# Virginia HB1171: Standard Diploma; Board of Education shall develop alternative graduation pathways to earn.

Virginia HB1171, Standard Diploma; Board of Education shall develop alternative graduation pathways to earn., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Sam Rasoul (Democratic); status passed house, last action 2026-03-05 (Senate subcommittee offered) (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1171-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB1171
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Standard Diploma; Board of Education shall develop alternative graduation pathways to earn.
- Status: passed house
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-14
- Last action: 2026-03-05, Senate subcommittee offered
- Sponsor: Sam Rasoul (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Public Education
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (130 yes, 14 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Board of Education; development of alternative graduation pathways to earn a Standard Diploma; report. Directs the Board of Education to develop alternative graduation pathways to earn a Standard Diploma that are designed to expand opportunities for students to complete the verified credit requirements for the Standard Diploma that do not require achieving a passing score on applicable Standards of Learning assessments. In developing such alternative graduation pathways, the bill directs the Board to (i) consult with and integrate the perspectives of a broad range of relevant stakeholders; (ii) consider alignment with the competencies articulated in the Profile of a Virginia Graduate; (iii) consider certain elements for incorporation into such alternative pathways, including nonassessment demonstrations of competence, alternative assessments that could be used in lieu of or alongside Standards of Learning assessments, and pathway structures or elements designed to encourage hands-on learning and civic engagement; (iv) ensure that any such alternative graduation pathways do not impact or replace the current requirements for earning a Standard Diploma or an Advanced Studies Diploma; (v) ensure at least one alternative pathway is developed that includes a nonassessment demonstration of competence; and (vi) consider next steps for approval and implementation of such alternative graduation pathways. Finally, the bill directs the Board to submit to the Governor and Chairs of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by January 1, 2027, a report detailing the Board's progress in developing alternative graduation pathways to earn a Standard Diploma, in accordance with the provisions of the bill.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Sam Rasoul (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-05 | Senate | Continued to 2027 in Education and Health | pass | 15 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 87 | 11 |   |
| 2026-01-28 | House | Reported from Education with amendment(s) | pass | 18 | 3 |   |
| 2026-01-27 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | 10 | 0 |   |

## Actions (21)

- 2026-03-05: Senate subcommittee offered (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Continued to 2027 in Education and Health (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Assigned Education sub: Public Education (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1171) (House)
- 2026-02-05: Referred to Committee on Education and Health (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-04: Read third time and passed House (87-Y 11-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-03: Engrossed by House - floor substitute (House)
- 2026-02-03: Delegate Rasoul Floor substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-03: committee amendments rejected (House)
- 2026-02-03: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-03: Floor Offered (House)
- 2026-02-03: Floor substitute printed 26107051D-H1 (Rasoul) (House)
- 2026-02-02: Passed by for the day (House)
- 2026-01-30: Read first time (House)
- 2026-01-28: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1171) (House)
- 2026-01-28: Reported from Education with amendment(s) (18-Y 3-N) (House)
- 2026-01-27: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (10-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-01-23: Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee (House)
- 2026-01-14: Referred to Committee on Education (House)
- 2026-01-14: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101631D (House)

## Bill text

- Amendment, 2026-03-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196256.HTML)
- Substitute, 2026-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108768.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108767.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-01-28: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1099028.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-01-27: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097404.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-14: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087611.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087610.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties. (signed)
- HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with rental agreement. (signed)
- HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for certain individuals. (signed)
- HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, termination by landlord. (signed)
- HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil penalty. (signed)

## Sources
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1196256.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108768.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108767.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1099028.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1097404.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087611.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1087610.PDF)

## Related
- [HB5: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB5-2026)
- [SB199: Employment; paid sick leave, civil penalties.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB199-2026)
- [HB95: Va. Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; landlord remedies, noncompliance with…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB95-2026)
- [HB1393: Electric utilities; pilot program for energy assistance and weatherization for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1393-2026)
- [HB834: Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; fire or casualty damage, terminat…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB834-2026)
- [HB675: Protection of employees; coercion or threat based on immigration status, civil…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB675-2026)
- [Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia/bills)
- [Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/virginia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1171-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).