Student Rights and Responsibilities 5-2

School Board of the City of Virginia Beach
Policy 5-2

STUDENTS

Student Rights and Responsibilities

1. Students' Right to an Education
   1. The Commonwealth of Virginia, as provided for in Article VIII of the Constitution of Virginia, has established and must maintain a public school system. Except as specifically provided for in relevant chapters of the Code of Virginia, all residents of the School Division, between the ages of five and twenty are entitled to attend the public schools without charge.
   2. All students, irrespective of color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, genetic information, or veteran status are entitled to the same courses of education and use of facilities in the schools.
2. General Responsibility of Students When Asserting a Right to an Education
   1. Along with the right to equality of educational opportunity, students have two responsibilities:
      1. To apply themselves to the best of their ability to gain maximum benefit from the educational opportunities guaranteed to citizens, and
      2. To act in such a way as not to interfere with the rights of others to the same opportunity.
   2. Reasonable and necessary order in the educational institution itself is essential to the fostering and maintaining of educational opportunity. Students may forfeit their rights to educational opportunities when their conduct is such that it substantially disrupts the educational process and deprives others of their rights.

Legal Reference

The Constitution of Virginia, Article VIII, Section 1, as amended. Public schools of high quality to be maintained.

Adopted by School Board: June 15, 1993 (Effective August 14, 1993)
Amended by School Board: May 28, 2019
Amended by School Board: April 16, 2024