High school graduation requirements; history and social studies credits

LegiScan Virginia

Published March 30th, 2026

Detected March 30th, 2026

Summary

Virginia Senate Bill 427 modifies high school graduation requirements to permit students to substitute African American History or AP African American Studies courses for World History I or World Geography courses. The Board of Education must update regulations to implement these substitutions and waive verified credit requirements for substituted courses.

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What changed

Virginia SB427 requires the Board of Education to allow students to substitute African American History or AP African American Studies for World History I or World Geography to satisfy history and social studies credit requirements for graduation. The bill passed the Senate 23-17 and House 62-35 and was enrolled on March 30, 2026.

School divisions must ensure African American History or AP African American Studies courses are available to students who wish to make this substitution. The Board of Education must amend its regulations to permit these substitutions and remove the verified credit requirement for substituted courses.

What to do next

Review current graduation requirements and identify students who may benefit from the African American History substitution option
Update course catalogs and academic counseling materials to reflect the new substitution options
Ensure African American History or AP African American Studies courses are offered if not already available

Source document (simplified)

VA SB427 | 2026 | Regular Regular Session

Virginia Senate Bill 427

VA State Legislature page for SB427
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Status

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: Enrolled on March 30 2026 - 75% progression
Action: 2026-03-30 - Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB427ER)
Text: Latest bill text (Enrolled) [HTML]

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 enrollment in such African American History course or Advanced Placement African American Studies course is available to the student. The bill directs the Board to amend its regulations as necessary to (i) permit any student to substitute the African American History course or the World Geography course for the purpose of satisfying the history and social studies credit requirements in accordance with the provisions of the bill and (ii) ensure that any student electing to make such a substitution is not required to earn a verified credit for the World History I course or World Geography course in order to graduate.
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Title

High school graduation requirements; history and social studies credits.

Roll Calls

2026-03-10 - Senate - House substitute agreed to by Senate (23-Y 17-N 0-A) (Y: 23 N: 17 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-03-09 - House - Passed House with substitute (62-Y 35-N 0-A) (Y: 62 N: 35 NV: 0 Abs: 2) [PASS]
2026-03-04 - House - Reported from Education with substitute (14-Y 7-N) (Y: 14 N: 7 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-02-03 - Senate - Read third time and passed Senate (23-Y 16-N 0-A) (Y: 23 N: 16 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]
2026-01-30 - Senate - Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (38-Y 0-N 0-A) (Y: 38 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 2) [PASS]
2026-01-29 - Senate - Reported from Education and Health with amendment (12-Y 2-N) (Y: 12 N: 2 NV: 0 Abs: 1) [PASS]

History

| Date | Chamber | Action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-30 | Senate | Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB427ER) |
| 2026-03-30 | Senate | Enrolled |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | House substitute agreed to by Senate (23-Y 17-N 0-A) |
| 2026-03-09 | House | Passed House with substitute (62-Y 35-N 0-A) |
| 2026-03-09 | House | Engrossed by House - committee substitute |
| 2026-03-09 | House | committee substitute agreed to |
| 2026-03-09 | House | Read third time |
| 2026-03-06 | House | Read second time |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB427) |
| 2026-03-04 | House | Committee substitute printed 26108310D-H1 |
| 2026-03-04 | House | Reported from Education with substitute (14-Y 7-N) |
| 2026-03-04 | House | House committee offered |
| 2026-02-09 | House | Referred to Committee on Education |
| 2026-02-09 | House | Read first time |
| 2026-02-09 | House | Placed on Calendar |
| 2026-02-04 | Senate | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB427) |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate (23-Y 16-N 0-A) |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote) |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Education and Health Amendment agreed to |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Read second time |
| 2026-01-30 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) |
| 2026-01-30 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (38-Y 0-N 0-A) |
| 2026-01-30 | Senate | Rules suspended |
| 2026-01-29 | Senate | Reported from Education and Health with amendment (12-Y 2-N) |
| 2026-01-29 | Senate | Senate committee offered |
| 2026-01-27 | Senate | Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB427) |
| 2026-01-22 | Senate | Assigned Education sub: Public Education |
| 2026-01-13 | Senate | Referred to Committee on Education and Health |
| 2026-01-13 | Senate | Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100585D |

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