Virginia to hold public input sessions on new history standards in October

Department of Education offices in Richmond, Va. Parker Michels-Boyce for The Virginia Mercury

The Virginia Board of Education plans to finalize new history and social science standards in January after Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration raised concerns about a number of errors and content issues in a draft.

At Wednesday’s work session, education officials also proposed to begin holding public input sessions on the standards in October, with board-run public hearings to follow in December.

Before the delay, the public input process and final approval were expected in September and November 17, respectively.

“We want the best standards, and so your continued contemplation, Virginia’s continued engagement as contributors and as voices in this is very important,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow, who called the review “tough water to navigate.”

Last month, Balow recommended against the board moving the draft standards forward for review, instead urging members to allow the proposal to undergo further development by Virginians and national experts before its acceptance.

The standards outline Virginia’s expectations for student learning in K-12 history and social science education and are assessed through the Standards of Learning tests. Virginia code requires the board to review the standards every seven years to update content and reflect current academic research.

Education officials also proposed splitting up course information after raising concerns that the standards were difficult to read.

The process of reviewing the history and social science standards began nearly two years ago and included repeated meetings by the Board of Education and a committee of experts, as well as public input from over 5,000 commenters.

Board members spoke at length Wednesday about the changes since the standards were first revised and the scope of the work.

“We need to have some faith that staff will do an adequate and appropriate first draft, bring it back to the board, and at that point if y’all want to pick it apart and talk about every line, we will spend the time to do that,” said President Daniel Gecker.

Officials said last month that the standards could go into effect as early as 2024.

by Nathaniel Cline, Virginia Mercury

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