Virginia Senate Bill 147

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Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: Introduced on January 7 2026 - 25% progression, died in chamber
Action: 2026-02-10 - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB147)
Text: Latest bill text (Comm Sub) [HTML]

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.

Alternative graduation pathways to earn Standard Diploma; development, approval, and implementation,

Sen. Stella Pekarsky [D]

2026-02-10 - Senate - Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) (Y: 15 N: 0 NV: 0 Abs: 0) [PASS]
2026-02-05 - Senate - Reported from Education and Health with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N 1-A) (Y: 14 N: 0 NV: 1 Abs: 0) [PASS]

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

Type	Source
Summary	https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB147
Text	https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB147/text/SB147
Text	https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB147/text/SB147SC1
Text	https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB147/text/SB147SC2
Text	https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/SB147/text/SB147S1
Supplement	https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1099038.PDF
Supplement	https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1138653.PDF
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/vote-details/SB147/20261/S4V1152
Roll Call	https://lis.virginia.gov/vote-details/SB147/20261/S5V1338