HB 199 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Standards of Learning assessments; through-year growth assessment system eliminated.

Summary

Board of Education; through-year growth assessment system eliminated. Eliminates the requirement that the Board of Education establish, in lieu of a one-time end-of-year assessment, a through-year growth assessment system, aligned with the Standards of Learning, for the administration of reading and mathematics assessments in grades three through eight. The bill removes from current law other provisions relating to the administration of such through-year growth assessments.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 7, 2026 Signed Apr 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Education and Health Substitute → Enrolled · 4 edits · Apr 13, 2026

MODERATE

This bill updates Virginia's education code to formally eliminate the through-year growth assessment system for reading and mathematics in grades 3-8, replacing it with a single end-of-year assessment structure. It clarifies that local alternative assessments can substitute for end-of-course tests to meet graduation requirements and streamlines the rules for administering assessments in grades 9-12. The changes also update section numbering and formatting to align with the final enrolled version of the act.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding assessment frequency was narrowed by removing the requirement for multiple mid-year and beginning-of-year tests in grades 3-8, shifting focus to end-of-year evaluations.

REQUIREMENT

Eliminated the mandatory through-year growth assessment system (beginning, mid, and end-of-year tests) for reading and mathematics in grades 3-8.

Updated assessment administration rules for grades 9-12 to explicitly state that local alternative assessments can satisfy graduation requirements in lieu of end-of-course tests.

TECHNICAL

Corrected section numbering and formatting inconsistencies (e.g., changing '3. 3.' to '3.') throughout the text to match the final enrolled version.

Updated internal cross-references to code sections to use the correct formatting (e.g., § 22.1-253.13:6 instead of § 22.1-253.13:6).

Introduced → Education and Health Substitute · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from an introduced version to a Senate substitute amendment, shifting its focus from allowing temporary alternative assessments to a permanent restructuring of Virginia's school accreditation and testing standards. The new version eliminates the temporary 'through-year growth assessment system' for grades 3-8, replacing it with a permanent requirement for end-of-year assessments while retaining a single through-year option for reading and math. It also introduces a comprehensive, multi-year accreditation process with specific review frequencies and corrective action plans for schools that fail to meet standards.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a temporary waiver of state testing requirements (2024-2028) to a permanent, detailed framework for school accreditation and assessment administration. The applicability now covers long-term accreditation cycles rather than a specific multi-year testing exemption.

TIMELINE

The temporary exemption for alternative assessments during the 2024-2028 school years was removed and replaced with permanent standards effective July 1, 2026.

REQUIREMENT

The 'through-year growth assessment system' (multiple tests per year) was eliminated for grades 3-8, except for a single through-year option for reading and math, replacing it with a requirement for end-of-course assessments.

A new multi-year accreditation process was established, requiring annual reviews for schools not fully accredited and triennial reviews for those that are, with specific rules for corrective action plans.

Assessment frequency was capped at one assessment per academic quarter or four per year to maximize instructional time, replacing the previous through-year system.

The Board must now include specific student outcome and growth measures, such as completion of mandatory local alternative assessments, in the accreditation standards.

ENFORCEMENT

New provisions require school boards to submit corrective action plans and memorandums of understanding with the Board of Education if schools fail to meet accreditation standards.

DEFINITION

Formal definitions were added for 'End-of-course Standards of Learning assessment', 'Local alternative assessment', 'Mandatory local alternative assessment', 'Performance assessment', and 'Permissive local alternative assessment'.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026 · House of Delegates Jan 27, 2026

How they voted

38–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 39

Mar 6, 2026

D Democratic20

20 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican19

18 Yea 1

94% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 13, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor-Chapter 914 (effective 7/1/2026)

executive

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB199ER)

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate with substitute Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate committee offered

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Education and Health with substitute (15-Y 0-N)

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate subcommittee offered

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Committee

Assigned Education sub: Public Education

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Education and Health

upper

Jan 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time and passed House (92-Y 6-N 0-A)

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Education (19-Y 2-N)

lower

Jan 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee recommends reporting (11-Y 0-N)

lower

Jan 19, 2026

Committee

Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee

lower

Jan 7, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Education

lower

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors