Virginia Law

The licensee shall:

1. Appoint an individual(s) to whom it delegates the authority and responsibility to assume the administrative direction of the school. The appointment shall be in writing.

2. Develop and implement a written decision-making plan that shall include provision for a staff person with the qualifications of the school administrator or education program director to be designated to assume the temporary responsibility for the operation of the school in the absence of the school administrator. The plan shall include a current organizational chart.

3. Ensure that staff positions and responsibilities meet the needs of the population served.

4. Develop a written statement of the objectives of the school including a description of the target population and the program offerings.

5. Develop and implement written policies and procedures to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the education program on a systematic and ongoing basis and implement improvements when the need is determined.

6. Ensure compliance with applicable child labor laws.

7. Develop a written policy prohibiting the consumption of tobacco products, illegal drugs, and alcohol or being under the influence of intoxicating or hallucinogenic agents while on campus and at school-sponsored student activities.

8. Require as a condition of employment that any applicant who accepts employment full-time or part-time, permanent or temporary, volunteers on a regular basis and will be alone with a student in the performance of his duties, or anyone who provides contractual services, including services of a student intern, on a regular basis and will be alone with a student in the performance of his duties shall submit to fingerprinting and to provide personal descriptive information to be forwarded along with the applicant's fingerprints through the Central Criminal Records Exchange to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of obtaining criminal history record information regarding such applicant.

Anyone who is hired or is approved to provide volunteer services, contractual services, or services of a student-intern on a regular basis and will be alone with students cannot begin working with children until the criminal history background check has been received by the school.

9. Require as a condition of employment that any applicant who accepts employment requiring direct contact with students, whether full-time or part-time, permanent or temporary, volunteers on a regular basis and will be alone with a student in the performance of his duties; or anyone who provides contractual services, including services of a student intern on a regular basis and will be alone with a student in the performance of his duties, shall provide written consent and necessary personal information for the school to obtain a search of the registry of founded complaints of child abuse and neglect maintained by the Department of Social Services. Where the applicant has resided in another state within the last five years, the school shall as a condition of employment, determine if there are any founded complaints of child abuse or neglect in such state(s) pursuant to §§ 22.1-296.3 and 22.1-296.4 of the Code of Virginia.

a. Anyone who has not submitted to a search of the registry of founded complaints of child abuse and neglect maintained by the Department of Social Services shall not be permitted to work alone with children.

b. The results of the search of the registry must be received prior to permitting an applicant to work alone with children.

10. Notify the department within five calendar days of any change in administration or newly appointed individual responsible for the day-to-day administration or operation of the school.

11. Ensure that all staff members receive annual professional development related to their job responsibilities.

12. Report to the department within 10 business days lawsuits against or settlements with the licensee relating to the health and safety or human rights of students and any criminal charges against any staff that may be related to the health and safety or human rights of students.

13. Develop and implement an accessible policy and procedures to handle school related complaints from students, parents, and employees. Schools are required to provide written notification of the right to file a complaint with the department's private school licensure office.

14. The school shall have a written policy and procedure that the school does not discriminate according to state and federal law.