Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-79.1:1 as follows:

§22.1-79.1:1. Opening of the school day; public high schools.

A. Each local school board, or combination of local school boards in the case of joint or regional schools and regional alternative education programs, shall set the daily school calendar so that programs of instruction in each public high school in the respective division or divisions, including any public charter school, joint or regional school, regional alternative education program, or college partnership laboratory school, shall start no earlier than 8:00 a.m. The provisions of this section shall not apply to programs of instruction delivered in regional detention homes, certain local detention homes, and state agencies and institutions pursuant to §22.1-209.2; the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind pursuant to Chapter 19 (§ 22.1-346 et seq.); and the schools of the juvenile correctional centers pursuant to § 66-13.1.

B. For the purposes of this section, programs of instruction include:

1. Firearm safety education programs provided pursuant to §22.1-204.1;

2. Driver education programs provided pursuant to §22.1-205;

3. Instruction concerning drugs, alcohol, and substance abuse provided pursuant to §22.1-206;

4. Family life education provided pursuant to §22.1-207.1;

5. Elective instruction in American Sign Language provided pursuant to §22.1-207.5;

6. Character education provided pursuant to §22.1-208.01;

7. Employment counseling and placement services provided pursuant to §22.1-209;

8. Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Programs provided pursuant to § 22.1-209.1:3;

9. The Virtual Virginia Program provided pursuant to §22.1-212.2;

10. Virtual school programs provided pursuant to Article 1.4 (§22.1-212.23 et seq.) of Chapter 13;

11. Special education programs as set forth in Article 2 (§22.1-213 et seq.) of Chapter 13; and

12. All instructional programs supporting the Standards of Learning and other educational objectives as set forth in § 22.1-253.13:1.

2. That the provisions of this act shall become effective on July 1, 2016.