# Virginia HB428: High school graduation requirements; alternative pathway to standard diploma established, report.

Virginia HB428, High school graduation requirements; alternative pathway to standard diploma established, report., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Destiny LeVere Bolling (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2026-02-04 (Continued to 2027 in Education (Voice Vote)) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB428-2026
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB428
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: High school graduation requirements; alternative pathway to standard diploma established, report.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-12
- Last action: 2026-02-04, Continued to 2027 in Education (Voice Vote)
- Sponsor: Destiny LeVere Bolling (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: K-12 Subcommittee
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (0 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

High school graduation requirements; alternative pathway to standard diploma established; report. Requires the Board of Education to (i) establish pursuant to regulation an alternative pathway to the standard diploma for any student with a disability whose individualized education program indicates that the student demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve the standard diploma but requires significant instructional, course sequencing, or assessment accommodations or modifications in order to do so and (ii) take all steps necessary to ensure that such pathway and the Applied Studies diploma are, to the maximum extent practicable, treated as a standard diploma for the purpose of eligibility for enrollment at an institution of higher education in the Commonwealth, eligibility for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and federal financial aid programs, consideration for military service enlistment opportunities, and consideration for state employment opportunities that require a standard diploma. The bill requires the Department of Education to report annually to the Governor and the General Assembly on the implementation of such alternative pathway to the standard diploma, including the number of students utilizing such alternative pathway and the postsecondary outcomes of such students.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Destiny LeVere Bolling (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Continued to 2027 in Education (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | House | Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |

## Actions (6)

- 2026-02-04: Continued to 2027 in Education (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-02-03: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2027 (Voice Vote) (House)
- 2026-02-03: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB428) (House)
- 2026-02-02: Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee (House)
- 2026-01-12: Referred to Committee on Education (House)
- 2026-01-12: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102744D (House)

## Bill text

- Introduced, 2026-01-12: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084401.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084400.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
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084401.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1084400.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)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB428-2026 (as of 2026-10-11).