Kelly Convirs-Fowler House Bill 189 on Standards of Learning Grade Weight Continued in Senate

Sep 9, 2026, 3:00 PM ET

RICHMOND, Va. – A bill seeking to eliminate the requirement that Standards of Learning test scores count toward at least 10 percent of final course grades for students in grades seven through 12 faced a significant setback in the Virginia Senate this week. House Bill 189, introduced by Delegate Kelly Convirs-Fowler, passed the House of Delegates with strong support but was unanimously continued to 2027 by the Senate Education and Health Committee, effectively shelving it for the current session.

The legislation targets a provision set to take effect on July 1, 2026, which mandates that scores from Standards of Learning assessments or approved local alternatives must factor into at least 10 percent of a student’s final grade in relevant courses. Proponents of maintaining this rule argue it ensures accountability, reinforces the importance of mastering core academic standards, and provides a consistent measure of student proficiency across school divisions. By tying test performance directly to grades, the measure incentivizes rigorous preparation and upholds merit-based evaluation in classrooms.

HB189 advanced through the House Education Committee on February 9, where it was reported with amendments by an 18-3 vote. The narrow opposition in committee highlighted early reservations about diminishing the role of standardized assessments in grading. The full House then read the bill three times, incorporating the committee’s amendments before passing it 86-10 on February 13. The decisive majority reflected broad agreement in the lower chamber, yet the 10 dissenting votes underscored persistent worries that repealing the 10 percent threshold could lead to softer standards and less emphasis on objective achievement metrics.

Fiscal impact statements from the Department of Planning and Budget, issued on January 7, January 27, and February 13, accompanied the bill’s progression, evaluating potential costs associated with changes to assessment and grading practices. These reports provided lawmakers with data on implementation implications, though specifics on budgetary effects remain part of ongoing deliberations.

Upon transmission to the Senate on February 16, HB189 was referred to the Education and Health Committee and assigned to the Public Education subcommittee on February 26. On March 5, the full committee voted 15-0 to continue the bill to the 2027 session, a procedural move that prevents further action this year. This unanimous decision signals strong committee consensus on preserving the upcoming mandate, prioritizing sustained focus on student outcomes measured through standardized testing.

The Standards of Learning framework has long served as Virginia’s benchmark for educational quality, guiding curriculum and accreditation since their establishment. The 10 percent grading requirement, enacted in the previous legislative session, aimed to align classroom instruction more closely with these statewide standards, ensuring that high-stakes assessments influence daily academic performance. Removing this link, as proposed in HB189, raises questions about how schools will maintain rigor without such structured incentives. Supporters of the status quo emphasize that SOL tests offer reliable, comparable data for parents, educators, and policymakers to gauge progress and identify areas needing improvement.

In the House, amendments adopted during committee review refined the bill’s language, including a reenactment clause to coordinate with related accreditation standards under § 22.1-253.13:3 of the Code of Virginia. These changes addressed procedural aspects but did not alter the core repeal provision. The bill’s path through the House—prefiled on January 7, first reading on February 11, and engrossment on February 12—demonstrated efficient handling amid a packed agenda.

As the 2026 General Assembly nears its conclusion, the fate of HB189 exemplifies tensions in education policy between flexibility in local grading and statewide accountability measures. The Senate’s action preserves the 10 percent rule for at least another year, allowing time for further evaluation of its impact once implemented. Educators and school leaders continue to prepare for the new grading dynamics, while the debate over balancing standardized testing with teacher discretion persists.

This development comes amid broader reviews of Virginia’s accreditation standards, which incorporate student growth measures, instructional guidelines, and corrective action plans for underperforming schools. Maintaining the SOL weight aligns with efforts to promote transparency and objective metrics in public education, ensuring that course grades reflect genuine mastery of essential skills in subjects like English, mathematics, science, and history.

With the bill now deferred, attention shifts to implementation of the original provision and potential future adjustments based on real-world outcomes. Virginia’s commitment to high educational standards remains a cornerstone of legislative priorities, as evidenced by the committee’s deliberate pause.

Email the Richmond City Council:
Andrew Breton, andrew.breton@rva.gov,
Katherine Jordan, katherine.jordan@rva.gov,
Kenya Gibson, kenya.gibson@rva.gov,
Sarah Abubaker, sarah.abubaker@rva.gov,
Stephanie Lynch, stephanie.lynch@rva.gov,
Ellen Robertson, ellen.robertson@rva.gov,
Cynthia Newbille, cynthia.newbille@rva.gov,
Reva Trammell, reva.trammell@rva.gov,
Nicole Jones, nicole.jones@rva.gov,

Email the Richmond School Board:
Matthew Percival, mpercival@rvaschools.net,
Kathryn Ricard, kricard@rvaschools.net,
Ali Faruk, afaruk@rvaschools.net,
Wesley Hedgepeth, whedgepeth@rvaschools.net,
Stephanie Rizzi, srizzi@rvaschools.net,
Anne Holton, aholton@rvaschools.net,
Cheryl Burke, cburke2@rvaschools.net,
Emmett Jafari, ejafari@rvaschools.net,
Shavonda Fernandez, sdixon@rvaschools.net,

Richmond Virginia House of Delegates Virginia Senate Aaron Rouse Abigail Spanberger Adam Ebbin Adele McClure Alex Askew Alfonso Lopez Ali Faruk Amendments Amy Laufer Andrew Breton Angelia Williams Graves Anne Holton Anne Tata Atoosa Reaser Barbara Favola Barry Knight Betsy Carr Bill DeSteph Bill Wiley Bonita Anthony Briana Sewell Bryce Reeves Buddy Fowler Budget Charlie Schmidt Charniele Herring Cheryl Burke Chris Runion Christie Craig Christopher Head Cia Price Cliff Hayes Creigh Deeds Cynthia Newbille Dan Helmer Danica Roem Danny Diggs Data David Marsden David Reid David Suetterlein Debate Debra Gardner Delores McQuinn Delores Oates Destiny LeVere Bolling Don Scott Education Elizabeth Bennett-Parker Elizabeth Guzmán Ellen McLaughlin Ellen Robertson Emily Jordan Emmett Jafari Eric Phillips Eric Zehr Garrett McGuire Glen Sturtevant Gretchen Bulova Health High School Hillary Kent Holly Seibold House of Delegates Irene Shin Israel O'Quinn Jackie Glass Jas Jeet Singh Jason Ballard Jay Leftwich Jeion Ward Jennifer Boysko Jennifer Carroll Foy Jeremy McPike Jessica Anderson John McAuliff Joseph McNamara Josh Thomas Joshua Cole Justin Pence Kacey Carnegie Kannan Srinivasan Karen Hamilton Karen Keys-Gamarra Karrie Delaney Katherine Jordan Kathryn Ricard Kathy Tran Katrina Callsen Keith Hodges Kelly Convirs-Fowler Kenya Gibson Kimberly Pope Adams Lamont Bagby Lashrecse Aird Laura Cohen Lawmakers Lee Ware Legislation Leslie Mehta Lily Franklin Lindsey Dougherty Louise Lucas Luke Torian Luther Cifers Madison Whittle Mamie Locke Marcus Simon Margaret Franklin Mark Downey Mark Obenshain Mark Peake Marty Martinez Matthew Percival May Nivar Michael Feggans Michael Jones Michael Webert Michelle Maldonado Mike Cherry Mitchell Cornett Nadarius Clark Nicole Cole Nicole Jones Otto Wachsmann Parents Patrick Hope Paul Krizek Phil Hernandez Phillip Scott Policy Rae Cousins Reva Trammell Richard Stuart Richmond Richmond City Council Richmond School Board Rip Sullivan Robert Bloxom Rodney Willett Rozia Henson Russet Perry Ryan McDougle Saddam Salim Sam Rasoul Sarah Abubaker School Schools Schuyler VanValkenburg Scott Surovell Scott Wyatt Senate Shavonda Fernandez Shelly Simonds Stacey Carroll Stella Pekarsky Stephanie Lynch Stephanie Rizzi Tammy Mulchi Tara Durant Terry Austin Terry Kilgore Tim Griffin Timmy French Todd Pillion Tom Garrett Tommy Wright Tony Wilt Travis Hackworth Virgil Thornton Virginia Virginia House of Delegates Virginia Senate Vivian Watts Wendell Walker Wesley Hedgepeth Will Davis Will Morefield William Stanley Wren Williams