Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Virginia SB724: An Act to amend and reenact § 22.1-253.13:4 of the Code of Virginia, relating to high school graduation requirements and diploma pathways; implementation.
Status: Chaptered, April 13, 2026
High school graduation requirements; application. Provides that, in the event that the Board of Education establishes or modifies any graduation requirements or diploma pathways, the Board shall only apply such new or modified graduation requirements or diploma pathways to students who enter ninth grade at the beginning of or after the first school year of implementation of such new or modified graduation requirements or diploma pathways. The bill is applicable beginning with students who enter the ninth grade on or after the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year. This bill is identical to HB 1283.
What the bill says
An Act to amend and reenact § 22.1-253.13:4 of the Code of Virginia, relating to high school graduation requirements and diploma pathways; implementation. [S 724] Approved April 13, 2026 1. That § 22.1-253.13:4 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows: § 22.1-253.13:4. Standard 4. Student achievement and graduation requirements. A. Each local school board shall award diplomas to all secondary school students, including students who transfer from nonpublic schools or from home instruction, who meet the requirements prescribed by the Board and meet such other requirements as m.
From the enrolled text, April 13, 2026:
An Act to amend and reenact § 22.1-253.13:4 of the Code of Virginia, relating to high school graduation requirements and diploma pathways; implementation. [S 724] Approved April 13, 2026 1. That § 22.1-253.13:4 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows: § 22.1-253.13:4. Standard 4. Student achievement and graduation requirements. A. Each local school board shall award diplomas to all secondary school students, including students who transfer from nonpublic schools or from home instruction, who meet the requirements prescribed by the Board and meet such other requirements as may be prescribed by the local school board and approved by the Board. Provisions shall be made to facilitate the transfer and appropriate grade placement of students from other public secondary schools, from nonpublic schools, or from home instruction as outlined in the standards for accreditation. The standards for accreditation shall include provisions relating to the completion of graduation requirements through Virtual Virginia. Further, reasonable accommodation to meet the requirements for diplomas shall be provided for otherwise qualified students with disabilities as needed. In addition, each local school board may devise, vis-a-vis the award of diplomas to secondary school students, a mechanism for calculating class rankings that takes into consideration whether the student has taken a required class more than one time and has had any prior earned grade …