High school graduation requirements; history and social studies credits.
Summary
High school graduation requirements; history and social studies credits; certain substitutions permitted. Requires the Board of Education, in establishing high school graduation requirements, to permit any student to substitute the African American History course or the Advanced Placement African American Studies course for the World History I course or the World Geography course for the purpose of satisfying the history and social studies credit requirements, provided that (i) such a course is available to the student and (ii) the student is required to complete and receive a passing score on an applicable local alternative assessment or an equivalent Board-approved assessment, in order to satisfy history and social studies credit requirements for graduation. The bill directs the Board of Education to amend its regulations in accordance with the provisions of the bill and to ensure that no student who makes such a substitution is required to earn a verified credit for the World History I or World Geography course in order to graduate. This bill is identical to SB 427.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 7, 2026
Signed Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
K-12 Subcommittee Subcommittee Substitute
→
Education and Health Substitute
·
3 edits
MINOR
This bill amends high school graduation requirements in Virginia, specifically regarding how students can substitute courses for history and social studies credits. The most significant change adds a new requirement that students substituting African American History or AP African American Studies for World History/Geography must now pass a specific local or Board-approved assessment, whereas previously they were exempt from earning a verified credit in those specific courses. The bill also clarifies regulations to ensure this substitution path remains available while enforcing the new assessment rule.
Scope change
The scope of applicability remains high school students in Virginia, but the eligibility criteria for a specific course substitution have been tightened by adding a mandatory assessment requirement.
REQUIREMENT
Added a requirement for students substituting African American History or AP African American Studies for World History/Geography to pass an applicable local alternative assessment or an equivalent Board-approved assessment.
Clarified that students using the African American History substitution are not required to earn a verified credit in World History I or World Geography to graduate, provided they meet the new assessment requirement.
DEFINITION
Updated the legislative text to include specific conditions (availability of enrollment and passing an assessment) for the course substitution option.
Floor votes · Senate Feb 20, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 3, 2026
How they voted
39–0
Passed
Total votes 39
Feb 20, 2026
D
Democratic20
100% Yea
R
Republican19
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
35
Key actions
11
Committee
7
Apr 13, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 789 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 2, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB182ER)
lower
Feb 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate with substitute (22-Y 16-N 0-A)
upper
Feb 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Education and Health with substitute (9-Y 6-N)
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate committee offered
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Education and Health
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (63-Y 34-N 0-A)
lower
Jan 28, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Education with substitute (14-Y 7-N)
lower
Jan 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
House subcommittee offered
lower
Jan 23, 2026
Committee
Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee
lower
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Education
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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