The Virginia Board of Education has decided to pause the process of remaking the state’s history and social science learning standards, which determine what students are expected to know after completing class.

This will be the first revision of SOL since 2015.

The 400-plus-page document was scheduled for a “first review” vote, but Gillian Barrow, Virginia’s state education superintendent, who was appointed to the post by Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin, requested that this stage be delayed by a month. prompted the body

“It really comes down to two things: the first is the time and the second is the fix, to make sure this document is ready for prime time,” says Balow.

Balow’s call came at the first meeting involving the five-person new board of directors, also appointed to the organization by Youngkin. She also said it would give staff more time to address amendments, such as the absence of George Washington as “father of the nation” and James Madison as “father of the constitution.”

The omission, first reported by the WJLA, was an “inadvertent” error, according to the board.

Board chairman Daniel Gecker, who was appointed to the school board by former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, joked about news reports about the omission.

“Suddenly, Virginia is reluctant to recognize Washington and Madison, so it’s like the media picked it up. Of course it’s ridiculous,” Gecker said.

Other Board members said additional time could be used to address amendments.

Crazy as you may think, I’ve had a lot of calls over the last few days about the issue of George Washington and James Madison. But as an organization and as a federation, these are also the things that can throw this whole process off track if you’re not careful.

Some revisions to the proposed criteria include greater emphasis on local history and Virginia’s role in the American Revolutionary War. It also includes a reference change to use “Indigenous Peoples of North America” ​​instead of “Native American”.

The decision was postponed for a month, and the Board returned in September for a ‘first review’ vote. That vote would pave the way for a public hearing on the proposed amendment.

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