Title 17 — Education
38 chapters · 393 sections in this title.
17 V.I.C. § 76 Drunk Driving Education Program
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The Commissioner of Education is authorized and directed to establish an education program in the schools to educate children on the danger of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. The program should be developed to reach all grade levels and to involve parents in the…
17 V.I.C. § 77 Automobile Driver Education and Training Fund
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(a) There is hereby created in the Treasury of the Virgin Islands a separate and distinct fund to be designated as the Automobile Driver Education and Training Fund (hereinafter referred to in this section as the “Fund”). The Commissioner of Finance is authorized and directed to …
17 V.I.C. § 101 Rules and regulations covering free transportation generally
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The Commissioner of Education, with the approval of the Governor, shall prescribe rules and regulations covering the free transportation of school children within and without the urban areas of the Virgin Islands.
17 V.I.C. § 102 Manner of applying for free transportation; means of compensating, etc
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The manner of applying for free transportation, the means of compensating the carrier, and the distances for which free transportation shall be furnished shall be according to rules and regulations prescribed by the Commissioner of Education.
17 V.I.C. § 103 School bus operators shall be qualified
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After September 1, 1980, no person shall operate any motor vehicle to transport children to or from school, school athletic events, or any other school activity, for which transportation is provided pursuant to an agreement with the Department of Education, unless such person sha…
17 V.I.C. § 104 Student transportation discount card
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(a) All students of the Virgin Islands enrolled full-time in public, private or parochial schools, and full-time students of the University of the Virgin Islands shall be eligible for a public transportation discount card, regardless of age. (b) The Department of Public Works, th…
17 V.I.C. § 81 Admission and transfer of pupils
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The Commissioner of Education shall regulate the admission of pupils and their transfer from one class, department, or school to another.
17 V.I.C. § 82 Compulsory school attendance; age of pupils; exceptions
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(a) All children shall commence their school education by attending an approved kindergarten from the beginning of the school year in the calendar year in which they reach their fifth birthday, and they shall continue to attend school regularly until the expiration of the school …
17 V.I.C. § 83 Hours of daily attendance
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The required attendance in regular classes in public schools shall not exceed six hours per school day.
17 V.I.C. § 84 Home instruction
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Children may be taught at home under rules and regulations prescribed by the Board of Education when written permission has been granted by the Commissioner of Education for such children to remain out of school for this purpose, but such children may be examined by the Commissio…
17 V.I.C. § 85 Attendance at private, parochial and denominational schools
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All children attending regularly and punctually parochial, denominational or private schools, shall be exempt from attendance in public schools provided they are enrolled in and pursue the course of study in the appropriate grade of such school.
17 V.I.C. § 86 Parental responsibility; excuse for absence
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(a) Parents and guardians shall be held responsible for the regular and punctual attendance of children at school in clean and decent apparel. (b) As used in this title, a person in parental relation to a minor shall include his father or mother, by birth or adoption, his legally…
17 V.I.C. § 86a Parents and students school participation
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(a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, parents, foster parents or legal guardians who are full-time employees of the Government of the Virgin Island, the instrumentalities, and autonomous and semi-autonomous agencies of the Government of the Virgin Islands, full-time employ…
17 V.I.C. § 87 Punishment of pupils by school authorities [Repealed]
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17 V.I.C. § 87 Statutes current through Act 9046 of the 2025 session of the 36th Legislature, including all code changes through October 25, 2025 Virgin Islands Code AnnotatedCopyright © 2026 All rights reserved.
17 V.I.C. § 88 Penalties affecting parents and employers
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(a) In case any parent, guardian, or other person in parental relation shall fail to comply with any provisions of this title he shall be deemed guilty of violation thereof and on conviction may be punished by a fine of not more than $100. (b) Any person who employs a child of co…
17 V.I.C. § 89 Apprehension of, and manner of dealing with, truant
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(a) Any child of compulsory school age, who is found anywhere other than on the school’s premises in which the child is enrolled, during school hours, without an acceptable excuse having been furnished by a parent or guardian to the appropriate school official, or who is not enro…
17 V.I.C. § 90 Dismissal or transfer of pupils
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(1) Pupils may be dismissed from school or transferred by the Commissioner of Education in the following instances—(1) change of residence of pupils to a place outside of the legislative district;(2) when a parent or guardian requests dismissal because the child is beyond compuls…
17 V.I.C. § 91 Expulsion of pupils; appeal
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(a) The Commissioner of Education may authorize or order the expulsion from public school of any pupil guilty of gross misconduct or, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Virgin Islands Board of Education. Any parent aggrieved by such expulsion may appeal to the Board…
17 V.I.C. § 92 Notice for registration of children reaching school age
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Once a year the Commissioner of Education shall give public notice to parents or guardians of children who will be of school age during the year to enter the names of such children on the school lists.
17 V.I.C. § 93 Information on pupils available to Police Department
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Parents, guardians, and managers of landed properties shall give to the Commissioner of Education, on demand, all school information in their possession regarding children under their control.
17 V.I.C. § 94 Census of school children
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In the month of May, of each year, the Commissioner of Education shall make a list of all the children residing in each legislative district who are between the ages of five and fifteen years with the data as required for school purposes and school registers.
17 V.I.C. § 95 Appointment of attendance officers
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The Governor may appoint persons to act as attendance officers. The persons appointed shall have the power to compel attendance in accordance with the provisions of sections 82 and 89 of this title.
17 V.I.C. § 96 School information furnished to Department of Education
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The principal or other person or persons in charge of every public, private, denominational, parochial, or any other school at the opening of such school or schools each year and at such other time or times as the Commissioner of Education directs, shall furnish to the Department…
17 V.I.C. § 97 Furnishing birth certificates
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The Commissioner of Health shall furnish without charge to the Commissioner of Education, upon request, the birth certificate of any child of compulsory school age born in the Virgin Islands.
17 V.I.C. § 98 Confidentiality of student records
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(a) The Commissioner of Education shall insure, through the promulgation and enforcement of appropriate rules and regulations, family educational and privacy rights as required by the Federal General Education Provisions (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1221 et seq.) and any amendments thereto, o…
17 V.I.C. § 111 Establishment of school health program, medical and dental tests
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(a) (1) The Commissioner of Education, with the collaboration of the Commissioner of Health as hereinafter provided, shall establish, maintain and administer a school health program in the Virgin Islands. Such program shall include; health services, health education and instructi…
17 V.I.C. § 112 Student health records
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A comprehensive health record shall be maintained for each school child, which shall include the results of the tests, measurements, examinations and treatments provided for herein. These records shall be considered confidential.
17 V.I.C. § 113 Medical questionnaires
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Medical questionnaires, suitable for diagnostic purposes, furnished by the Commissioner of Health, and completed by the child's parent or guardian, at such times as the Commissioner of Education may direct, shall become a part of the child's health record.
17 V.I.C. § 114 Reports furnished by parents or guardians
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In lieu of the medical or dental tests, measurements, examinations or treatments provided for in subsection (b) of section 111 of this chapter, the parent or guardian of any school child may furnish the Department of Education with a report of the same made at his own expense by …
17 V.I.C. § 115 Reports and recommendations to parents or guardians
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The principal or other authorized official of a school shall report to a child's parent or guardian any unusual behavior, changes in physical appearance, changes in attendance habits and changes in scholastic achievement which may indicate an impairment of a child's health. Recom…
17 V.I.C. § 116 Rules and regulations
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The Commissioner of Education, jointly with the Commissioner of Health, shall issue such rules and regulations, consistent with the provisions of this chapter, as they shall deem necessary or appropriate for the purpose of effectuating and implementing the same, provided, however…
17 V.I.C. § 121 Qualifications, certificates, and appointments
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(a) [Repealed.] (b) The Board shall prescribe rules and regulations and establish criteria for the certification, selection, and appointment of teachers, supervisors, principals, librarians and other professionals of the Department of Education. Certificates licensing the holders…
17 V.I.C. § 122 Endorsement of teachers' certificates from other jurisdictions
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The Virgin Islands Board of Education, upon recommendation of the Commissioner of Education may endorse state, territorial or foreign teacher certification, and the names of the persons holding such certificates so endorsed, may be placed on the eligible list by the Administrator…
17 V.I.C. § 123 Temporary certificates and emergency appointments
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Temporary certificates licensing the holders to teach in the public schools of the Virgin Islands may be issued by the Virgin Islands Board of Education to all persons provisionally appointed for such purpose under section 523 of Title 3 subject to the requirements for tenure pro…
17 V.I.C. § 124 Right to appointment
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The holding of a license does not entitle the holder to an appointment.
17 V.I.C. § 125 Appointments as probational
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All teachers and other professional personnel of the Department of Education appointed as provided in this chapter shall be subject to the provisions of section 527 of Title 3 relating to probational appointments, except that no such employee shall be removed from his or her posi…
17 V.I.C. § 126 Licenses to teach in schools other than public schools
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(a) Licenses to teach shall be required of all persons teaching in schools other than public schools, and may be obtained from the Virgin Islands Board of Education under rules and regulations prepared by the Board. (b) The action of the Board in granting or refusing any such lic…
17 V.I.C. § 127 Dismissal or demotion of professional employees
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The dismissal or demotion of professional employees of the Department of Education shall be governed by the provisions of sections 530–532 of Title 3: provided, that no recommendation of the Commissioner of Education for dismissal of such an employee may be considered unless the …
17 V.I.C. § 128 Leaves of absence
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(a) Leaves of absence for employees in the Department of Education in excess of 30 days may be recommended by the Commissioner of Education and the Virgin Islands Board of Education, and granted by the Governor, provided that no such leave shall affect tenure. (b) Leaves of absen…
17 V.I.C. § 129 Annual rating of professional personnel
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In the month of April of each year, after conference with their respective principals and supervisors as to their proficiency according to standards and procedures approved by the Virgin Islands Board of Education, teachers, and other professional personnel, who have been employe…
17 V.I.C. § 130 Corporal punishment prohibited; exclusions; immunity; determination reasonable force; regulations
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(a) As used in this section:(1) “Corporal punishment” means the intentional infliction of physical pain upon the body of a pupil as a disciplinary measure; and(2) “Reasonable force” means that force and no more which a reasonable person, in like circumstances, would judge to be n…
17 V.I.C. § 131 Hiring of new department employees
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(a) No person hired by the Department of Education as a teacher paraprofessional, other educator or support staff shall commence employment with the Department of Education without first receiving an executed and valid Notice of Personnel Action (NOPA) from the Division of Person…
17 V.I.C. § 132 Masters Degree Incentive Program
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(a) Any teacher certified under the provisions of this chapter and who is employed in the Virgin Islands public school system for at least five (5) years shall be provided for two consecutive summer terms free tuition for attendance at the University of the Virgin Islands for the…
17 V.I.C. § 133 School monitors
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The Department of Education shall provide training for employees who have been hired as monitors, before they begin working at a school and shall provide professional development training for all monitors employed by the Department.
17 V.I.C. § 134 Hiring of school coaches
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The principal of each school shall select coaches for interscholastic sports activities who meet the requirements established by The Department of Education. The Department of Education shall provide for compensation of coaches, including stipends for non-AFT members.
17 V.I.C. § 135 Grief and stress counseling
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The Department of Education shall cause all public school counselors to be trained in grief and stress counseling.
17 V.I.C. § 136 Behavioral health training
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Every school-based professional, including teachers and administrators, shall complete a course in mitigating behavioral issues and misconduct in the classroom, at no cost to the school-based professional, provided by the Commissioner of Health, Division of Behavioral Health Serv…
17 V.I.C. § 140 Special nutrition programs
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(a) In recognition of the demonstrated correlation between good nutrition and the capacity of children to develop and learn, and to more effectively meet the institutional needs of the children of the Virgin Islands, the Commissioner of Education is hereby authorized and directed…
17 V.I.C. § 141 Program standards
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(a) In addition to all requirements of applicable federal law, each school food authority shall administer special nutrition programs that:(1) meet minimum nutritional standards established by the Commissioner of Education;(2) include in the regular dietary program, when feasible…
17 V.I.C. § 142 Vending machine sales
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(a) Each school may, with the approval of the Board of Education, sell to students beverages in vending machines during the school day so long as:(1) Soft drinks are not sold—(A) during the breakfast and lunch periods;(B) at elementary schools; or(C) contrary to the requirements …