In the wake of Democrats reclaiming control over the Virginia legislature and the governor’s office, a wave of progressive legislation has taken center stage to kick off the new legislative session. Among these, a notable proposal aims to legally embed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles within educational settings.
Introduced by Delegate Sam Rasoul of Roanoke on January 13, just a day before the session officially commenced, House Bill 614 is titled “History and Social Science Standards and Instruction; Historically Marginalized Communities.” This proposed legislation is designed to ensure that education for students in elementary and secondary schools is not only comprehensive and accurate but also inclusive.
The bill outlines a framework where instructional materials and standards in history and social science courses must incorporate the “contributions, perspectives, and experiences of historically marginalized communities.” As noted in the bill’s summary, these communities encompass racial and ethnic minorities, immigrants and refugees, women, individuals with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and people from diverse socioeconomic and religious backgrounds. Additionally, it includes any other groups that the Board of Education deems relevant, all with the aim of affirming these communities and fostering a more complete understanding of history.
While HB 614 lacks detailed specifics on the curriculum content, it mandates that by March 1, 2027—coinciding with the state’s scheduled review and revision of its “Standards for Learning”—new instructional materials and curriculum guidelines must be implemented. These materials should explicitly highlight the political, economic, social, and cultural contributions of the aforementioned communities.
Those communities, according to the summary, include racial and ethnic minorities, immigrants and refugees, women, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people, people from various socioeconomic backgrounds, individuals from various religious backgrounds and an open-ended, “any other group of individuals that the Board of Education deems appropriate, in order to affirm such communities and promote a more holistic understanding of history.”
The bill itself is short on specifics of what will be taught, but says that by March 1, 2027, which is the state’s scheduled review of and revision of its “Standards for Learning,” the new instructional materials and curriculum guidelines must be in place to “explicitly include the political, economic, social, and cultural contributions of the communities described.”
LGBTQ community members seen holding flags and placards during a rally at the capitol building in Hartford, Conn. on Aug. 8, 2025. LGBTQ members and supporters rallied at the capitol building to protest the administration’s policies citing a lack of healthcare, recognition and rights for their community. The protesters said these policies are affecting millions of LGBTQ+ individuals across the country. (Roy De La Cruz/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
It does note that teachers must be equipped with materials to observe 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.
“The Department of Historic Resources shall coordinate consultation with subject matter experts from institutions of higher education and community organizations representing these communities,” the bill’s text says.
The same department is tasked with disseminating the new curriculum guidance to schools “to ensure integration of inclusive history across curricula and to avoid isolating such content to a single month or observance.”
Because the attacks against transgender kids are increasing across the country, Minnesotans hold a rally at the capitol on March 6, 2022, to support trans kids in Minnesota, Texas and around the country. (Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Rasoul did not return a request for comment.
