Compulsory School Attendance

This is the 2026 edition of the code. This is the current edition. It was last updated Aug 02, 2026. Browse all editions.

This is Article 1 of the Code of Virginia, titled “Compulsory School Attendance.” It is part of Chapter 14 “Pupils”, which is part of Title 22.1 “Education”. It contains 21 laws.

It’s comprised of the following 21 sections.

§ 22.1-254	Compulsory attendance required; excuses and waivers; alternative education program attendance; exemptions from article
§ 22.1-254.01	Certain students required to attend summer school or after-school sessions
§ 22.1-254.02	Students transferring from a public school
§ 22.1-254.1	Declaration of policy; requirements for home instruction of children
§ 22.1-254.2	Testing for high school equivalency; eligibility; guidelines
§ 22.1-255	Nonresident children
§ 22.1-256	Repealed
§ 22.1-258	Appointment of attendance officers; notification when pupil fails to report to school; plan; conference; court proceedings
§ 22.1-259	Teachers to keep daily attendance records
§ 22.1-260	Reports of children enrolled and not enrolled; nonattendance
§ 22.1-261	Attendance officer to make list of children not enrolled; duties of attendance officer
§ 22.1-262	Complaint to court when parent fails to comply with law
§ 22.1-263	Violation constitutes misdemeanor
§ 22.1-264	Misdemeanor to make false statements as to age
§ 22.1-264.1	Misdemeanor to make false statements as to school division or attendance zone residency; penalty
§ 22.1-265	Inducing children to absent themselves
§ 22.1-266	Law-enforcement officers and truant children
§ 22.1-267	Proceedings against habitually absent child
§ 22.1-268	Duty of attorneys for the Commonwealth to prosecute cases arising under article; jurisdiction of offenses
§ 22.1-269	Board to enforce
§ 22.1-269.1	Alternative attendance programs