| Issue |
Status/Date |
Level |
Summary |
 Curriculum--Health/Nutrition Education |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12 |
Requires that all public secondary schools and approved and recognized independent secondary schools provide instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator. Requires the state commissioner of education to electronically survey superintendents and principals about the grades where instruction occurs, in which courses it is included and the time spent on such instruction, and then to report findings to the legislature.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/Acts/ACT151.pdf
Title: S.B. 245
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Finance--District |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12 |
Provides fiscal incentives for supervisory unions that decide to merge and for regional districts and district mergers.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/Acts/ACT156.pdf
Title: S.B. 113 - Mergers Section
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Finance--Funding Formulas |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12 |
Creates a working group to review and evaluate how the state's current system allocates financial and other resources in a way that promotes high quality, equitable educational opportunities for students throughout the state and how impediments to opportunity, such as poverty and substance abuse, may be mitigated. Establishes membership of working group and asks for a report on findings and recommendations by December 15, 2012.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/Acts/ACT156.pdf
Title: S.B. 113 - Section on State Funding
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Governance--State Boards/Chiefs/Agencies |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12 |
Effective January 1, 2013 (with board staff, board duties and secretary's duties effective 4/01/2013), creates an agency and a secretary of education (cabinet position) and clarifies the purpose of the state board. With the advice and consent of the senate, the governor appoints a secretary of education from among no fewer than three candidates proposed by the state board of education. The secretary serves at the pleasure of the governor. Requires the secretary to have expertise in education management and policy and demonstrated leadership and management abilities. The secretary of education is to assume all the powers, duties, right and responsibilities of the commissioner of education. The agency of education is to assume all the powers, duties, rights, and responsibilities of the department of education. The 10-member state board is to be appointed by the governor with advice and consent of the senate, with priority given to selection of persons with a demonstrated commitment to ensuring quality education and who, to the extent possible, represent geographically diverse areas of the state. The secretary serves on the state board as a nonvoting member. Repeals the board's power to appoint commissioner. Calls for the board to be supported by adequate staff. Requires the board to evaluate education policy proposals, engage local school board members and the broader education community and establish and advance education policy for the state of Vermont. Requires an annual report to the governor and the legislature. Itemizes other duties of the state board such as the establishment of an information clearinghouse and accessible database to help districts share information about education programs and practices that improve student performance; develop sample ballot language for issues that may be decided by Australian ballot; prepare a budget for the agency and submit it to the governor after board review; and annually present the governor's education policy priorities to the state board.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/bills/Passed/H-440.pdf
Title: H.B. 440
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Health--Child Abuse |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12 |
Includes the governing body of each approved or recognized independent school in the requirement to provide comprehensive health education and staff training, etc. on child abuse or sexual abuse. Requires consideration and presentation of recommendations to the general assembly for best practices in responding to a student's disclosure of abuse or neglect revealed in connection with the provision of comprehensive health education.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/Acts/ACT156.pdf
Title: S.B. 113 - Section on Reporting Abuse
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
School Safety |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12 |
Exempts school resource officers from the department of education's rule regulating the use of restraint and seclusion in schools. Encourages school boards and law enforcement agencies to enter into memoranda of understanding relating to the possession and use of weapons and devices by a school resource officer on school property; and the nature and scope of assistance that a school resource officer will provide.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/Acts/ACT101.pdf
Title: S.B. 181
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
School Safety--Bullying Prevention/Conflict Resolution |
Signed into law 05/2012 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Clarifies the legal standard required to prove harassment in a civil action. A plaintiff is required to prove both of the following: 1) That the student was subjected to unwelcome conduct based on the student's or the student's family member's actual or perceived membership in a category protected by state law; and 2) The conduct was either (A) for multiple instances of conduct, so pervasive that when viewed from an objective standard of a similarly situated reasonable person, it substantially and adversely affected the targeted student's equal access to educational opportunities or benefits provided by the education institution or (B) for a single instance of conduct, so severe that when viewed from an objective standard of a similarly situated reasonable person, it substantially and adversely affected the targeted student's equal access to educational opportunities or benefits provided by the education institution. Encourages the human rights commission to seek grant funding regarding harassment and bullying prevention and response training initiatives.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/Acts/ACT140.pdf
Title: H.B. 412
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Special Populations--Corrections Education |
Signed into law 04/2012 |
P-12 |
Requires appointment of a Director of Corrections Education (rather than education supervisor) who is licensed as an administrator to serve as the superintendent of the Community High School of Vermont. Requires provision of a minimum course of study that includes special education for anyone under the age of 23 who has not yet received a high school diploma, and who is in the custody of the Commissioner of Corrections.
http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/
Title: H.B. 613
Source: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/ |
Health |
Signed into law 01/2012 |
P-12 |
Proposes to protect the health of students, custodial staff, and other building occupants by requiring the use in schools of safe cleaning products.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/bills/Passed/S-092.pdf
Title: S.B. 92
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Attendance |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
Among other provisions, changes the compulsory school age from 7-16 to 6-16.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/Acts/ACT058.pdf
Title: S.B. 100 - Compulsory School Age Provision
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Career/Technical Education |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
Requires the inclusion of "value added food processing sectors, including meat cutting and processing" into the programs of study offered at the state's regional career and technical education centers.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/Acts/ACT058.pdf
Title: S.B. 100 - Career and Technical Education
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Health |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
This section defines and establishes the importance of avoiding and treating student concussions. Requires the development of statewide guidelines, forms and other materials (to be updated as needed) that are designed to educate coaches, youth athletes, and the parents and guardians of youth athletes regarding concussions. Requires school administrators to ensure that such information developed is provided to each youth athlete and family. Requires each youth athlete and a parent or guardian to annually sign a form acknowledging receipt of such information. Requires each coach to receive training no less than every two years. Prohibits coaches from permitting a youth athlete to train or compete if the athlete has been removed or prohibited from participating because of symptoms of a concussion until a licensed health care provider has provided written permission.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/Acts/ACT058.pdf
Title: S.B. 100 - Sec. 39
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
High School--Dual/Concurrent Enrollment |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
Requires each public school and approved independent school offering secondary education to award credit toward graduation requirements to a student who receives prior approval from the school and successfully completes a course offered by an accredited postsecondary institution. The secondary school determines the number and nature of credits it will award to the student for successful completion of the course, including whether the course will satisfy one or more requirements of the school, and the school is responsible for informing the student prior to enrollment. Credits awarded are to be based on performance and not solely on Carnegie units; provided, however, that unless the school determines otherwise, a three-credit postsecondary course shall be presumed to equal one-half of a Carnegie unit. A school shall not withhold approval or credit without reasonable justification. A student may request that the superintendent review the school's determination regarding course approval or credits. The superintendent's decision shall be final. Expresses Vermont's encouragement for students taking such courses while in high school.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/Acts/ACT058.pdf
Title: S.B. 100 - Postsecondary Credit Options Provision
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Leadership--Principal/School Leadership--Induction Programs and Mentoring |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
Requires that a district that hires a principal or a technical center director who has not been employed previously in that capacity, to work to ensure that the new principal or technical center director receives mentoring supports during at least the first two years of employment. The superintendent is to work in consultation with the Vermont Principals' Association. Requires that mentoring supports be consistent with best practices, research-based approaches, or other successful models, and be identified jointly by the Vermont Principals' Association and the Vermont Superintendents Association. Requires districts with beginning principals to allocate sufficient funds annually in the first two years of employment toward the cost of mentoring. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/Acts/ACT020.pdf
Title: H.B. 430
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
P-3 Ensuring Quality |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
This section requires the departments of education and children and families to consult with the various stakeholders in early learning (specific entities and any other interested entities) to determine ways in which regulation of prekindergarten programs offered by and through districts and supervisory unions couldl be simplified.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/Acts/ACT058.pdf
Title: S.B. 100 - Early Education Regulation
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt |
P-3 Preschool |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
Amends language to read: There is no limit on the total number of children who may be enrolled in prekindergarten education or who receive essential early education services. Repeals all provisions describing which students could/would be enrolled. Upon passage of this act, school districts may take all necessary actions to prepare to offer prekindergarten education by or through public schools as
authorized under this act and 16 V.S.A. § 829.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/Acts/ACT038.pdf
Title: S.B. 53
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Postsecondary Accountability--Accreditation |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
Postsec. |
Sets the process for approval for any postsecondary school that operates primarily or exclusively in the state of
Vermont. Defines "Postsecondary school" as any person who offers or operates a program of college or professional education for credit or a degree and enrolls or intends to enroll students. A separate section details approval for a school that operates primarily outside of Vermont but that offers or operates a program of college or professional education for credit or a degree, and wishes to operate in Vermont. Sets fees.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/Acts/ACT058.pdf
Title: S.B. 100
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Postsecondary Students--Foster Youth |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Requires schools and local districts coordinate educational services to children and adolescents with a severe emotional disturbance with the department of mental health, the department for children and families, the department of disabilities, aging, and independent living, and the department of education. Makes other provisions for children and adolescents with severe emotional disturbance. Amends the membership on the advisory council on special education. All members of the council shall serve for a term of three years (beginning April 1 of year of appointment) or until their successors are appointed. A majority of the members shall be either individuals with disabilities or parents of children with disabilities. Makes a child or young adult under the custody of the commissioner of children and families and who is accepted to a Vermont college eligible for a grant.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/Acts/ACT058.pdf
Title: S.B. 100 - Disabilities Sections
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
School Safety--Bullying Prevention/Conflict Resolution |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
Adds to definitions of "Harassment" and "Bullying" to include an incident or act conducted by electronic means. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/Acts/ACT058.pdf
Title: S.B. 100 - Electronic Bullying
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Special Populations--Military |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
Adopts the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.
Title: H.B. 38
Source: Westlaw/StateNet |
Technology--Devices/Software/Hardware |
Signed into law 05/2011 |
P-12 |
This section requires the Department to report to the legislature on current and planned use of technology and Internet services in public schools, including 1) each school's type of Internet service (speed of connection, service provider, projected upgrades); 2) efforts to increase the availability of individual learning opportunities, dual enrollment, online and other alternative learning programs; 3) expansion of flexible learning environments, including efforts to develop and increase opportunities with out-of-state providers; 4) results of the department's research concerned the possible developoment of a statewide open document format that could be standadized across the K-12 structure, including consideration of tools available, security risk inherent in each, and the viability of state agencies to join efforts to help standardize systems and reduce costs on proprietary software and solutions; 5) implementation of the department's communication and collaboration tool during the summer of 2011; 6) review by the department and the state board of the school quality standards and consideration of amendments focusing on the continued evolution of teaching and learning supported by technology.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/Acts/ACT058.pdf
Title: S.B. 100 - Technology Provisions
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
P-3 Preschool |
Adopted 04/2011 |
P-12 |
Amendments to the existing Prekindergarten Education rules increase oversight of the community needs assessment process required before a school district may establish or expand prekindergarten education. Enable potentially qualified providers to partner with school districts to provide prekindergarten education.
Title: VT ADC 7-1-9:2601 through 2612
Source: Westlaw/StateNet |
Choice of Schools--Vouchers |
to governor 05/2010 |
P-12 |
The first part of this bill relates to incentives for voluntary school district merger, virtual merger, and supervisory union duties. The second part directs the commissioner of education to request the Regional Education Laboratory Northeast and Islands (REL-NEI) to research, analyze and, on or before January 15, 2011, report to the senate and house committees on education, the senate committee on finance, and the house committee on ways and means regarding the fiscal impacts on the education fund, the general fund, property tax rates, and school budgets as well as the effects on educational outcomes if the state were to make tuition vouchers available to all Vermont students.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/bills/Passed/H-066.pdf
Title: H.B. 66 - Two Sections
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Finance--State Budgets/Expenditures |
Eligible for GOVERNOR'S desk. 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Proposes to implement results of the earlier "Challenges for Change" legislation. Education-related provisions (beginning page 141) include the following: In order to achieve a two-percent reduction in education spending statewide, directs the commissioner of education to determine and allocate a recommended individualized amount of reductions in FY 2012 education spending to each supervisory union and to each technical center district, which in the aggregate totals $23,200,000.00. The commissioner is to consider factors such as:
(1) demonstrated fiscal restraint; (2) per-pupil administrative costs; (3) student-to-staff ratios; (4) the percentages of students from economically deprived backgrounds or for whom English is not the first language or both; and (5) other unique circumstances that affect education spending. On or before August 1, 2010, the commissioner is to notify each supervisory union and technical center district of the recommended individualized amount by which FY 2012 education spending should be reduced below FY 2011 education spending. School boards are to work jointly to achieve the necessary reductions.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/bills/Passed/H-792.pdf
Title: H.B. 792
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
P-16 or P-20 |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Creates a prekindergarten–16 council (the "council") to help coordinate and better align the efforts of the prekindergarten–12 educational system with the higher education community. Establishes goals and sets membership of the Council. Together with the secretary of administration or the secretary's designee, a higher education subcommittee of the council is to perform any statutory or other duties required of it, including duties in connection with the higher education endowment trust fund. Sets membership of the subcommittee (higher education, business/industry and legislative). Legislative and higher education staff are directed to provide support to the council as appropriate to accomplish its tasks. Primary administrative support is to be provided by the legislative council. Repeals the commission on higher education funding. All members of the Council are to be selected byAugust 1, 2010, and the the commissioner of education is to convene the first meeting of the prekindergarten–16 council before September 1, 2010.
The strategies developed by the prekindergarten–16 council are to include the goal of ensuring that at least 60% of the adult population will have earned an associate's or higher-level degree by 2020.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/Acts/ACT133.pdf
Title: H.B. 709
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
P-3 |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
P-12 |
Repeals prior language and replaces with language that codifies the Building Bright Futures Council.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/bills/Passed/S-268.pdf
Title: S.B. 268
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
School Safety |
Signed into law 05/2010 |
Postsec. |
Adds independent postsecondary institutions to those institutions required to adopt and ensure enforcement of a policy prohibiting hazing, which shall define hazing in a manner that is at least as stringent as the definition contained in subdivision 11(a)(30) of this title (public institutions already required). The policy is to include penalties or sanctions or both for organizations that or individuals who engage in hazing; revocation or suspension of an organization's permission to operate or exist within the institution's purview if that organization knowingly permits, authorizes, or condones hazing; and clear delineation of circumstances under which hazing will be reported to a law enforcement agency. Requires that a summary of the policy be distributed to all students at least annually.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/Acts/ACT106.pdf
Title: H.B. 648
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/ |
Special Education |
to governor 05/2010 |
P-12 |
This section of the bill seeks to ensure that a secondary student with a disability has the opportunity to join his or her age-appropriate peers in all senior-year activities and ceremonies even if the student's individualized education plan (IEP), 504 plan, or both anticipate that the student will need more than four years in which to complete all graduation requirements.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/bills/Passed/H-066.pdf
Title: H.B. 66 - High School Seniors with Disabilities Section
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Health--Nutrition |
Signed into law 04/2010 |
P-12 |
Proposes to maximize eligibility and simplify the enrollment process in 3SquaresVT by implementing federal options in the supplemental nutrition assistance program; Requires schools in districts receiving 21st Century Community Learning Center grant funds to provide fiscal sponsorship to organizations operating after-school programs in order to access funding for meals and snacks through the federal nutrition programs.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/bills/Passed/H-408.pdf
Title: H.B. 408
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay--Retirement/Benefits |
Signed into law 04/2010 |
P-12 |
Makes changes to the state teachers' retirement system; adjusts the duration of service needed before a teacher qualifies for a normal retirement allowance; increases the employees' share of the costs of the system; increases the percentage of "average final compensation" teachers may be paid in retirement.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/bills/Passed/H-764.pdf
Title: H.B. 764
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Finance |
Signed into law 02/2010 |
P-12 |
Puts forth challenge to policy makers, administrators, service providers, and school administrators to design outcome-driven changes in service and performance, to implement these changes with reduced state funding, and to maintain accountability for meeting goals through clear measures of outcome achievement. Education addressed in Section 6. See full text excerpts included here. Act 68
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/Acts/ACT068.pdf
Also see: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/JFO/CFC%20Progress%20Report.pdf
and http://cto.vermont.gov/blog/scorecard
Title: S.B. 286
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Choice of Schools--Vouchers |
Became law without governor's signature 07/2009 |
P-12 |
Among other things, this act:
· Simplifies the statutory divided vote ballot language and requires that the ballot include an explanation of the reasons the vote is divided. (Secs. 6-7)
· Permits the electorate of a school district to vote at a special meeting to provide notice of the availability of information (currently permitted only at annual meeting; municipalities may vote to do so at either). (Secs. 8-9)
· Restores the ability of joint contract schools to access consolidation funds until July 1, 2010. (Sec. 12)
· Permits a parent to request a final determination by the commissioner of education regarding payment of elementary school tuition when there is a geographical barrier to attending the district's school. (Sec. 13)
· Allows parents to notify (rather than request) the school board to pay tuition to an approved independent elementary school but limits the tuition paid by the district to the least of three amounts. (Sec. 13)
· Permits the electorate to authorize a district that does not maintain a public school to designate a public school as the high school for the district; continues to allow parents to request an alternative school but limits the tuition paid by the district to the least of three amounts. (Sec. 13)
· Amends the definition of state-placed student to provide greater educational continuity for the student. (Secs. 14-15)
· Excludes certain actions from the determination of whether a school budget must be presented by a divided vote.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/Acts/ACT044.pdf
Title: H.B. 427
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Economic/Workforce Development |
Signed into law 06/2009 |
Community College |
Establishes the following four principal, interrelated goals for future economic development in Vermont:
(1) Vermont's businesses, educators, nongovernmental organizations, and government form a collaborative partnership that results in a highly skilled multigenerational workforce to support and enhance business vitality and individual prosperity. (2) Vermont invests in its digital, physical, and human infrastructure as the foundation for all economic development. (3) Vermont state government takes advantage of its small scale to create nimble, efficient, and effective policies and regulations that support business growth and the economic prosperity of all Vermonters. (4) Vermont leverages its brand and scale to encourage a diverse economy that reflects and capitalizes on our rural character, entrepreneurial people, and reputation for environmental quality. Requires career-technical education reports. Relates to economic development to include workforce education and training, commercial and industrial property taxation, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, small business loans, film industry promotions, tax increment financing districts, investment tax credits, new business capital, the technology loan program, unemployment compensation, farm to plate program, municipal bonds, hydroelectric and stormwater projects, communications facilities, clean energy development, and land use permitting. Act No. 54
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/Acts/ACT054.pdf
Title: H.B. 313
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Finance--Taxes/Revenues |
Signed into law 06/2009 |
P-12 |
Decreases the educational property tax base rates to $ 1.35 for nonresidential property and $ 0.86 for homestead property.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/Acts/ACT060.pdf
Title: H.B. 12
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
High School |
Signed into law 05/2009 |
P-12,
Postsec.,
Community College |
Strategies to expand education opportunities for high school students and others. Requires the Vermont state colleges, in consultation with various persons and organizations, to study and recommend strategies for expanding educational opportunities to prepare Vermonters to succeed in postsecondary education. Includes consideration of partnerships (higher education and K-12), a P-16 longitudinal data system (requires the commissioner of education to examine and evaluate student longitudinal data systems that are currently available and select one system to implement statewide) evidence-based models for high school improvements, etc. To the extent funds are available, requires phased implementation of the data system no later than January 1, 2010, to be complete in all districts in the state by January 1, 2017.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/bills/Passed/H-405.pdf
Title: H.B. 405
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Health--Child Abuse |
Signed into law 03/2009 |
P-12 |
Intended to implement the November 2008 Report of the Senate Committee on Judiciary's 34-Point Comprehensive Plan for Vermont's Sexual Abuse Response System. Puts an emphasis on prevention by implementing a comprehensive statewide approach to the prevention of child sexual abuse; includes a sexual abuse prevention component in all school health curricula; conducts outreach efforts to raise awareness of families and communities about child sexual abuse; requires school districts to check the child abuse and neglect registry and vulnerable adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation registry prior to hiring staff or volunteers, and to conduct periodic rechecks of the registries.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/bills/Passed/S-013.pdf
Title: S.B. 13
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Adult Basic Education |
Signed into law 06/2008 |
P-12,
Community College |
Relates to economic and workforce development.
Section 11 of this bill (The Adult technical education; workforce education and training; report) requires the commissioner of education to:
(1) Outline and review the current method or methods by which tuition is paid for students enrolled in secondary schools ("secondary students") to attend regional technical center programs.
(2) Consider and propose potential solutions to any barriers preventing, discouraging, or failing to encourage secondary students to attend regional technical center programs, including scheduling issues, availability of classes outside the traditional school day and academic year, and financial disincentives.
(3) Outline and review the current method or methods by which the cost of adults entering programs at a regional technical center is funded, both for adults who have a high school diploma and for those who do not.
(4) Consider and propose potential solutions to any barriers preventing, discouraging, or failing to encourage adults, with and without a high school diploma, to attend regional technical centers, including scheduling issues, availability of classes outside the traditional school day and academic year, and financial disincentives.
(5) Consider and propose potential financial and other incentives to encourage regional technical centers to offer technical education programs at times other than the traditional school day and academic year and to otherwise make technical education programs more available to secondary students and to adults with and without high school diplomas.
(6) Consider the positive and negative aspects of including within the definition of "pupil" for purposes of determining a district's average daily membership all adult students with a high school diploma who are attending programs at a regional technical center and consider and propose other methods of subsidizing tuition for these students.
(b) On or before January 15, 2009, the commissioner shall submit a written report to the senate committee on economic development, housing and general affairs, the house committee on commerce, and the senate and house committees on education detailing the results of the work performed pursuant to this section and all potential methods of addressing the identified issues.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/bills/passed/H-885.HTM
Title: H.B. 885
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Health |
Signed into law 06/2008 |
P-12 |
Permits students with life-threatening food allergies or other life-threatening chronic illnesses to possess and self-administer life-saving medications on school grounds, at school-sponsored activities, and during school-related programs occurring before or after the regular school day, or both.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/bills/passed/H-748.HTM
Title: H.B. 748
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
P-3 Preschool |
Rule Adoption 06/2008 |
P-12 |
Amends rules pertaining to prekindergarten education in Vermont. Provides guidance for staff qualifications, program quality requirements, financial and child progress reporting, portability, required contents of contracts between school districts and private early care and education providers, and an appeal process. VERMONT 1129
Title: Uncodified
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
P-3 Preschool |
Signed into law 05/2008 |
P-12 |
Provides for the quality of all prekindergarten education programs offered by or through public school districts. For the 2008–2009 school year, any prekindergarten education program operated by a school district or by a private provider on behalf of a school district that is not yet participating in the STARS program is to be granted presumptive eligibility at a three star level if the program is in good regulatory standing with the department for children and families. Requires the departments for children and families and of education jointly to develop and approve rules for the STARS program, applicable respectively to public and private providers, to be adopted by the department for children and families. The rules are to be in effect no later than April 1, 2009. A prekindergarten education program operated by a school district or by a private provider on behalf of a school district that was operating on or before October 1, 2008 has one year from the effective date to achieve full compliance with provisions in the rules related to conducting child development assessments and governing the manner in which school districts and private providers establish and negotiate contract payments.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/bills/passed/H-884.HTM
Title: H.B. 884
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Attendance |
Signed into law 04/2008 |
P-12 |
Prohibits employers and schools from penalizing employees and students who are absent in order to attend town meeting; provides an employee shall have the right to take unpaid leave from employment for the purpose of attending a town meeting provided the employee notifies the employer prior to the meeting date; provides a student of voting age will have the right to attend a town meeting and school will not penalize or report student as a truant.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/bills/passed/S-045.HTM
Title: S.B. 45
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Career/Technical Education |
Adopted 09/2007 |
P-12 |
Amends rules pertaining to Career and Technical (CTE) educator licensing. The goals of the changes to the CTE endorsements are to:
· break down the wall between "regular" education and career and technical education endorsements, in support of the broader goal of integrated secondary education,
· streamline the process of qualifying for CTE endorsements, including recognizing that both formal post-secondary education and work experience are important components of
preparation, and
· eliminate the duplication among current CTE endorsements. Also enacts rule changes concerning the denial, suspension or revocation of a license, the duties and responsibilities of the Vermont Standards Board for Professional Educators (VSBPE), and access to licensing records.
http://education.vermont.gov/new/pdfdoc/board/packet_archives/packet_07_0619/item_J_4.pdf
Title: 16 VSA 164(5), -1691a, -1692, -1695, -1697, -1792(a), -1751, -59
Source: http://education.vermont.gov |
Economic/Workforce Development |
Signed into law 06/2007 |
P-12,
Postsec.,
Community College |
Bridges the state's workforce development gap by supporting workforce development and secondary and postsecondary internships with employers by enhancing existing grant programs and establishing new grant and loan programs; provides that the grant programs are funded by the Workforce Education and Training fund; provides that members of the national guard are eligible; provides for microenterprise development.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/acts/ACT046.HTM
Title: H.B. 433
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Finance--Taxes/Revenues |
Signed into law 06/2007 |
P-12 |
Provides for a slight rollback in property tax assessments for this year and would place a cap on property evaluations in the future. In addition, requires studies that look at: high-spending school districts, special education cost and the feasibility of adopting a statewide system of 3 or 5 year rolling reappraisals. There is also some language which changes the way that school districts and unions are able to negotiate collective bargaining agreements.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/acts/ACT082.HTM
Title: H.B. 526
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Online Learning--Virtual Schools/Courses |
Signed into law 06/2007 |
P-12 |
Amends provisions regarding joint contract school districts, genders and dates of birth of pupils, base contract amounts, K-12 tuition agreement terms, transportation assistance for technical education, salaries, school budgets, property tax revenue and rates, district spending per pupil, special education costs, district membership counts, distance learning, professional development programs, pregnant and teen parenting programs, district consolidation and budget deficits. Requires the department of education to develop a system for determining the school district membership count based on samplings conducted on at least one day in the autumn and one day in the spring, which shall be ready for implementation in the autumn of 2008. Long-term membership is to be determined by averaging the counts of the four most recent sample periods. In developing the system, the department shall consult with the Vermont superintendents association, the Vermont school boards association, and the Vermont association for school business officials. On or before January 15, 2008, the department shall report to the house and senate committees on education regarding the system it has developed and request any necessary legislative amendments, including transitional language. Requires the department of education to examine, analyze, and make recommendations concerning a process by which the state could develop a statewide, managed network offering shared, high-quality distance-learning opportunities to all Vermont schools through accredited, online course offerings from nationally recognized distance learning schools and through Vermont‑based distance learning courses. The department is also to consider ways in which such a network could be developed through collaboration within and among supervisory unions. Requires the department to present its analysis and recommendations in the form of a report to the general assembly on or before January 1, 2008.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/acts/ACT066.HTM
Title: S.B. 93
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/ |
P-3 Preschool |
Signed into law 06/2007 |
P-12 |
Require the state board of education and the secretary of human services to adopt joint rules regarding prekindergarten education; clarifies that a public school choosing to offer prekindergarten education services to three- and four-year-old residents may count those children receiving ten hours of service per week within its average daily membership, with a weight of 0.46; limits the number of prekindergarten students that a school district may count.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/bills/passed/H-534.HTM
Title: H.B. 534
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Scheduling/School Calendar |
Signed into law 06/2007 |
P-12 |
Directs the commissioner of education to announce a uniform statewide school calendar each year. Creates a "calendar committee" to develop a uniform statewide school calendar and sets membership: (1) The commissioner of education, or the commissioner's designee, who shall serve as the committee's chair and who shall ensure that the first committee meeting occurs on or before July 15, 2007.
(2) Two representatives of each of the following entities to be selected by the entities:
(A) The Vermont superintendents association. (B) The Vermont school boards association. (C) The Vermont principals' association. (D) The Vermont-national education association.
(3) Two regional technical center directors to be selected by the Vermont association of career and technical education directors.
(4) Two members of the business community to be selected by the Vermont business roundtable.
(5) Two high school students, who shall not be the students sitting on the state board of education, one of whom shall be selected by the speaker of the house of representatives and the other shall be selected by the president pro tempore of the senate.
Any calendar developed must require at least 175 common student attendance days. A majority of students in each grade must be in attendance or participating in a school-sponsored academic activity for a minimum of five and one-half hours, including recess and excluding lunch, for a day to constitute one full student attendance day. If a majority of students in any grade is in attendance or participating for fewer than five and one-half hours, the day shall be counted as one-half of a student attendance day. The calendar must require the first three student days of the academic year to occur on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in the week preceding Labor Day.It must allow for waivers and may include a provision that there be a sole vacation period between January 2 and April 30, to occur during the week of town meeting.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/bills/passed/H-015.HTM
Title: H.B. 15
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
School/District Structure/Operations--Food Service |
Veto overridden 06/2007 |
P-12 |
Establishes the local foods mini-grant program created in Act No. 145 of 2006 as a permanent program to award local grants to help schools develop relationships with local farmers and producers; names it the Rozo McLaughlin Farm-to- School Program; provides funding for equipment, resources, training, and materials that will help to increase use of local foods in the school food service program, farm-to-school education and teacher training, and professional development for food service personnel.
Title: H.B. 91
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
School/District Structure/Operations--Transportation |
Signed into law 06/2007 |
P-12 |
Prohibits the operator of a school bus from idling the engine while waiting for children to board at a school.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/bills/passed/S-013.HTM
Title: S.B. 13
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Special Education |
Signed into law 06/2007 |
P-12 |
Requires the agency of human services and the department of education to develop and implement a statewide initiative to sustain and enhance the system of care for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/bills/passed/S-121.HTM
Title: S.B. 121
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Finance--Taxes/Revenues |
Signed into law 05/2007 |
P-12 |
Reduces the statewide education property tax rates from the statutory rates of $ 1.10 homestead and $ 1.59 nonresidential to new rates, for fiscal year 2008 only, of $ 0.90 homestead and $ 1.39 nonresidential; and to reduce the household income base percentage for property tax adjustments from the statutory 2.0 percent to 1.80 percent for fiscal year 2008 only.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/DOCS/2008/BILLS/PASSED/H-088.DOC
Title: H.B. 88
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Health |
Signed into law 05/2007 |
P-12 |
Allows youth to access and consent to state smoking cessation programs.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/DOCS/2008/BILLS/PASSED/H-113.DOC
Title: H.B. 113
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
School/District Structure/Operations--Libraries |
Signed into law 05/2007 |
P-12 |
Creates a legislative interim committee to study the impact of Vermont's public libraries on increased literacy, computer and internet access, and adult and child resources and services.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2008/bills/passed/H-099.HTM
Title: H.B. 99
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
P-3 |
Issued 06/2006 |
P-12 |
Establishes the Building Bright Futures Council, a public-private partnership, to support the creation of an integrated system of early childhood care, health and education that will assure equitable access for all children and families seeking services, maximize existing resources, alighn resources with desired outcomes in a consistent measurable manner, and improve the well-being of children and families. http://www.vermont.gov/tools/whatsnew2/index.php?topic=ExecutiveOrders&id=1907&v=Article
Title: E.O. 03-06
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention) |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Relates to a high school completion program for persons who are 16 to 22 years of age, have not received a high school diploma, and are not enrolled in a public school. Provides for reimbursement to a town school district, city school district, union school district, unified union school district, incorporated school district, or member school district of an interstate school district which has agreed to a graduation education plan.
Specifies that the plan must define the scope and rigor of services necessary for the student to attain a high school diploma, and may describe educational services to be provided by a public high school, an approved independent high school, an approved provider, or a combination of these. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT176.HTM
Title: S.B. 222
Source: www.leg.state.vt.us |
Attendance--Compulsory |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Directs the commissioner of education to gather information to facilitate discussion during the next legislative session about increasing the compulsory education age to 18, and to present the data to the senate and house committees on education during January, 2007. Requires information gathered to include the number of young people who have dropped out of school in each of the last 10 years, the types of facilities and programs that are available to help young people at risk of not completing school to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent, costs of services alternative to the public school system, and other information which will inform the discussion. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT182.HTM
Title: H.B. 867 - Section 20 (h)
Source: www.leg.state.vt.us |
Background Checks |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Requires the release form from the Vermont criminal information center to be signed by an applicant for initial certification and to include a statement informing the applicant of:
(1) the right to challenge the accuracy of the record by appealing to the Vermont criminal information center; and
(2) the commissioner's policy regarding maintenance and destruction of records and the person's right to request that the record or notice be maintained for purposes of using it to comply with future criminal record check requests. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT182.HTM
Title: H.B. 867 - Section 18
Source: |
Choice of Schools--Choice/Open Enrollment |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Directs the commissioner of education to send annually to each superintendent a list of information that schools must provide to the electorate, community members, parents and students under state and federal law. Directs school boards to inform high school students and students' parents or guardians of the right to opt out of the federal requirement that student contact information be provided to military recruiters or institutions of higher education. Directs school boards to permit parents to disallow provision of student contact information to military recruiters or institutions of higher learning, or both. Requires schools to provide information each year to parents and students regarding school choice options available to them.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT127.HTM
Title: H.B. 538
Source: www.leg.state.vt.us |
Choice of Schools--Vouchers |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Provides that, notwithstanding the restrictions of 16 V.S.A. § 822(c), a town school district which is a member of a union school district and which has historically paid tuition for resident grade 7–12 students attending public and independent schools outside the union high school district, as authorized by the attorney general's opinion No. 13 of July 30, 1954 and section 4339, V.S. 1947, may continue to do so in accordance with the provisions of 16 V.S.A. § 824. Directs the town school district to pay a tuition amount which does not exceed the average announced tuition of Vermont union school districts for grades 7 and 8 or grades 9–12 as appropriate. Clarifies that it is the intent of the general assembly to authorize a town school district which has historically both belonged to a union school and provided for education of its students by paying tuition to continue the practice and not to authorize the practice in other school districts. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT182.HTM
Title: H.B. 867 - Section 28
Source: www.leg.state.vt.us |
Civic Education |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Directs the commissioner of education to convene a council on civics education to strengthen civics education opportunities for all Vermonters. Directs the council to:
(1) continually assess the status of civics education in Vermont schools at all education levels, including higher education;
(2) make recommendations to enhance civics education;
(3) make recommendations regarding benefits of increasing civics coordination services at the state house;
(4) maintain an inventory of civics and service education opportunities available for Vermont students;
(5) assess and recommend best practices in civics education;
(6) build and maintain a network of civics education professionals to share information and strengthen partnerships;
(7) support and help coordinate an alignment of civics education curricula at all education levels, including higher education;
(8) prepare an annual report of its activities. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT182.HTM
Title: H.B. 867 - Section 29
Source: www.leg.state.vt.us |
Economic/Workforce Development |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Creates the workforce development council as the successor to and the continuation of the governor's human resources investment council.
Directs the workforce development council to:
(1) Advise the governor on the establishment of an integrated network of workforce education and training for Vermont.
(2) Coordinate planning and services for an integrated network of workforce education and training and oversee its implementation.
(3) Establish and oversee workforce investment boards.
(4) Establish goals for and coordinate the state's workforce education and training policies.
(5) Speak for the workforce needs of employers.
(6) Receive annual reports from the department of labor on the workforce education and training revenues and expenditures of agencies and institutions which are members of the council.
(7) Annually review and comment on workforce education and training revenues and expenditures of member agencies and institutions.
(8) Negotiate memoranda of understanding between the council and agencies and institutions involved in Vermont's integrated network of workforce education and training in order to ensure that each is working to achieve annual objectives developed by the council.
(9) Carry out the duties assigned to the state workforce investment board, as required for a single-service delivery state.
(10) Annually, on or before January 15, report to the general assembly on activities carried out during the previous year in order to accomplish its mandate.
Amends language relative to the department of labor advisory council. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT212.HTM
Title: H.B. 109
Source: www.leg.state.vt.us |
Finance--Funding Formulas |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Directs the commissioner of education to work with education administrators to study the actual costs of providing services to elementary and secondary pupils and, on or before January 30, 2007, to make a recommendation to the general assembly regarding weighting of these pupils.
Directs the commissioner of education to study the effect of the provisions of 32 V.S.A. § 5401(12) and (13), relating to excess spending in school districts and district spending adjustment, on various types of school districts such as those that provide for the education of a significant portion or all of their students through paying tuition and those that have a small number of students. As part of the study, requires the commissioner to consider the effect of removing the portion of secondary technical education tuition which is in excess of the district's equalized per pupil spending from the calculation of excess spending, and the effect of removing interest payments made on funds borrowed in anticipation of capital construction aid from the calculation of district spending adjustment. Requires the commissioner to report the results of the study to the general assembly by January 30, 2007.
Directs the commissioner of education to study alternatives for computing education spending, including alternative methods for counting the average daily membership and to report the results of the study to the general assembly by January 30, 2007.
Directs the commissioner of education to work with Vermont educators and the state board to study the quality of Vermont public schools and independent schools which receive public funds and to study and analyze methods to reduce costs and to deliver the results of the analysis and recommendations for legislative action to the senate and house committees on education by January 30, 2007.
Directs the commissioner of education to report to the senate and house committees on education by January 30, 2007 regarding recommendations, if any, for amendments to Title 16 provisions addressing school district auditing requirements, including the frequency and scope. In developing the recommendations, requires the commissioner to confer with the state auditor of accounts and with representatives of the Vermont association of school business officials, the Vermont superintendents association, and the Vermont school boards association. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT182.HTM
Title: H.B. 867 - Section 20 (a) through (f)
Source: www.leg.state.vt.us |
Finance--Taxes/Revenues |
Became law without GOVERNOR'S signature. 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Relates to education finance simplification; entitles a homestead owner to an additional property tax adjustment amount equal to one percent of the amount of income tax refund which the claimant elects to allocate to payment of homestead property tax; establishes an Education Finance Advisory Working Group to advise the department of taxes and town officials on issues related to implementation of this act. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT185.HTM
Title: H.B. 880
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Health |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Directs the commissioner of education, with the commissioner of health to annually inform superintendents and principals of appropriate practices regarding students with life-threatening allergies and chronic illnesses; and prepare and distribute policies, training materials, and school guidelines for managing students with life-threatening allergies and chronic illnesses, including family responsibilities, school responsibilities, and student responsibilities. Directs districts to annually:
(A) inform parents of students with life-threatening allergies and life-threatening chronic illnesses of applicable provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and other applicable federal statutes, state statutes, federal regulations, and state rules;
(B) inform appropriate school staff of their responsibilities; and
(C) provide necessary training to carry out these responsibilities. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT158.HTM
Title: H.B. 611
Source: www.leg.state.vt.us |
Health--Nutrition |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Creates in the agency of agriculture, food and markets a local foods mini-grant program for the purpose of helping Vermont schools develop relationships with local farmers and producers. Allows a school, district, consortium of schools, or consortium of districts to apply for a grant of up to $15,000 to:
(1) purchase equipment, resources, and materials that will help to increase use of local foods in the school food service program;
(2) purchase items, including local farm products, that will help teachers to use hands-on educational techniques to teach children about nutrition and farm-to-school connections; and
(3) provide professional development and technical assistance to help teachers educate students about nutrition and farm-to-school connections.
Directs that priority be given to schools and districts in the early stages of developing farm-to-school connections and education and that are making progress toward the implementation of the Vermont nutrition and fitness policy guidelines. Directs the secretary of agriculture, food and markets to work with existing programs and organizations to create educational opportunities for farmers to help them increase their markets by selling their products to schools and state government agencies. Directs the commissioner of education to offer expanded regional training sessions for public school food service personnel and child care resource development specialists during 2007. Provides that training must include information about strategies for purchasing, processing, and serving locally grown foods, as well as information about nutrition, obesity prevention, coping with severe food allergies, and food service operations.
Requires the commissioner of education, secretary of agriculture, food and markets, and secretary of human services, on or before January 15, 2007, to jointly make recommendations to the senate and house committees on agriculture, institutions, and education and the house committee on human services on the following:
(1) Strategies the general assembly could adopt or encourage to increase use of locally grown foods in Vermont schools, regulated child care programs, and state agencies.
(2) Whether moving administration of the U.S.D.A. food distribution program (the food commodities program) from the agency of human services to another department or agency such as the department of education or the agency of agriculture, food and markets would improve integration of the program with efforts to include more fresh foods in general and Vermont-grown foods in particular and would result in more frequent delivery of foods in a timely fashion.
(3) Ways to improve the effectiveness of the local foods mini-grant program.
(4) Ways to improve the effectiveness of training for public school food service personnel.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT145.HTM
Title: H.B. 456
Source: www.leg.state.vt.us |
Health--Teen Pregnancy |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Extends to 2007-2008 provisions related to No Child Left Behind requirements, including commissioner determinations whether schools and districts are meeting state standards annually and state board authority to impose on schools and school districts consequences allowed in state law and required by the Act within the time frame required in the Act and education of homeless students.
Directs the commissioner of education and the secretary of human services to develop and analyze options for payment of education costs for a pregnant or parenting pupil attending an approved public school in Vermont or an adjacent state, an approved independent school in Vermont, or other educational program, other than a 24-hour residential facility, approved by the state board of education. Directs districts to pay between 75-85% of the base education payment for the year of attendance for a pregnant or parenting pupil enrolled in the district, attending a teen parent education program recognized by the department for children and families, and taking academic courses at the teen parent education program which are the substantial equivalent of the courses required by the district to obtain a high school diploma. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT182.HTM
Title: H.B. 867 - Section 13-15
Source: www.leg.state.vt.us |
P-3 Preschool |
Became law without GOVERNOR'S signature. 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Creates a prekindergarten education study committee. Directs the committee to gather the following information:
(1) How many private and public or publicly funded prekindergarten education services currently exist in Vermont.
(2) What kinds of services and educational programs are offered by existing prekindergarten education programs.
(3) The costs of existing prekindergarten education programs and how they are funded.
(4) Current department of education and agency of human services standards for prekindergarten education facilities.
Directs the committee to study and make findings regarding:
(1) What the research says about the effects of prekindergarten education.
(2) Whether prekindergarten education services should be offered at public expense and, if so:
(A) whether services should be provided by public schools, private providers, or both;
(B) the estimated costs of providing public prekindergarten programs and what public monies should be used to support them;
(C) what would be the mechanism for dispersing these monies; and
(D) what state agency or agencies should have responsibility for developing standards regarding the quality and content of prekindergarten education programs and for determining educator qualifications, and whether standards for public schools should differ from those for private providers.
(3) Which groups of children benefit academically and socially from receiving prekindergarten educational services.
(4) Whether all groups of prekindergarten children benefit from an inclusionary educational environment.
(5) Whether enrollment in a prekindergarten education program should be voluntary.
(6) Whether participation may take place outside the district of residence.
(7) Whether a community should conduct a needs assessment before starting or expanding a program, and if so, how private providers and school districts should be involved in the assessment.
(8) Whether publicly funded early education services are an effective economic development strategy.
Directs the committee to report its findings and recommendations to the senate and house committees on education, the senate committee on health and welfare, and the house committee on human services by January 30, 2007. Bars the state board from changing, repealing or adopting any rules on early childhood or prekindergarten education services prior to June 30, 2008.
During the 2007–2008 school year, requires a district that begins a new prekindergarten program to contract with qualified early childhood education service providers in the district unless it determines that it cannot efficiently and effectively provide quality services using these providers, or that no qualified programs exist in the district or no private programs are interested in providing the services in collaboration with the school district. In determining efficiency and effectiveness, requires districts to emphasize affordability, access, and high quality in early learning experiences. Directs the commissioner of education to determine whether a school district has met these requirements, and provdies that the commissioner's decision shall be final. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT186.HTM
Title: S.B. 314
Source: www.leg.state.vt.us |
Postsecondary Participation--Access |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12,
Postsec.,
Community College |
Relates to higher education. Creates a commission to develop the next generation initiative to encourage Vermonters to live and work in Vermont. Proposes the commission consider a broad range of ideas to meet this goal, including:
(1) Strategies to ensure that postsecondary education is accessible and affordable for all Vermonters through grants, loans, and scholarships, and that funds flow directly to students and their families.
(2) Options such as loan forgiveness, tax incentives, loan repayments, and leveraging federal resources.
(3) The integration, where appropriate, of Vermont's secondary and postsecondary workforce training programs with Vermont's postsecondary institutions.
(4) The use of strategic investments in Vermont's postsecondary education system to:
(A) increase the postsecondary aspiration, continuation, retention, and completion rates of Vermonters;
(B) stimulate specific economic sectors which are particularly appropriate for or unique to Vermont; and
(C) serve critical marketplace needs.
Requires the plan to include a funding level for implementation, identify a funding source, and include a system for overseeing use of the funds. Makes an appropriation for college scholarships.
Establishes a next generation initiative fund in the office of the state treasurer. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT204.HTM
Title: S.B. 312
Source: www.leg.state.vt.us |
Postsecondary Participation--Admissions Requirements |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Directs the commissioner of education to consult with high school principals and other appropriate people to consider whether the SAT or ACT should be used to assess student academic progress in the high school grades. Requires the commissioner to report on or before January 30, 2007, to the senate and house committees on education as to whether either or both of the tests should be used as a statewide assessment.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT182.HTM
Title: H.B. 867 - Section 20 (g)
Source: www.leg.state.vt.us |
Postsecondary Students--Disabled |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
Relates to coverage of disabled adult children and college students on medical leave; requires a health insurance plan that covers dependent children who are full-time college students beyond the age of 18 to include coverage for a dependent's medically necessary leave of absence from school for a period not to exceed 24 months; establishes a committee to study issues related to continuing health insurance eligibility for spouses following divorce and for young adult children. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT199.HTM
Title: S.B. 285
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
School Safety--Bullying Prevention/Conflict Resolution |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Requires schools to annually submit the names of organizations and individuals who have provided effective hazing, harassment, bullying, suicide, or substance abuse prevention training for staff or students, or both. Directs the commissioner to consult with the commission on human rights and other relevant organizations regarding organizations and individuals who may not yet have been invited into a school but who are qualified to provide the training. Requires the commissioner to compile the information and make it available to schools throughout the state either on the department's website or in another form in a format determined most appropriate. The intent of this listing is to offer schools a broad set of programs for prevention training which will be periodically updated based on feedback from schools. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT182.HTM
Title: H.B. 867 - Section 27
Source: www.leg.state.vt.us |
School/District Structure/Operations--Shared Services |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Authorizes local boards to make available school facilities and equipment for specified public purposes if such purposes appear, in the judgment of the board, to be in the best interests of the district and are an efficient, economical, and appropriate use of the facilities and equipment.
Authorizes local boards to enter into contracts with other school boards to provide joint programs, services, facilities, and professional or other staff. Does not permit the designation by a school district that does not maintain a secondary school of another school district's secondary school as the secondary school of the district. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT182.HTM
Title: H.B. 867 - Section 25
Source: www.leg.state.vt.us |
Special Education--Transition |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
Postsec.,
Community College |
Relates to services for transitional youth; increases the age at which a child may be adjudicated in need of care and supervision; provides that the agency of human services, in consultation with the department of education, shall analyze current law and regulation regarding Medicaid eligibility for young adults ages 18-22. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT159.HTM
Title: H.B. 618
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Teaching Quality--Recruitment and Retention--At-Risk Schools |
Signed into law 05/2006 |
P-12 |
Directs the commissioner of education to annually convene a meeting of directors of Vermont educator preparation programs and representatives of school boards, superintendents, principals, educators, and the Vermont standards board to determine subject and geographic areas in which there is a critical need for educators and to discuss ways to meet the need.
Removes authority to oversee teacher licensing from the state board of education. Creates the Vermont standards board for professional educators to:
(1) Adopt rules with respect to the licensing of teachers and administrators, and of speech-language pathologists and audiologists;
(2) Establish standards for educator preparation programs in Vermont and approve those that meet the standards;
(3) Establish standards, including endorsements, according to which individuals may obtain a license or have one renewed or reinstated;
(4) Oversee and monitor the application and licensing process administered by the office; and
(5) Develop a code of professional ethics and act as advisor to professional educators regarding its interpretation.
Lists causes for licensing action. Includes provisions related to reports of alleged unprofessional conduct or incompetence and investigating such reports; hearing panels; the conduct of hearings; appeals; and accessibility and confidentiality of licensing matters.
Directs the commissioner of education to issue annually a report to the standards board including:
(1) the number of new licensees and endorsements they receive, the number of licenses that have lapsed without renewal, and the total number of licensees;
(2) a summary of all complaints requiring preliminary review, formal investigation and formal charges; and
(3) an accounting of all fees and administrative penalties received by the office and all expenditures and costs of the office for the year. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT214.HTM
Title: H.B. 677
Source: www.leg.state.vt.us |
Health--Suicide Prevention |
Signed into law 04/2006 |
P-12 |
Provides that teaching about signs of and responses to depression and risk of suicide is critical to promoting a safe and healthy school environment for all children. Requires the comprehensive health curriculum to promote an understanding of depression and the signs of suicide risk in a family member or fellow student that includes how to respond appropriately and seek help and provides an awareness of the available school and community resources such as the local suicide crisis hotline.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT114.HTM
Title: H.B. 630
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/ |
School/District Structure/Operations |
Signed into law 04/2006 |
P-12 |
Permits a school district with schools in grades K–8 and that was designated as a supervisory district prior to January 1, 2006 to remain a supervisory district. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT115.HTM
Title: H.B. 710
Source: www.leg.state.vt.us |
Instructional Approaches--Homeschooling |
Signed into law 03/2006 |
P-12 |
Effective 2006-2007, requires annual assessment of each home study program. Progress must be assessed through one of the following measures: A report in a form designated by the commissioner, by a teacher licensed in Vermont. In determining the form of the report, the commissioner shall consult with parents who have provided home study programs for their children. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the commissioner to consult with parents on an individual basis regarding the form of a teacher report. A report prepared by the parents, the student's instructor, or a teacher advisory service report from a publisher of a commercial curriculum together with a portfolio of the student's work that includes work samples to demonstrate progress in each subject area in the minimum course of study. The complete results of a standardized achievement test approved by the commissioner, administered in a manner approved by the testing company, and scored in accordance with this subdivision. In selecting the list of tests to be approved, the commissioner shall:
(A) Consult with parents who have provided home study programs for their children. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the commissioner to consult with parents on an individual basis regarding the test to be administered as a progress assessment for their own home study programs.
(B) Select at least four tests to be scored by a testing company, and at least four tests to be administered and scored by a teacher licensed in Vermont who is not the parent or legal guardian of the student.
Requires description of minimum course of study every school year, Provides exceptions to outlines of program of study for certain home study programs.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT107.HTM
Title: H.B. 862
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/ |
Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay |
Signed into law 03/2006 |
P-12 |
Allows retired teachers who are then reemployed to obtain credit for prior service. A teacher who has ceased being a member upon reemployment is entitled to prior service credit upon depositing in the annuity savings fund the contributions which would have been deducted from the teacher's compensation had he or she remained a member. The teacher, in order to qualify for the prior service credit, shall also deposit in the pension accumulation fund a sum equal to the contributions which would have been contributed by the state had the teacher remained a member. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT104.HTM
Title: S.B. 111
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Finance--District |
Signed into law 06/2005 |
P-12 |
Authorizes the voters to eliminate the office of auditor and to employ instead a public accountant annually to audit the financial statements of the union school district. Adds tuition payments for technical education to the list of exclusions for calculating net cost per pupil. Deletes "adjusted education payment for each equalized pupil statewide" and replaces it with "statewide education spending." In fiscal year 2007, union and unified school districts are to not to receive funds under 16 V.S.A. § 4011(c) and must divide the amount that would otherwise be received under that section in the proportion which the union district's equalized pupil count from the associated municipality bears to the total number of the union district's equalized pupil count for that year. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT054.HTM
Title: S.B. 159
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Governance--School Boards |
Signed into law 05/2005 |
P-12 |
Stipulates that the school board instead of the selectboard is to fill a vacancy on a town or union school board. If a town does not have a school board, the town's selectboard is to appoint a person who is otherwise eligible to serve as a director from that district until an election at a special or annual district meeting is held.http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/bills/passed/H-201.HTM
Title: H.B. 201
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Health |
Signed into law 05/2005 |
P-12 |
One section of this bill (§ 7109) deals with mercury in schools. After July 1, 2006, no school in Vermont may use, or purchase for use, in a primary or secondary nonvocational education program, any of the following: elemental mercury, chemicals containing mercury or mercury compounds, or mercury-added measuring devices. Other mercury-added products that are used by schools are not subject to this prohibition. No person shall bring elemental mercury onto the premises or into the buildings of schools located in Vermont, including child care facilities, preschools, kindergartens, and primary and secondary schools. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/bills/passed/S-084.HTM
Title: S.B. 84
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs |
School/District Structure/Operations--Transportation |
Signed into law 05/2005 |
P-12 |
Amends the definition of school bus in the motor vehicle statutes to allow for the limited use of motor coaches for school activities and to address a new type of vehicle, the multifunction school activity bus. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT029.HTM
Title: S.B. 81
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Teaching Quality--Unions/Collective Bargaining |
Signed into law 05/2005 |
P-12 |
Teachers have the right to or not to join, assist, or participate in any teachers' organization of their choosing, but teachers or administrators may be required to pay an agency fee pursuant to a negotiated agreement. Authorizes an agency fee to be included as an item of negotiation. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/bills/passed/H-299.HTM
Title: H.B. 299
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
No Child Left Behind |
Signed into law 03/2005 |
P-12 |
Extends the council on education governance and the No Child Left Behind oversight committee which are due to expire on July 1, 2005. The council is to report each year that it is in existence on its progress together with its recommendations for legislation, including steps which are necessary to comply with the No Child Left Behind Act http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/bills/passed/H-135.HTM
Title: H.B. 135
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/ |
Finance--Taxes/Revenues |
Signed into law 02/2005 |
P-12 |
Reduces education property tax rates for fiscal year 2006. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/acts/ACT001.HTM
Title: H.B. 61
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Curriculum |
Signed into law 06/2004 |
P-12 |
The purpose of the act is to encourage wellness programs in Vermont public schools and in Vermont communities. Wellness programs will be designed to encourage life-long patterns of healthy eating and regular physical exercise among Vermont citizens. Provides for physical activity programs and physical education programs; provides for nutrition education; provides for assistance to school districts on wellness; provides for a definition of nutritious foods. Requires the development of a model school fitness and nutrition policy. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2004/acts/ACT161.HTM
Title: H.B. 272
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Finance--Equity |
Signed into law 05/2004 |
P-12 |
This act establishes an equalized pupil count for union and unified union school districts, removes the system of assessing member districts to fund union and unified union school districts, and directs the commissioner of education to send funding directly to union and unified union school districts. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2004/acts/ACT130.HTM
Title: S.B. 315
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Finance--Taxes/Revenues |
Signed into law 05/2004 |
P-12 |
Authorizes the Rutland school commissioners to adopt annual general fund budgets without voter approval provided that the actual homestead tax rate in a year does not exceed the adjusted equalized homestead rate established by the state; authorizes the board of aldermen to assess upon the grand list of the city taxes necessary to meet the educational or school purposes of the city.
Title: H.B. 774
Source: StateNet |
No Child Left Behind |
Signed into law 05/2004 |
P-12 |
Authorizes the state commissioner to measure whether supervisory unions are meeting state standards, for the purposes of determining pupil performance and application of consequences for failure to meet standards and for provision of compensatory and remedial services; imposes consequences on those which do not meet the standards for the next 2 years; requires that a homeless student be educated in the district of origin for another 2 years. (The two-year review process, however, remains in place -- rather than annual review.) http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2004/acts/ACT114.HTM
Title: S.B. 308
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Postsecondary Institutions--For-Profit/Proprietary |
Signed into law 05/2004 |
Postsec. |
One provision of this bill requires a person intending to operate a postsecondary school, to apply for a certificate of approval from the state board of education prior to registering a name under this section. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2004/bills/passed/H-756.HTM
Title: H.B. 756
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs |
School Safety |
Signed into law 05/2004 |
P-12 |
Defines bullying: Bullying" means any overt act or combination of acts directed against a student by another student or group of students and which: (A) is repeated over time; (B) is intended to ridicule, humiliate, or intimidate the student; and (C) occurs during the school day on school property, on a school bus, or at a school-sponsored activity, or before or after the school day on a school bus or at a school-sponsored activity.
Requires the state commissioner by January 1, 2005, to update and distribute a model school plan on student discipline. This plan must:
(1) state that bullying is a form of dangerous and disrespectful behavior that will not be permitted or tolerated;
(2) enable students to report anonymously to teachers and school administrators acts of bullying;
(3) enable parents or guardians of students to file written reports of suspected bullying;
(4) require teachers and other school staff who witness acts of bullying or receive student reports of bullying to notify school administrators;
(5) require school administrators to investigate any written reports filed and to review any anonymous reports;
(6) include an intervention strategy for school staff to deal with bullying;
(7) include the prohibition against bullying in the student or school handbook and otherwise make students aware of the prohibition against bullying, the penalties therefor, and the procedures for reporting bullying;
(8) require the school to notify the parent or guardian of a student who
commits a verified act of bullying of the response of the school staff and consequences that may result from further acts of bullying;
(9) to the extent permitted under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-380) and as amended, require the school to notify the parent or guardian of a student who is a victim of bullying of the action taken to prevent any further acts of bullying; and
(10) require the school to collect data on the number of reported incidents of bullying and the number of incidents that have been verified and to make such data available to the commissioner and to the public.
On or before January 15, 2007, the commissioner must report to the senate and house committees on education on implementation of this section. The report should include pertinent data such as incidences of bullying gathered by school districts.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2004/acts/ACT117.HTM
Title: H.B. 629
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs |
School Safety--Sexual Harassment and Assault |
Signed into law 04/2004 |
P-12 |
Requires boards to adopt policies prohibiting harassment and hazing, including sexual harassment. The stated intent is to: the intent of the General Assembly to:
(1) clarify the definition of harassment;
(2) encourage education and training of teachers and school personnel on harassment issues;
(3) recognize that students should be free of harassment in educational institutions;
(4) recognize that educational institutions should have the opportunity to remedy promptly and appropriately allegations of harassment; and
(5) foster communication in educational institutions.
Any institution that receives actual notice of alleged conduct that may constitute harassment must promptly investigate to determine whether harassment occurred. If conduct is verified, finds that the alleged conduct occurred and that it constitutes harassment, the educational institution must take prompt and appropriate remedial action reasonably calculated to stop the harassment. Provides for independent review. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2004/acts/ACT091.HTM
Title: H.B. 113
Source: StateNet |
High School |
Signed into law 02/2004 |
P-12 |
Repeals the governor's diploma. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2004/acts/ACT078.HTM
Title: H.B. 490
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Postsecondary Affordability--Financial Aid |
Signed into law 02/2004 |
Postsec.,
Community College |
Relates to the establishment of a trust fund; provides aid to students who do not have parental support and are in Social and Rehabilitation Services custody and wish to attend college or university.
Title: H.B. 171
Source: StateNet |
Finance--Funding Formulas |
Signed into law 06/2003 |
P-12 |
This act clarifies that the state board of education is authorized to administer federal education funds available under the No Child Left Behind Act; for the next two years, authorizes the commissioner of education to make an annual, instead of biennial, determination as to whether each Vermont school is meeting quality standards and to implement certain consequences for low performing schools after two years instead of four years; stipulates that for the next school year, a homeless child may be educated in the school of origin despite Vermont law that stipulates that a homeless child shall be educated where the child is living; and establishes a committee to oversee implementation of the federal No Child Left Behind Act. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2004/acts/ACT064.HTM The general assembly finds that: the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001(NCLB), has the potential to dramatically change the way education services are provided in Vermont; (2) Implementation of NCLB could have a major impact on the revenues of the state and the cost of education to Vermont taxpayers. NCLB provides the state of Vermont with over $50 million in federal funds for fiscal year 2004, most of which is the consolidation of past federal aid programs. It is unclear whether federal funds will be enough to implement the provisions of the Act with some estimates indicating the potential for large unfunded mandates at both the state and local levels; and (3) Without legislative oversight, virtually all decisions regarding how the act will be implemented could be made by the state board of education as it is the agency charged with working with the federal government to align Vermont's education system with provisions of federal law. Therefore, it is the intent of the general assembly to establish a no child left behind oversight committee for the purpose of:
(1) reviewing any NCLB–related request for proposal process. It is the intent of the general assembly that the department of education shall consider approaching other states prior to issuing an NCLB–related request for proposal to determine if a joint contract would be more cost effective; (2) receiving notification of any NCLB–related contract, grant agreement, amended contract, or amended grant agreement of greater than $10,000.00 prior to awarding any funds under the contract or grant agreement; (3) developing a process for reviewing significant state board or commissioner of education decisions regarding implementation of NCLB; (4) reviewing information about technical assistance that the department of education is providing to Vermont schools and school districts regarding implementation of NCLB; (5) proposing recommendations to the state board and commissioner of education and the legislature about any future decisions regarding implementation of NCLB; (6) by December 15, 2003, proposing recommendations to the senate and house committees on education and appropriations to ensure that neither the state nor local school districts will incur costs to implement NCLB other than those funded by the federal government; and (7) receiving reports from the commissioner of education on his or her best estimate of the costs of implementing NCLB at the state level in January of 2004 and 2005.
Title: S.B. 185
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs |
Postsecondary Affordability--Tuition/Fees--Prepd/College Savings Plans |
Signed into law 06/2003 |
Postsec. |
Relates to the state higher education investment plan income tax credit; provides that contributions to such account shall be eligible for a credit against income tax.
Title: H.B. 141
Source: StateNet |
School/District Structure/Operations |
Signed into law 05/2003 |
P-12 |
Requires that a school district participate in the federal school breakfast program, and that a district may vote every two years on whether to exempts itself from participation in federal school meals programs.
Title: H.B. 54
Source: StateNet |
School/District Structure/Operations |
Signed into law 05/2003 |
P-12 |
This act assigns duties appropriately carried out by staff and which are currently assigned to a supervisory union board to the superintendent; repeals law relating to calculation of the equalized yield amount which is no longer necessary; updates law relating to possession of a firearm at school to synchronize with changes in federal law; clarifies that all school districts must follow accounting procedures adopted by the state board of education; clarifies that a school district must report the balance of reserve funds in its annual report to the electorate; clarifies the process for voting for an at-large school board member for a union school district; clarifies which school board determines the district of residence for a pupil whose legal residence is unclear; establishes that school registers must be filed within the supervisory union; clarifies that when a school district has an alternate method of paying a deficit, it is not required to add the amount to its budget; authorizes school boards to purchase liability insurance through participation in an intermunicipal agreement; authorizes payment of state aid to gores and unorganized towns and establishes a tax for spending in excess of state aid; reorganizes the state advisory council on special education to comply with changes in federal law; establishes that data changes used to calculate state aid which are made due to an error or due to an actual change in information are treated the same way; stipulates that a school district which eliminates the office of auditor must have a Certified Public Accountant conduct an annual audit; establishes that a student, if necessary, may count credits earned at technical education centers toward graduation; stipulates that credits earned at a technical center shall be applied toward school graduation requirements; and provides that state aid paid for adult diploma students shall be based on a two-year average. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2004/acts/ACT036.HTM
Title: H.B. 477
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
No Child Left Behind--Supplemental Services |
Active 10/2002 |
P-12 |
Approved supplemental service providers (revised 10/15/02): http://www.state.vt.us/educ/new/pdfdoc/laws/nclba/supp_providers.pdf
Source: Vermont Department of Education Web site |
No Child Left Behind |
Active 06/2002 |
P-12 |
2002 Consolidated Plan (6/12/02): http://www.state.vt.us/educ/new/html/pgm_federal/state_cfa_03_application.html
Source: Vermont Department of Education Web site |
Curriculum |
Signed into law 05/2001 |
P-12 |
Authorizes schools to offer American Sign Language (ASL) as a course of foreign language credit; directs the Board of Education to establish licensing credentials for ASL teachers; directs the Commissioner of Education to encourage postsecondary institutions to accept secondary school ASL credits as foreign language credits.
Title: S.B. 25
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Economic/Workforce Development |
Signed into law 05/2001 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
The purpose of this act to enable technical center regions to establish alternative governance structures which meet regional technical education needs, ensure equal educational opportunities to technical education students throughout Vermont, and prepare Vermont technical education students to enter high skill jobs which pay a high salary.
Title: H.B. 495
Source: http://www.leg.state.vt.us |
Governance--School Boards |
Signed into law 05/2001 |
P-12 |
Ensures that every union school board follows the proportional representation principle.
Title: H.B. 314
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Postsecondary |
Signed into law 05/2001 |
Postsec. |
Increases the scope to include any institution that uses the words "college," "university" or "institute," which is intended to indicate that it offers postsecondary education; requires that the institution apply for a certificate of approval from the state board prior to registering the business name, receive approval from the state prior to both offering credit-bearing courses and admitting its first student, and secure a certificate of degree-granting authority from the state board prior to conferring a degree to a student enrolled in its Vermont school; exempts non credit-granting postsecondary schools and religious instruction not resulting in earned credits as well as non-degree schools.
Title: S.B. 86
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Special Education |
Signed into law 05/2001 |
P-12 |
Relates to special education services cost sharing; states the Commissioner of Education and the Secretary of Human Services shall present to the House and Senate committees on education and health and welfare a draft of an agreement to shift a portion of special education costs to the Agency of Human Services starting in 2003; states the agreement shall identify services paid for by school districts and those paid for by human services; provides for revision and presentation.
Title: H.B. 499
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Attendance |
Signed into law 06/2000 |
P-12 |
The age of compulsory school attendance is lowered from age seven to six.
Title: H.B. 270
Source: http://www.state.vt.us/educ/legupdate.htm |
Choice of Schools--Choice/Open Enrollment |
Signed into law 06/2000 |
P-12 |
This Act creates a system of public school choice for students in grades 9 through 12 by July 1, 2002. It applies only to school districts that maintain high schools. Each school district, unless exempted by the Commissioner of Education (because it can demonstrate that "participation in a public high school choice region would adversely affect students in its high school"), must enter into an agreement with at least one other high school district to form a "choice region." There is no limit to the number of regions to which a school district may belong. These regions may make their own agreements on the local level as to how they will operate and, except as to special and technical education students, whether any money will change hands. In the absence of any agreement as to the procedures to be followed in accepting students, the law provides a "default mechanism."
School districts define their own capacity to accept choice students and may further limit the number of choice students transferring from their high school within percentages specified in the law. If any of the above results in too many students for too few open choice slots, the sending or receiving school, as the case may be, must establish a non-discriminatory lottery system to select which students may participate. If a student is eligible for special education, the receiving school is responsible for carrying out the student's IEP that is developed by the sending school district. The receiving district is entitled to notice of and participation in IEP meetings. Transportation of choice students is not required but superintendents must establish a clearinghouse for families needing information on transportation options.
The Commissioner of Education must provide technical assistance in developing the above-mentioned choice region agreements. The Commissioner annually must report on implementation of this Act and after five years must submit a significant report with recommendations on the choice system generally. The law sunsets in 2007.
Title: S.B. 203
Source: http://www.state.vt.us/educ/legupdate.htm |
Governance--School Boards |
Signed into law 06/2000 |
P-12 |
This Act makes clear that the Australian ballot nominating process for union school board members is the same at the time of establishment of the union as it is for ongoing board elections thereafter. While this was assumed before, the language has been added to harmonize the two provisions. Also, nominating petitions will now require at least 30 voters or one percent of the legal voters in the local district, whichever is less. This process will now be identical to that of the Australian ballot nominating process for local school district directors. The Secretary of State has mailed further information about this new law to each school district clerk.
Title: H.B. 255
Source: http://www.state.vt.us/educ/legupdate.htm |
School Safety |
Signed into law 06/2000 |
P-12 |
There are a number of new provisions regarding school discipline including: School boards must adopt comprehensive discipline plans that include more than the standard discipline policies. Such plans must also include the school's approach to classroom management; how the school will provide information and training on conflict resolution; procedures for informing students and parents about the discipline policies and notifying and working with parents about student misconduct; how to respond to significant disruptions such as bomb threats; how staff will receive training on maintaining a safe, orderly civil and positive learning environment; and a description of behaviors on and off school grounds that constitute misconduct, including harassment and hazing.
The definitions of suspension and expulsion have been changed. A student may be suspended for up to 10 school days or expelled for up to the remainder of a school year or up to 90 school days, whichever is longer. The superintendent or principal may suspend a student but the approval of the school board is needed to expel a student.
The law has now been clarified that a student can be disciplined for misconduct off school grounds if the misconduct directly harms the welfare of the school. Examples might include calling in a bomb threat, selling drugs, assaulting a staff member or another student.
School boards and school officials are authorized and encouraged to provide alternative educational services to students during such periods of suspension or expulsion.
A school to which a student under suspension or expulsion applies may accept the student but honor the discipline imposed by the previous school.
The law is clarified that a parent of a student who is under suspension or expulsion is not subject to the laws on compulsory student attendance unless the terms of the suspension or expulsion require continued attendance in some form.
If a school district does not maintain a school but rather pays tuition on behalf of its students, it is not required, but may, pay tuition on behalf of an expelled student to another school.
The criminal laws regarding possession of a weapon in a school building have been amended to create two separate offenses--knowing possession of a weapon in a school building or on a school bus, and knowing possession of a weapon on any school property with the intent to injure another person. The definition of "dangerous and deadly weapon" has been refined and the penalties for committing the offense significantly increased. Existing law permitted only the school board to allow exceptions to the possession of a weapon in a school building for instructional or other specific purposes. The new law permits, if so delegated by the school board, a superintendent or principal to make such decisions.
The Commissioner of Education is charged with developing and delivering training to school personnel on prevention, identification, and remediation of disruptive student behaviors.
Educator preparation and professional development programs are to be strengthened on dealing with students with challenging and disruptive behaviors.
State officials are charged with the responsibility to reduce or eliminate communications barriers to state and local agencies sharing information that would assist in either protecting students from, or providing proper interventions to, dangerous or disruptive students.
The Commissioner of Education is charged with the responsibility of assisting school districts in developing model plans and strategies regarding discipline and student behavior, weapons on school grounds and confidentiality of records.
The Commissioner of Education is to work with the education community on a common definition of "truancy" and of "dropout" and then collect data on these two phenomena.
The Commissioner of Education is to conduct a research based study on "alternative learning environments" with the goal of making recommendations on whether new standards and funding mechanisms should be developed for these programs that are springing up around Vermont.
A plan is to be developed to decriminalize truancy and allow local or regional policies on truancy interventions with court intervention as a last resort. The plan is to be submitted by January.
The Commissioner of Education is directed to work with the education community to gather data on the use of restrictive behavioral interventions in Vermont schools.
A provision was added to this bill in its late stage to add to the law on penalties for false alarms. Added is the suspension of motor vehicle operator's licenses or the delay in eligibility for such a license for underage students.
Funds are appropriated in the following amounts: $10,000 to support the work of the new Safe Schools Coordinator at the Department of Education; $30,000 for a study of educational outcomes for students in state custody; $315,000 to add capacity for residential care and programs for youth who suffer from alcohol abuse; and $50,000 to fund the study on alternative learning environments.
Title: H.B. 270
Source: http://www.state.vt.us/educ/legupdate.htm |
School Safety |
Signed into law 06/2000 |
P-12 |
This Act adds language to statute addressing the transmission of false public alarms which include bomb threats. Bomb threats made over the Internet, or by other means of electronic transmission, are now clearly punishable criminal offenses
Title: S.B. 314
Source: http://www.state.vt.us/educ/legupdate.htm |
Teaching Quality--Compensation and Diversified Pay--Retirement/Benefits |
Signed into law 06/2000 |
P-12 |
Permits eligible teachers to be employed and compensated up to 60% rather than 50% of the average teachers' compensation and still receive a full retirement allowance from the system. Also modifies other components of retirement policy.
Title: H.B. 688
Source: http://www.state.vt.us/educ/legupdate.htm |
At-Risk (incl. Dropout Prevention)--Drugs/Alcohol |
Signed into law 05/2000 |
P-12 |
Makes a social host who furnishes intoxicating liquor to a minor liable under the Dram Shop Act for damages and injuries caused by the intoxicated minor; changes illegal blood alcohol concentration to .02 for a school bus operator.
Title: H.B. 566
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
Health |
Signed into law 05/2000 |
P-12 |
Provides for a school environmental health clearinghouse on the Department of Health's website; provides for the development of a model school environmental health policy; requires an annual audit of school buildings and grounds; requires a maintenance schedule for ventilation and heating systems; requires implementation of integrated pest management; provides for isolation of toxic material that cannot be removed; provides for emergency response.
Title: H.B. 192
Source: Lexis-Nexis/StateNet |
School Safety |
Signed into law 05/2000 |
P-12,
Postsec. |
This legislation does essentially five things: It addresses school (public and independent schools at the elementary and secondary level as well as some post-secondary institutions) policies on hazing and harassment; it creates a new school quality standard by which schools will be judged with respect to a safe, civil, orderly and positive learning environment; it permits the Commissioner and State Board of Education to intervene if there are serious problems in a particular school without having to wait four years as would otherwise be required under the school quality process; it makes hazing unlawful with a civil, rather than criminal, penalty of up to $5,000.00; and it requires the Commissioner annually to report on, and therefore school authorities to report to the Commissioner on, hazing and harassment complaints and the response thereto. With respect to hazing policies, school boards (including boards of independent schools) must adopt and enforce such policies by August 1, 2001. School board harassment policies also must be updated, if necessary, by that same date. The new law spells out the definition of hazing and the minimum requirements for hazing policies.
Title: S.B. 76
Source: http://www.state.vt.us/educ/legupdate.htm |
Special Education |
Signed into law 05/2000 |
P-12 |
Clarifies the definition of special education services; permits the cost of special education services to be a factor in considering how to provide appropriate services; provides for teacher training; provides for individual education plans; provides for state aid to districts to assist with special education costs.
More details:
This Act focuses on students in the entire educational system, not just the special education system, and addresses containment of special education costs while at the same time continuing to deliver appropriate services that meet the needs of Vermont students. It includes, among other items, the following provisions:
Assignment of responsibility for developing and maintaining the educational support system to either the superintendent or principal.
Requirement for an annual report to the Commissioner of Education on the status of each school's educational support system and a description and justification of how Medicaid funds were used.
Amendment to the definition in state statute of "special education" to clarify that Vermont requires no more in services than is required under federal law.
Specification of the conditions under which IEP teams can take costs into consideration when selecting services for a student with disabilities.
Expansion of the Commissioner of Education's annual report on special education costs to include the rate of growth or decrease in costs, outcomes for students, availability of special education staff, consistency of implementation statewide, status of educational support systems.
Development and implementation by the Commissioner of Education of a two-year plan to contain special education costs while continuing to meet the needs of all Vermont students by increasing the capacity of general education to meet the needs of students outside of special education, using cost-effective practices and operating special education programs across the state consistently and within federal requirements. The plan includes:
Formation of a partnership with higher education to improve teacher preparation and professional development.
Strengthening the educational support systems around the state by focusing on preschool through fourth grade literacy, and prevention and intervention for students with emotional and behavioral difficulties.
Support for special education teachers and administrators and help in using cost-effective practices by working with higher education to increase the availability of special education administrators, teachers and related services providers; providing training opportunities for teachers and para-professionals; providing legal support, information and training to avoid conflict and assist in making cost-effective legal and procedural decisions; employing consultants with expertise in particular disability areas; providing guidance in the completion of annual service plans; and developing, with the University of Vermont, a decision-making model for IEP teams to use.
Efforts to make special education programs consistently-implemented and cost-effective statewide by studying IEPs in the most common disability areas and providing schools data on the range of costs associated therewith; increasing the capacity to audit and monitor special education programs statewide; training to school district leaders on cost-effective practices; and more clearly defining eligibility rules.
Development of recommendations to change the special education funding formula to make it more sustainable while at the same time not simply shifting costs to local taxpayers.
Drafting and submittal of annual reports to the legislature on progress made toward strengthening the educational support system, containing special education costs, and improving outcomes for students with disabilities.
Assisting school districts with unusual or unexpected costs by allocation of up to two percent of appropriations for special education expenditures assuming the districts requesting the funds have submitted Medicaid bills for reimbursement for at least 85 percent of eligible students.
Establishment of statewide targets in fiscal years 2002, 2003 and 2004 for limiting increases in total special education expenditures. Special education appropriations shall be based on these targets.
Repeal of the caps on special education expenditures enacted as part of Act 71 in order to allow the above-mentioned plan time to work.
Conduct of a study by the Secretary of Administration and the Joint Fiscal Office, along with a variety of others, on how interagency services could assist students with disabilities under the age of twenty-two.
Although not expressly part of this Act, the Appropriations Act contains significant funding to carry out the provisions of the above-mentioned plan.
Title: H.B. 629
Source: http://www.state.vt.us/educ/legupdate.htm |
Finance |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
This act amends the public bids section of law to make clear that school boards may resort to the state purchasing system without having to undergo any further public bidding and it clearly authorizes, in the context of school nutrition programs, use of any federally-permitted bid or request for proposal process notwithstanding any Vermont public bid statute to the contrary.
Title: H.B. 620
Source: http://www.state.vt.us/educ/legupdate.htm |
Governance--State Boards/Chiefs/Agencies |
Signed into law 03/2000 |
P-12 |
This Act expands the Vermont State Board of Education from seven to ten members. The three additional members will be appointed by the Governor. One new member will be an adult, appointed for a six-year term. Two students shall be appointed by the Governor for a transition year after an open application process. One student shall be appointed for a one-year term and the other for a two-year term. The student serving the one-year term shall be a full voting member. The student holding the two-year term shall become a voting member in the second year of his or her term. Thereafter, annually the Governor shall appoint one student for a two-year term to replace the departing student State Board member.
Title: H.B. 234
Source: http://www.state.vt.us/educ/legupdate.htm |