Virginia Democrats have proposed a bill to permanently embed and test “inclusive history,” including racial and LGBTQ+ topics, in children’s classrooms across the state.
The state House bill was introduced on Jan. 13 and would require all public elementary and secondary schools to adjust history and social science classes to include “the contributions, perspectives, and experiences of historically marginalized communities, including racial and ethnic minorities; immigrants and refugees; women; individuals with disabilities; individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+),” and others. The bill states this is necessary “in order to affirm such communities and promote a more holistic understanding of history” and “to ensure comprehensive, accurate, and inclusive education.”
If enacted, Virginia’s Board of Education must “adopt and enforce policies” requiring schools in the state to adopt textbooks and instructional materials that include “comprehensive, accurate, and affirming coverage of the histories and contributions of the communities” listed. The board must also consult with “subject matter experts who represent marginalized communities” regularly.
The state Department of Education also “shall develop, curate, or identify supplemental instructional resources that support the teaching of inclusive history,” including “materials for observances such as Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Disability History and Awareness Month, LGBTQ+ History Month, and other recognitions as determined by the Board.” It is suggested the department “partner with cultural institutions, historical societies, and community organizations to develop or curate these materials.”
State education standards would be updated as soon as March 1, 2027 “to explicitly include the political, economic, social, and cultural contributions of the communities described,” the bill states. The “inclusive history” resources created by the education department should be fully integrated “across curricula” and must not be isolated “to a single month or observance.”
Teachers will then be equipped with “culturally responsive strategies for teaching inclusive history and for addressing complex or difficult historical topics” as part of their required professional development credit, the bill says.
State assessments by the 2028–2029 school year must then include questions relating to the inclusive history lessons, including about the “contributions and experiences of the communities” listed.
Virginia Democrats immediately began flooding the legislature with bill proposals as soon as Democrat Gov. Abigail Spanberger was sworn in on Jan. 17. Some of their suggestions include reducing the severity of some robbery offenses and increasing parole eligibility, removing mandatory minimum sentences for rape and the production and distribution of child porn, and banning ballots from being counted by hand if they are readable by a machine.
The governor has also rescinded an order requiring state law enforcement to comply with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).`
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