# Virginia HB595: Graduation with an advanced studies diploma; requirements, complet. of Int'l Baccalaureate diploma.

Virginia HB595, Graduation with an advanced studies diploma; requirements, complet. of Int'l Baccalaureate diploma., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Shelly A. Simonds (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-06 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0182)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB595-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia HB595
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Graduation with an advanced studies diploma; requirements, complet. of Int'l Baccalaureate diploma.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-06, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0182)
- Sponsor: Shelly A. Simonds (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 9 (287 yes, 29 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 13

## Summary

Board of Education; high school graduation; simultaneous completion of International Baccalaureate diploma and advanced studies diploma. Requires the Board of Education to permit any student who (i) during or after grade 10, transferred into a public high school in the Commonwealth and (ii) is simultaneously pursuing an advanced studies diploma and an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma to complete certain courses or sequences of courses required for an IB diploma, as approved by the Board, including substitutes for the Virginia and U.S. history and government courses and for the economics and personal finance credit requirement. The bill also directs the Board to grant a waiver from the training in emergency first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of automated external defibrillators required for graduation to any student who (a) pursuant to his individualized education program or Section 504 Plan cannot successfully complete the training or (b) after grade 10, transfers from a school or other education program that does not require or give credit for such training. This bill incorporates HB 132 and is identical to SB 63.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Stronger diploma paths for students with disabilities: benefit, high. The law creates two clear routes for students with disabilities to graduate. Schools must provide reasonable IEP-based accommodations and can use alternative courses, extra tests, lower cut scores, work-based learning, and locally verified credits. If IEP accommodations let a student earn the requi…
- Adult pathway to a state diploma: benefit, medium. The Board of Education sets rules for a general achievement adult high school diploma. Adults not under compulsory attendance can earn it by passing a Board-approved equivalency exam, finishing a Board-designated education or training program, or earning a Board-approved career and technical creden…
- IB students count for advanced studies diploma: benefit, medium. If you finish the requirements to be eligible for an IB diploma, you are treated as having met all course and credit rules for an advanced studies diploma. You may still need to complete statewide items required of all students, like CPR training or certain history courses, unless a waiver or appro…
- More flexible ways to earn high school credit: benefit, medium. Integrated courses that meet Standards of Learning can count toward required credits, and electives with integrated SOLs count if the student passes the test. Qualified students can earn credit by mastery without the 140 seat‑time hours, and local divisions can waive the 140‑hour rule with Board‑ap…
- Parents get clear updates on graduation status and rights: benefit, medium. Schools must tell parents of rising 11th and 12th graders the current graduation rules and what the student still needs to finish. If a student does not graduate and is under age 20 on August 1 of the school year, the school must notify parents about the student’s right to a free public education.…
- Schools must award diplomas and accept virtual courses: benefit, medium. Local boards must award a diploma to any student who meets state and Board‑approved local rules, including students who transfer from public, private, or home schools. Schools must place transfer students in the right grade using accreditation standards and recognize Virtual Virginia coursework tow…
- Graduation data uses new exclusion formula: benefit, medium. The Board now uses a graduation and dropout formula that leaves out students who did not graduate because they were in custody. School accreditation uses this adjusted rate. The Board can write rules for collecting and reporting the required data.
- International Baccalaureate transfers can meet Virginia requirements: benefit, low. If you transfer to a Virginia public high school after grade 10 and are pursuing both an Advanced Studies and an International Baccalaureate diploma, you can use IB courses to meet key Virginia credits. These IB courses can replace Virginia and U.S. history, Virginia and U.S. government, and econom…
- More test help and credits for English learners: benefit, low. The state lists testing accommodations for English learners and requires schools to tell each student about them before exams. An English learner who already earned a sufficient AP, IB, or SAT II foreign‑language score may use a computer coding course to replace a foreign‑language course for gradua…
- New diploma seals for skills and languages: benefit, low. The Board of Education sets rules for seals on diplomas. Seals can honor strong work in career and technical education, STEM, civics, and biliteracy. Criteria can include coursework, certifications, service, and proficiency. Students who meet the rules get the seal on their diploma.
- New graduate profile and career pathways in high school: benefit, low. The State Board sets a Profile of a Virginia Graduate that focuses on critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, and citizenship. Early high school emphasizes core skills. Later years must offer several college and career pathways, including internships, externships, and credentia…
- New graduation requirements for all students: benefit, low. Students must take at least one arts or career and technical education course, a U.S. and Virginia history course or approved alternative, and two related electives in a concentration. Students must also complete an AP, honors, IB, or dual-enrollment course, or a high-quality work-based learning ex…
- Waivers and posthumous diplomas for special cases: benefit, low. The Board can waive certain graduation rules for good cause. It can do so on its own, at a local board’s request, or at a parent’s request when a senior died in good standing before graduation. Decisions are made case by case.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Shelly A. Simonds (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-25 | House | Senate substitute agreed to by House | pass | 93 | 2 |   |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Passed Senate with substitute | pass | 21 | 17 |   |
| 2026-02-23 | Senate | Education and Health Substitute agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-20 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) | pass | 40 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-20 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-19 | Senate | Reported from Education and Health with substitute | pass | 9 | 6 |   |
| 2026-02-10 | House | Read third time and passed House | pass | 94 | 3 |   |
| 2026-02-04 | House | Reported from Education with substitute | pass | 20 | 1 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | House | Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) | pass | 10 | 0 |   |

## Actions (38)

- 2026-04-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0182) (Governor)
- 2026-04-06: Approved by Governor-Chapter 182 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-10: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026 (House)
- 2026-03-02: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB595) (House)
- 2026-03-02: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB595ER) (House)
- 2026-03-02: Enrolled (House)
- 2026-03-02: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-02-25: Senate substitute agreed to by House (93-Y 2-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-23: Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 17-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Education and Health Substitute agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB595) (House)
- 2026-02-23: Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: Read third time (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-02-19: Committee substitute printed 26108239D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-19: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-19: Reported from Education and Health with substitute (9-Y 6-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Referred to Committee on Education and Health (Senate)
- 2026-02-11: Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading) (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Read third time and passed House (94-Y 3-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-02-09: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-02-09: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-02-09: Read second time (House)
- 2026-02-06: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-04: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB595) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Committee substitute printed 26107064D-H1 (House)
- 2026-02-04: Reported from Education with substitute (20-Y 1-N) (House)
- 2026-02-04: Incorporates HB132 (Simon) (House)
- 2026-02-03: House subcommittee offered (House)
- 2026-02-03: Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (10-Y 0-N) (House)
- 2026-02-02: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB595) (House)
- 2026-01-30: Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee (House)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Education (House)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104718D (House)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216709.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216708.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181490.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181489.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-19: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169992.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1170666.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169991.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1170665.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116356.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116355.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-02-03: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108273.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108809.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085093.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085092.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
- [Chaptered (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216709.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1216708.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181490.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1181489.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169992.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1170666.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1169991.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1170665.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116356.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1116355.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108273.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1108809.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085093.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1085092.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-HB595-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).