

2. Upon receipt of the complaint against the holder of a license, a division superintendent or his duly authorized representative shall immediately and thoroughly investigate the complaint. If, on the basis of such investigation, the division superintendent finds the complaint to be without merit, he shall so notify the complaining party or parties in writing and then close his file on the matter. This action shall be final unless the local school board on its own motion votes to proceed to a hearing on the complaint.

C. Petition for suspension. Should the division superintendent or local school board conclude that there is reasonable cause to believe that a basis for suspension of the license exists, the license holder shall be notified of the complaint by a written petition for suspension of a license signed by the division superintendent. A copy of such petition shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the license holder's last known address.

D. Form of petition. The petition for the suspension of a license shall set forth:

1. The name and last known address of the person against whom the petition is being filed;

2. The type of license and the license number held by the person against whom the petition is being filed;

3. The basis for suspension and the specific underlying alleged actions;

4. A statement of the rights of the person against whom the petition is being filed. The statement of rights shall notify the person that the license may be suspended for up to five years with the period of suspension, as determined by the Virginia Board of Education. In addition, the statement shall notify the person that any adverse action against a license, including suspension, will be reported to the division superintendents in Virginia and, through a national clearinghouse, to chief state school officers of the other states and territories of the United States. The statement also shall notify the person of the right to cancel the license if he chooses not to contest the allegations in the petition and notify the individual that if he cancels the license, he shall receive a notice of cancellation that will include the statement: "The license holder voluntarily returned the license in response to a petition for suspension." The individual also shall be notified that the cancellation will be reported to division superintendents in Virginia and, through a national clearinghouse, to chief state school officers of the other states and territories of the United States; and

5. Any other pertinent information.

E. Filing of petition. The original petition shall be entered in the files of the local school board where the license holder is or was last employed.

F. Response to petition. The license holder shall present his written answer to the petition, if any, within 14 days of delivery or attempted delivery of the petition, as certified by the United States Postal Service.

1. If the license holder does not wish to contest the allegations in the petition, he may request cancellation of the license by submitting a written and signed statement requesting cancellation in response to a petition for suspension to the division superintendent. The division superintendent shall forward the request for cancellation along with the petition for suspension to the Superintendent of Public Instruction within 14 days of receipt. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall cancel the license and send the person a notice of cancellation to the person by certified mail within 14 days of receipt of the request for cancellation.

2. If the license holder files a written answer admitting or denying the allegations in the petition or fails to file a written answer within 14 days of delivery or attempted delivery of the petition, as certified by the United States Postal Service, the local school board shall promptly proceed to a hearing. The local school board shall provide a hearing at the time and place of its regular meeting or at such other reasonable time and place it may specify. The license holder or his representative, if any, shall be given at least 14 days' notice of the hearing.

3. At its hearing, the local school board shall receive the recommendation of the division superintendent and then either deny the petition or recommend suspension. A decision to deny the petition shall be final, except as specified in subsection G of this section, and the investigative file on the petition shall be closed and maintained as a separate file. Any record or material relating to the allegations in the petition shall be placed in the investigative file. Should the local school board recommend the suspension of a license, the division superintendent shall forward the recommendation and the investigative file to the Superintendent of Public Instruction within 14 days.

G. Suspension on motion of the Virginia Board of Education. The Virginia Board of Education reserves the right to act directly to suspend a license when the Virginia Board of Education has reasonable cause to believe that subsection A of this section is applicable. The Superintendent of Public Instruction may send a petition for suspension to the license holder as specified in subsection D of this section. The license holder shall have the opportunity to present his written answer to the petition, if any, within 14 days of delivery or attempted delivery of the petition, as certified by the United States Postal Service.

1. If the license holder does not wish to contest the allegations in the petition, he may request cancellation of the license by submitting a written, signed statement requesting cancellation in response to a petition for suspension. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall cancel the license and send a notice of cancellation to the person by certified mail within 14 days of receipt of their request for cancellation.

2. If the license holder files a written answer admitting the allegations in the petition or fails to file a written answer within 14 days of delivery or attempted delivery of the petition, as certified by the United States Postal Service, the petition shall be forwarded to the Virginia Board of Education for action. No suspension will be ordered without the involved license holder being given the opportunity to appear at a hearing specified in 8VAC20-23-780 C.

3. If the license holder timely files his written answer denying the allegations in the petition, the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall schedule a hearing with the investigative panel provided in 8VAC20-23-780 A. The license holder or his representative, if any, shall be given at least 14 days' notice of the hearing. The investigative panel shall take action on the petition as specified in 8VAC20-23-780 A. No suspension will be ordered without the involved license holder being given the opportunity to appear at a hearing specified in 8VAC20-23-780 C.

H. Reinstatement of license. A license may be suspended for a period of time not to exceed five years. The license may be reinstated by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, upon written request and application, with verification that all conditions for licensure have been satisfied. Notification to all appropriate parties will be communicated in writing by the Virginia Department of Education.