# Virginia SB147: Alternative graduation pathways to earn Standard Diploma; development, approval, and implementation,

Virginia SB147, Alternative graduation pathways to earn Standard Diploma; development, approval, and implementation,, is a 2027 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2026-07-21 (Continued from last session) (as of 2026-10-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB147-2027
- As of: 2026-10-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB147
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2027 Regular Session
- Title: Alternative graduation pathways to earn Standard Diploma; development, approval, and implementation,
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-07
- Last action: 2026-07-21, Continued from last session
- Sponsor: Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Finance and Appropriations
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Board of Education; development, approval, and implementation of alternative graduation pathways to earn a Standard Diploma; report. Directs the Board of Education to develop, approve, and implement 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, approving, and implementing 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 the Virginia Graduation; (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 approved that includes a nonassessment demonstration of competence; and (vi) consider potential timelines for 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, approving, and implementing 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: Stella G. Pekarsky (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (12)

- 2026-07-21: Continued from last session (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB147) (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: Continued to 2027 in Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: Committee substitute printed 26107264D-S1 (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Reported from Education and Health with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N 1-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Senate subcommittee offered (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB147) (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Assigned Education sub: Public Education (Senate)
- 2026-01-07: Referred to Committee on Education and Health (Senate)
- 2026-01-07: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100671D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Substitute, 2026-02-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1229047.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1229046.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-02-05: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1231303.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1231302.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1229596.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1229595.PDF)
- Introduced, 2026-01-07: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1230606.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1230605.PDF)

## Related bills

- SB844: Licensed clinical psychologists; prescriptive authority; report. (in committee)
- HB1535: Individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities; admissibility of statements. (introduced)
- HB1534: School service providers; deletion of student and family personal information. (introduced)
- SB843: Data centers; state permitting, local approval, moratorium, sunset. (in committee)
- SB842: High school student athletes; eligibility, enrollment. (in committee)
- SB840: Corrections, Director of the Department of; placement of inmates, Red Onion State Prison. (in committee)

## Sources
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1229047.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1229046.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1231303.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1231302.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1229596.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1229595.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1230606.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1230605.PDF)

## Related
- [SB844: Licensed clinical psychologists; prescriptive authority; report.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB844-2027)
- [HB1535: Individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities; admissibility of s…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1535-2027)
- [HB1534: School service providers; deletion of student and family personal information.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-HB1534-2027)
- [SB843: Data centers; state permitting, local approval, moratorium, sunset.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB843-2027)
- [SB842: High school student athletes; eligibility, enrollment.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB842-2027)
- [SB840: Corrections, Director of the Department of; placement of inmates, Red Onion Sta…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB840-2027)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB147-2027 (as of 2026-10-11).