Sub Standard History Standards

IN August of 2022, the Board of Education reviewed new History Standards for Virginia education. Rather than vote to adopt the standards, Superintendent Balow, a Youngkin appointee, suggested postponing the vote until November so that some minor revisions could be made. In November, The Younngkin Administration rewrite was presented.

• Where the original standard was over 400 pages long, the new proposal was 53 pages.

• Where the original standard addressed Virginia History from many viewpoints and gave a well rounded view of events, these standards were focused on the European American perspective, leaving out entire ethnicities and the contributions of many minority figures

• Where the original standard was the result of years of research and review by Historians, Educators, Museums, Parents, and Universities, the new standard was written in a couple of weeks by a partisan Lobbyist.

On November 18th, 2022, The Board of Education met to vote on the new standards. They were confronted with a wide array of public speakers in opposition to the new Youngkin SubStandard Standards. For Four hours, people from all over Virginia explained, emoted, and even pleadded with the board that these Standards could not be approved.

In the end, the Board Rejected the Youngkin proposal and asked that it be combines with the August Proposal to form a new compromise.