Chap. 182.—An ACT to amend and re-enact Sections 611 and 647, as heretofore
amended, of the Code of Virginia, relating to minimum school terms, and certain
other matters relating to public schools. [H B 324]

Approved March 12, 1940

1. Beit enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That sec-
tions six hundred and eleven and six hundred and forty-seven, as
heretofore amended, of the Code of Virginia, be amended and re-
enacted so as to read as follows:

Section 611. Establishment and management of public school
system; minimum term.—An efficient system of public schools of a
minimum school term of one hundred and eighty school days, shall be
established and maintained in all of the cities and counties of the
State; exceptions to such required minimum term may be permitted
in accordance with the provisions of section six hundred and forty-
seven. The public school system shall be administered by the follow-
ing authorities, to-wit: the State Board of Education, the Superinten-
dent of Public Instruction, division superintendents of schools and
county and city school boards.

Section 647. When State funds to be paid for public schools in
counties.—No State money shall be paid for the public schools in any
county until evidence is filed with the State Board of Education,
signed by the superintendent of schools and the clerk of the board,
certifying that the schools of said county have been kept in operation
for at least nine months, or a less period satisfactory to the State
Board of Education, or that arrangements have been made which
will secure the keeping of them in operation for that length of time;
provided the school board of any county may, by and with the consent
of the State Board of Education, provide for and maintain a standard
seven and one-half months term, with six school days per week, in-
stead of a term of nine months of five days per week, in one or more
schools; provided, however, that no county shall be denied participa-
tion in State school funds, as provided by law, when the board of said
county has appropriated a fund equivalent to that which would have
been produced by the levying of the maximum local school tax allowed
by law, or has levied the maximum local school tax allowed by law,
provided, such appropriation or levy is based on assessments not lower
than the assessments on real and personal property in such counties
in the year nineteen hundred and twenty-five.