Virginia History SOL Review Campaign

The Virginia Coalition for Human Rights (VCHR) has provided support and testimony for the History and Social Sciences Standards of Learning (SOLs) that relate to World History and to Virginia and U.S. History.

On January 27, 2023, VCHR sent a letter with proposed edits to the January 2023 draft of the SOLs to the Virginia Board of Education (letter to VBOE of January 27, 2023).

VCHR Testimonies on History SOLs

February 2, 2023 - Virginia Board of Education, Richmond

On February 2, 2023, two members of VCHR presented testimony in Richmond on the proposed History SOLs before the Virginia Board of Education.

Testimony of Dr. Aouicha Hilliard

02/02/2023 - Text of Dr. Hilliard's testimony

Testimony of Dr. Aouicha Hilliard before the Virginia Board of Education - February 2, 2023

Testimony of Robin Allman

02/02/2023 - Text of Robin Allman's testimony

Testimony of Robin Allman before the Virginia Board of Education - February 2, 2023

Campaign to improve teaching of World History and Virginia and U.S. History

On August 24, 2019, Executive Order Thirty Nine was signed by Governor Ralph Northam. This Executive Order establishes the Commission on African American History Education in the Commonwealth (AAHEC). The Governor has charged the group with reviewing Virginia’s history standards and the instructional practices, content, and resources currently used to teach African American history in the Commonwealth. In addition, the Commission is to examine and make recommendations on the professional development supports needed to equip all teachers for culturally competent instruction.

In an effort to ensure that textbooks in the Commonwealth are accurate and unbiased in all areas, including that of African American History, VCHR has provided testimony to AAHEC as follows: