Review & Revision of the 2023 History & Social Science Standards of Learning
News & Announcement
2023 History and Social Science Standards of Learning
On April 20, 2023, the Virginia Board of Education approved the 2023 History and Social Science Standards of Learning for Kindergarten - Grade 12. The standards incorporate content from earlier drafts and include new content to tell a more complete story about how the past has shaped the commonwealth, the nation and the world.
For more information about the standards by grade/course, refer to 2023 History and Social Science Standards of Learning.
Revision of the 2015 History and Social Science Standards of Learning
The Standards of Quality require the Board of Education to review the Standards of Learning in all subjects at least once every seven years. The Board previously revised the Standards of Learning for History and Social Science – first adopted in 1995 – in 2001, 2008, and 2015.
Previous Actions and Draft Standards
Public comment regarding the proposed 2023 History and Social Science Standards of Learning were offered to the Virginia Board of Education March 13 - 21, 2023.
- Public Hearing Comments for 2023 HSS SOL: Raw Data (Excel)
- Public Comment: Online Survey (Excel)
- Public Comment: BOE Mailbox (Excel)
On February 2, 2023, the Virginia Board of Education accepted the proposed 2023 History and Social Science Standards of Learning on first review. The proposed standards incorporate content from earlier drafts and include new content to tell a more complete story about how the past has shaped the commonwealth, the nation and the world (refer to Frequently Asked Questions).
Public comment regarding the proposed 2023 History and Social Science Standards of Learning may be offered through public hearings or the online public comment form through March 21, 2023. The proposed standards incorporate content from earlier drafts and include new content to tell a more complete story about how the past has shaped the commonwealth, the nation and the world (refer to Frequently Asked Questions).
- Proposed Revised 2023 History and Social Science Standards of Learning
- Strikethrough Document - 2015 - 2023 History and Social Science Standards of Learning - Document notates revisions to the 2015 History and Social Science Standards of Learning highlighting new content in blue font.
- Public Comment Form
- Public Hearings - Each public hearing will begin at 7:00 p.m. Registration of speakers will begin at 6:30 p.m. Speakers will have three minutes to speak and should bring copies of their comments for the Board of Education. The public hearings will be held at the following locations:
- Monday, March 13, 2023
Jamestown Settlement: Classrooms A, B & C
2110 Jamestown Rd, Williamsburg - Tuesday, March 14, 2023
George Washington’s Mount Vernon: Rubenstein Leadership Hall at the Library
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon - Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Piedmont Community College: Auditorium
501 College Drive, Charlottesville - Thursday, March 16, 2023
O. Winston Link & History Museum of Western Virginia: Auditorium
101 Shenandoah Ave NE, Roanoke - Monday, March 20, 2023
Southwest Higher Education Center: Rooms 103-104
1 Partnership Circle, Abingdon - Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Robert Russa Moton Museum: Auditorium
900 Griffin Blvd, Farmville
- Monday, March 13, 2023
On January 28, 2021, the Board of Education approved an initial timeline (Word) for the Virginia Department of Education to review and revise the 2015 History and Social Science Standards of Learning.
A draft standards document — including curriculum frameworks for each grade and course — was presented to the Board on August 17, 2022. The Board of Education delayed first review of the document to allow VDOE staff to correct errors and omissions, decouple the standards from the curriculum frameworks (reflecting the Board's historic standards-development process), and seek additional input from subject matter experts.
- August 17, 2022, Draft History and Social Science Standards of Learning (including curriculum frameworks for each grade and course) (PDF)
- August 17, 2022, Decoupled History and Social Science Standards of Learning (without curriculum frameworks) (PDF)
On November 17, 2022, revised draft standards and a guiding principles document were presented to the Board by the superintendent of public instruction. Following public comment and board discussion, the Board of Education asked the superintendent of public instruction to direct department staff to incorporate elements of the August draft into the November standards document and address errors and omissions.
- Proposed History and Social Science Standards Guiding Principles (PDF)
- Proposed History and Social Science Standards of Learning (PDF)
On February 2, 2023, the Virginia Board of Education accepted the proposed 2023 History and Social Science Standards of Learning on first review. The proposed standards incorporate content from earlier drafts and include new content to tell a more complete story about how the past has shaped the commonwealth, the nation and the world (refer to Frequently Asked Questions).
- Strikethrough Document - 2015 - 2023 History and Social Science Standards of Learning - Document notates revisions to the 2015 History and Social Science Standards of Learning highlighting new content in blue font.
Projected Timeline for Adoption of 2023 History and Social Science Standards of Learning
The following projected timeline is subject to change based on actions of the Board of Education.
- February 2023: First review of draft 2023 History and Social Science SOL by the Board of Education.
- February-March 2023: Public comment and public hearings on draft standards.
- April 2023: Adoption of 2023 History and Social Science Standards of Learning by Board of Education.