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SB341 • 2026

Private elementary and secondary schools; policies relating to bullying and cyberbullying, etc.

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-279.6:1, relating to private elementary and secondary schools; student codes of conduct; policies relating to bullying and cyberbullying prevention and parental notification; requirements.

Children Education Technology
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Boysko
Last action
2026-04-06
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify details about protecting students from fear when reporting bullying or ensuring they receive support without fear of retaliation, though it mentions policies designed to reduce bias and harassment in the enforcement of student conduct codes.

Charlie's Law: Bullying Prevention for Private Schools

This law requires private schools to have rules against bullying and cyberbullying, including training staff and informing parents about incidents.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires private school leaders to create policies that stop bullying and cyberbullying.
  • Includes a rule that says no one can bully others in the school or online between students of the same school.
  • Schools must tell parents within 24 hours if their child is involved in a confirmed case of bullying.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Private elementary and secondary schools in Virginia
  • Students attending these private schools
  • Parents of students at these private schools

Terms To Know

cyberbullying
Bullying that happens online or through technology.
hazing
Forcing someone to do something dangerous, embarrassing, or painful as a way of joining a group.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not apply to public schools.
  • It is unclear how the enforcement and compliance will be monitored in private schools.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 237 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 237 (effective 7/1/2026)

  3. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0237)

  4. 2026-03-31 Senate

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  5. 2026-03-31 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  6. 2026-03-31 House

    Signed by Speaker

  7. 2026-03-31 Senate

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026

  8. 2026-03-31 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  9. 2026-03-31 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB341)

  10. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Signed by President

  11. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Enrolled

  12. 2026-03-30 Senate

    Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB341ER)

  13. 2026-03-10 Senate

    House substitute agreed to by Senate (23-Y 17-N 0-A)

  14. 2026-03-09 House

    Read third time

  15. 2026-03-09 House

    committee substitute agreed to

  16. 2026-03-09 House

    Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  17. 2026-03-09 House

    Passed House with substitute (66-Y 30-N 0-A)

  18. 2026-03-06 House

    Read second time

  19. 2026-03-05 Education

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB341)

  20. 2026-03-04 Education

    Reported from Education with substitute (14-Y 7-N)

  21. 2026-03-04 Education

    Committee substitute printed 26108738D-H1

  22. 2026-03-03 K-12 Subcommittee

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (7-Y 3-N)

  23. 2026-03-03 K-12 Subcommittee

    House subcommittee offered

  24. 2026-02-26 K-12 Subcommittee

    Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee

  25. 2026-02-06 House

    Placed on Calendar

  26. 2026-02-06 Education

    Referred to Committee on Education

  27. 2026-02-06 House

    Read first time

  28. 2026-02-03 Senate

    Read third time and passed Senate (34-Y 5-N 0-A)

  29. 2026-02-02 Senate

    Read second time

  30. 2026-02-02 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)

  31. 2026-01-30 Senate

    Rules suspended

  32. 2026-01-30 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  33. 2026-01-30 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (38-Y 0-N 0-A)

  34. 2026-01-30 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  35. 2026-01-29 Education and Health

    Reported from Education and Health (14-Y 0-N 1-A)

  36. 2026-01-22 Public Education

    Assigned Education sub: Public Education

  37. 2026-01-19 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB341)

  38. 2026-01-13 Senate

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100250D

  39. 2026-01-13 Education and Health

    Referred to Committee on Education and Health

Official Summary Text

Charlie's Law to Protect All Students; private elementary and secondary schools; student codes of conduct, policies, and procedures relating to bullying and cyberbullying prevention.
Requires each principal, headmaster, or other chief administrator of each private elementary or secondary school in the Commonwealth to include in such school's codes of student conduct policies and procedures (i) for addressing and handling instances of bullying and cyberbullying and (ii) that include a prohibition against bullying and a requirement to notify the parent of any student involved in a confirmed incident of bullying within 24 hours of confirming the incident of bullying. This bill is identical to HB 894.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered
22.1-279.6:1
, relating to private elementary and secondary schools; student codes of conduct; policies relating to bullying and cyberbullying prevention and parental notification; requirements.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered
22.1-279.6:1
as follows:
§
22.1-279.6:1
. Private elementary and secondary schools; codes of student conduct; bullying prevention and intervention; requirements.
A. Each principal, headmaster, or other chief administrator of each private elementary or secondary school in the Commonwealth shall include in such school's policies for codes of student conduct procedures for addressing and handling instances of bullying and cyberbullying. Such policies and procedures shall (i) be consistent with applicable state, federal, and case law; (ii) include policies and procedures relating to ensuring school personnel are trained in or informed of the appropriate management of student conduct and student offenses that violate school policies; and (iii) include policies designed to reduce bias and harassment in the enforcement of any code of student conduct. Such policies may be developed in accordance with the guidelines and model policies established by the Board pursuant to subsection A of §
22.1-279.6
.
B. Each principal, headmaster, or other chief administrator of each private elementary or secondary school in the Commonwealth shall include in such school's code of student conduct policies and procedures that include a prohibition against bullying. Such policies and procedures shall, at a minimum, (i) require notification to the parent of any student involved in a confirmed incident of bullying within 24 hours of confirming the incident of bullying; (ii) include prohibitions against and procedures for addressing instances of cyberbullying that occur between students enrolled in such school; (iii) provide protections designed to ensure that any student who is a victim of or a witness to bullying or cyberbullying is not deterred from reporting or seeking support by fear of retaliation; and (iv) include prohibitions against hazing, as that term is defined in §
18.2-56
. Nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude a private elementary or secondary school in the Commonwealth from adopting policies and procedures that are more comprehensive than the policies and procedures required pursuant to this section.