# Virginia SB427: High school graduation requirements; history and social studies credits.

Virginia SB427, High school graduation requirements; history and social studies credits., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Lamont Bagby (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-06 (Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0346)); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-12).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB427-2026
- As of: 2026-10-12
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Virginia SB427
- State: Virginia
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: High school graduation requirements; history and social studies credits.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-13
- Last action: 2026-04-06, Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0346)
- Sponsor: Lamont Bagby (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 8 (172 yes, 77 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 9

## 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 (i) such a course is available to the student and (ii) the student is required to complete and receive a passing score on an applicable local alternative assessment or an equivalent Board-approved assessment, in order to satisfy history and social studies credit requirements for graduation. The bill directs the Board of Education to amend its regulations in accordance with the provisions of the bill and to ensure that no student who makes such a substitution is required to earn a verified credit for the World History I or World Geography course in order to graduate. This bill is identical to HB 182.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- More diploma paths for disabled students: benefit, medium. The law creates clear ways for students with disabilities to earn a standard diploma through IEP credit accommodations. Schools must have a process to award locally verified credits and IEP teams must review these options. Students who finish their IEP but not a named diploma can earn an Applied St…
- Adult path to a high school diploma: benefit, low. The Board sets rules for an adult high school diploma for people not required to attend school. You can qualify by passing a Board‑approved high school equivalency exam, finishing a Board‑designated education and training program, or earning a Board‑approved CTE credential, plus any other Board rul…
- African American history counts for credit: benefit, low. Students can take African American History or AP African American Studies instead of World History I or World Geography, if the course is offered. They must pass a local alternative test or a Board‑approved equivalent. If they make this swap, they do not need a verified credit in World History I or…
- Diploma seals for extra achievement: benefit, low. The Board sets rules for diploma seals that honor strong work in CTE, STEM, civic education, and biliteracy. Students who meet the criteria and earn a Board‑approved diploma can add these seals to their transcript.
- Local rules for class rankings: benefit, low. Local school boards can set how class rank is calculated. They may adjust rankings when a student retakes a required course and the old grade was expunged. This can help ranking reflect current performance.
- Parent notices and backup graduation options: benefit, low. Schools must tell parents of rising 11th and 12th graders the state’s rules and which credits the student still needs. If a student finishes a local program but not a state diploma, the school must award a certificate of program completion. If a student under 20 does not graduate, the school must n…
- Updated high school graduation paths and rules: mixed, medium. The Board sets a Profile of a Virginia Graduate and allows multiple paths, like internships and industry credentials. Students must take at least one arts or CTE course, one U.S. and Virginia history, and two sequential electives in a concentration. Students must also finish one of three options: a…
- Graduation rate rules for accreditation: mixed, medium. The Board publishes statewide graduation and dropout rates using its formula. It also publishes rates that exclude students who failed to graduate because they were in custody. The exclusionary rate is used for school accreditation.
- Computer science can replace language credits: mixed, low. English learners with a qualifying AP/IB foreign language or SAT II score can swap computer science for world language credit. Students seeking an advanced diploma may swap two computer science credits for two world language credits if their IEP allows it. Counselors must tell families this swap ma…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Lamont Bagby (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-10 | Senate | House substitute agreed to by Senate | pass | 23 | 17 |   |
| 2026-03-09 | House | Passed House with substitute | pass | 62 | 35 |   |
| 2026-03-04 | House | Reported from Education with substitute | pass | 14 | 7 |   |
| 2026-02-03 | Senate | Read third time and passed Senate | pass | 23 | 16 |   |
| 2026-02-02 | Senate | Education and Health Amendment agreed to | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | Senate | Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) | pass | 38 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-30 | Senate | Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) | pass | 0 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-29 | Senate | Reported from Education and Health with amendment | pass | 12 | 2 |   |

## Actions (36)

- 2026-04-06: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0346) (Governor)
- 2026-04-06: Approved by Governor-Chapter 346 (effective 7/1/2026) (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB427) (Senate)
- 2026-03-31: Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026 (Governor)
- 2026-03-31: Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 31, 2026 (Senate)
- 2026-03-31: Signed by Speaker (House)
- 2026-03-30: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB427ER) (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-30: Signed by President (Senate)
- 2026-03-10: House substitute agreed to by Senate (23-Y 17-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-03-09: Passed House with substitute (62-Y 35-N 0-A) (House)
- 2026-03-09: Engrossed by House - committee substitute (House)
- 2026-03-09: committee substitute agreed to (House)
- 2026-03-09: Read third time (House)
- 2026-03-06: Read second time (House)
- 2026-03-05: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB427) (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: Committee substitute printed 26108310D-H1 (House)
- 2026-03-04: Reported from Education with substitute (14-Y 7-N) (House)
- 2026-03-04: House committee offered (House)
- 2026-02-09: Referred to Committee on Education (House)
- 2026-02-09: Read first time (House)
- 2026-02-09: Placed on Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-04: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB427) (Senate)
- 2026-02-03: Read third time and passed Senate (23-Y 16-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Education and Health Amendment agreed to (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: Read second time (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote) (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (38-Y 0-N 0-A) (Senate)
- 2026-01-30: Rules suspended (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Senate committee offered (Senate)
- 2026-01-29: Reported from Education and Health with amendment (12-Y 2-N) (Senate)
- 2026-01-27: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB427) (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Assigned Education sub: Public Education (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Referred to Committee on Education and Health (Senate)
- 2026-01-13: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100585D (Senate)

## Bill text

- Chaptered, 2026-04-06: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217447.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217446.PDF)
- Enrolled, 2026-03-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209958.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209957.PDF)
- Substitute, 2026-03-04: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1192060.HTML), [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191968.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191967.PDF), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1192059.PDF)
- Engrossed, 2026-02-02: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105634.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105633.PDF)
- Amendment, 2026-01-30: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104979.HTML)
- Amendment, 2026-01-29: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100684.HTML)
- Introduced, 2026-01-13: [HTML](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090240.HTML), [PDF](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090239.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/1217447.HTML)
- [Chaptered (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1217446.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209958.HTML)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1209957.PDF)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1192060.HTML)
- [Substitute (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191968.HTML)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1191967.PDF)
- [Substitute (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1192059.PDF)
- [Engrossed (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105634.HTML)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1105633.PDF)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1104979.HTML)
- [Amendment (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1100684.HTML)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090240.HTML)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1090239.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)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/VA-SB427-2026 (as of 2026-10-12).