The AHA encourages testimony before the Virginia Board of Education (VBOE) about the state’s social studies standards process. “In October, the AHA sent a letter to the Virginia Board of Education (VBOE) (and to each of its members individually) commending the draft standards that the VBOE considered at its August meeting and offering our assistance with the process....Unfortunately, the VBOE seems prepared to possibly choose a set of draft Standards of Learning that have been substantially altered in ways that are fundamentally at odds with the AHA's criteria and the best practices of history and social studies education. A new version of revised standards, dated November 11, would create substantial gaps in the knowledge, historical thinking skills, and habits of mind taught to Virginia students. The likely result: serious shortcomings in student understanding of American history in particular and historical thinking in general. This is not the way to create a thoughtful and informed citizenry.”

Dear Colleague,

As you might be aware, Virginia is currently undertaking a revision of the state’s social studies standards. In October, the AHA sent a letter to the Virginia Board of Education (VBOE) (and to each of its members individually) commending the draft standards that the VBOE considered at its August meeting and offering our assistance with the process.

The AHA strongly urged the board to proceed with adoption of those standards, which aligned well with the AHA’s Criteria for Standards in History/Social Studies/Social Sciences. The Virginia standards process in 2021–22 drew upon extensive contributions and rounds of revision from an impressive range of educators, parents, students, and subject matter experts. Those draft standards would offer Virginia students a strong foundation in historical study, making them competitive job candidates and enhancing their future career prospects, in addition to providing the skills necessary to thoughtful civic participation.

Unfortunately, the VBOE seems prepared to possibly choose a set of draft Standards of Learning that have been substantially altered in ways that are fundamentally at odds with the AHA’s criteria and the best practices of history and social studies education. A new version of revised standards, dated November 11, would create substantial gaps in the knowledge, historical thinking skills, and habits of mind taught to Virginia students. The likely result: serious shortcomings in student understanding of American history in particular and historical thinking in general. This is not the way to create a thoughtful and informed citizenry.

The AHA cautioned the VBOE, “If you throw out the draft standards [considered in August], or substantially revise them, you risk doing significant harm to students in your state.” This initial, carefully prepared document is good work. The state should be proud of it.

If you are available and interested in participating, we urge you to consider registering to testify before the Virginia Board of Education’s public meeting on November 17, at a future hearing, or at forthcoming Community Engagement Roundtable Sessions. VBOE meetings are held in the Board Room on the 22nd Floor of the James Monroe Building, 101 North 14th Street, Richmond, VA 23219. The Department of Education (VDOE)’s website shares the following information about the November 17 meeting:

The Board of Education will hold its monthly business meeting, beginning at 9 a.m. Public comment will be accepted. Requests to address the Board during the public comment portion of the meeting should be submitted to Megan Perez at megan.perez@doe.virginia.gov in advance of the meeting, but may be submitted the day of the meeting, at the discretion of the President. In honoring such requests, the Board will limit such comments to three minutes for each speaker at the discretion of the President.

The VBOE will hold Community Engagement Roundtable Sessions from November 28 to December 16 to gather feedback on the draft standards. Dates and locations are not available at this time, but will be published when available on the VDOE website here.

Moving forward with the standards proposed in August will show historians, teachers, parents, and students that their input is valued; to reject these standards now would be a sign of broken faith with these communities.

Drawing on the AHA’s stature as the largest organization of professional historians in the world and the expertise of our members, the AHA’s Freedom to Learn initiative offers resources to historians and others on how to advocate publicly for honest history education, responds directly to legislation and related efforts, and creates resources to help teachers directly affected by these bills think about how to maintain the professional integrity of their history classrooms.

The AHA, its members, and other historians find ourselves on the front lines of a conflict over understandings of America’s past, confronting radical activists who are promoting ignorance in the name of unity. Please visit our site for the most up-to-date information about AHA efforts to combat these bills and for resources and expressions of support for history educators. We hope that you will distribute widely our short videos on Teaching with Integrity: Historians Speak and you’ll consider participating in the VBOE’s history-related activities.

Sincerely,

James Grossman
Executive Director