KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Virginia

SB16 • 2026

Through-year growth assessment system; alternatives during 2024-2028 school years permitted.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to amend and reenact Chapter 122 of the Acts of Assembly of 2024, relating to the Board of Education; through year-growth assessment system; alternatives during 2024-2025 through 2027-2028 school years.</p>

Education Taxes
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Suetterlein
Last action
2026-02-12
Official status
Incorporated
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary and text do not provide details on specific alternative assessments that are allowed or prohibited.

Allowing Alternative Assessments in Schools

This bill allows school boards to use different tests instead of the regular through-year growth assessments during specific years from 2024-2025 to 2027-2028.

What This Bill Does

  • Extends the period when schools can choose alternative assessments beyond just one year.
  • Applies this rule for four school years, from 2024-2025 to 2027-2028.
  • Requires that any chosen alternative tests must match the Standards of Learning set by the state.

Who It Names or Affects

  • School boards
  • Students in Virginia schools

Terms To Know

Standards of Learning (SOL)
The educational standards set by the state that outline what students should learn and be tested on.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify which alternative assessments can or cannot be used.
  • Only applies to certain school years, after which schools must follow other rules.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-12 Education and Health

    Incorporated by Education and Health (SB200-VanValkenburg) (14-Y 0-N)

  2. 2026-01-29 Public Education

    Assigned Education sub: Public Education

  3. 2026-01-23 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB16)

  4. 2025-11-17 Senate

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100672D

  5. 2025-11-17 Education and Health

    Referred to Committee on Education and Health

Official Summary Text

Board of Education; through-year growth assessment system; alternatives during 2024-2028 school years permitted.
Extends from the 2025-2026 school year to the 2027-2028 school year the period during which, pursuant to applicable law, the Board of Education is required to permit school boards to administer assessments as alternatives to the through-year growth assessment system established by the Board of Education. Under current law, the Board of Education is required to permit school boards to administer such assessments during the 2024-2025 through 2025-2026 school years.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
A BILL to amend and reenact Chapter 122 of the Acts of Assembly of 2024, relating to the Board of Education; through year-growth assessment system; alternatives during 2024-2025 through 2027-2028 school years.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That Chapter 122 of the Acts of Assembly of 2024 is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 1. Notwithstanding subsection C of §
22.1-253.13:3
of the Code of Virginia, the Board of Education shall permit school boards to administer, during the
2024–2026

2024–2025 through 202
7
–202
8
school years, assessments as alternatives to the through-year growth assessment system established by the Board of Education pursuant to such provision of law, provided that any such alternative assessment is aligned to the Standards of Learning.