2026 SESSION
HOUSE SUBSTITUTE
26107695D
HOUSE BILL NO. 686
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the House Committee on Education
on February 11, 2026)
(Patron Prior to Substitute—Delegate Zehr)
A BILL to require the Department of Education to develop and make available to each school board guidance on best practices relating to open school enrollment policies.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. § 1. The Department of Education (the Department ) shall develop and make available to each school board guidance on best practices relating to open school enrollment policies as permitted pursuant to § 22.1-7.1 of the Code of Virginia . Such guidance shall address such considerations and best practices as the Department deems appropriate, which may include applications, waitlists, capacity, tuition, transportation, student demand, equity, and nondiscrimination.