16 V.S.A. § 212 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 5 / Section 212
§ 212. Secretary's duties generally
Status: in_force

The Secretary shall execute those policies adopted by the State Board in the legal exercise of its powers and shall:

(1) Coordinate the educational work of the public schools with higher education in the State.

(2) Identify the educational goals of the public schools, provide alternative methods of attaining those goals, and promote education in the State.

(3) Evaluate the program of instruction in the public schools.

(4) Advise the General Assembly concerning proposed laws affecting the public schools.

(5) Supervise and direct the execution of the laws relating to the public schools and ensure compliance.

(6) Supervise the expenditure and distribution of all money appropriated by the State under the provisions of this title for public schools.

(7) Arrange conferences and summer schools for superintendents and teachers and employ suitable speakers, lecturers, and instructors for the same; fix the amount of tuition for the instruction; provide for educational gatherings, institutes, summer schools, and other supplementary educational activities; and provide for cooperation with the Board of Libraries established by 22 V.S.A. § 602 or the State Librarian.

(8) Inform citizens of the condition of and opportunities within the public education system and provide other educational publicity for the enlightenment and well-being of the citizens of the State.

(9) Establish requirements for information to be submitted by school districts, including necessary statistical data and other information and ensure, to the extent possible, that data are reported in a uniform way. Data collected under this subdivision shall include budget surplus amounts, reserve fund amounts, and information concerning the purpose and use of any reserve funds.

(10) Make recommendations to school boards regarding transportation policies.

(11) Provide an educational facilities planning service to make available technical assistance and comprehensive information on school construction, school systems design, component technology and suppliers, and similar subjects to public schools, school districts, and independent schools, for the purpose of helping them to achieve flexibility and economy in construction, to retain the potential for modification and expansion of educational facilities, and to attain the lowest maintenance costs consistent with educational needs.

(12) Distribute at his or her discretion upon request to approved independent schools appropriate forms and materials relating to the education quality standards for elementary and secondary students.

(13) Ensure the provision of services to children and adolescents with a severe emotional disturbance in coordination with the Departments of Mental Health, for Children and Families, and of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living pursuant to the provisions of 33 V.S.A. chapter 43.

(14) Annually, communicate to each superintendent a list of information that a supervisory union, a school board, a school district, a school, a school district employee, or a supervisory union employee is required under State or federal law to make available to the electorate, community members, parents, or students. It is the intent of this subdivision that the Secretary shall make a good faith effort to compile a complete list of the information to be made available. Due to the difficult nature of compiling such a list, it is also the intent that failure to include relevant information on the list shall not constitute grounds for an action against the Secretary.

(15) Annually, with the Commissioner of Health, shall jointly 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.

(16) 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.

(17) Encourage and facilitate collaboration among school districts and supervisory unions to share information and expertise regarding low-incidence special education needs.

(18) Annually, inform superintendents and principals of regional resources available to assist schools to provide instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of automated external defibrillators and provide updated information to the education community regarding the provision of a comprehensive health education.

(19) Establish an information clearinghouse and accessible database to help districts share information about educational programs and practices that improve student performance. Educational programs and practices include those designed to create and sustain a safe learning environment.

(20) Develop, in consultation with the Secretary of State, and make available to school boards sample ballot language for issues that may be decided by Australian ballot and for which no statutory language exists.

(21) Prepare a budget for the Agency and submit it to the Governor after review by the State Board.

(22) Annually, prior to September 1, present the Governor's education policy priorities to the State Board.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 17.06 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 17 / Section 17.06
App. § 17-6. Bylaws, rules, and regulations; Trustees
Status: in_force

The Trustees may make such bylaws, rules, and regulations for the graduation, instruction, and management of the school, and for the care of the property of the District as they may deem expedient, not inconsistent with the laws of the State; they shall establish a course or courses of study in each of the schools or departments of the school, and shall in conjunction with the teachers of the several schools or departments arrange and hold a public examination of all the scholars at the close of each term thereof, if thought best, and assign each scholar to the particular grade or department which each shall be found qualified to enter; shall assign each student to the proper grade upon admission to the school and may change students from one grade to another during term time, whenever the interest of the student or the welfare and good of the school may seem to require it. The Trustees, shall, unless otherwise directed by a vote of the District at any annual meeting thereof, allow and make provision for the attendance and instruction of students from other parts or portions of the Town of Barton or from other towns in the graded school with equal advantages of resident students, at rates of tuition corresponding as nearly as may be to the usual rates for the same instruction in schools of like character in the State.
16 V.S.A. § 2802 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 86 / Section 2802
§ 2802. Construction
Status: in_force

The University of Vermont and State Agricultural College may acquire real estate; construct, operate, manage, and equip television broadcast stations and related auxiliary broadcast stations, including microwave facilities; and may interconnect with any other television station or network for the purpose of providing a statewide education television network for the transmission of programs to students in schools, colleges, and universities in Vermont, as well as to the public generally throughout the State; and may enter into any contract considered necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. Title to the facilities created under this chapter shall be held in the name of the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College.
16 V.S.A. § 566 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 9 / Section 566
§ 566. Authority to borrow
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision 562(9) of this title, if a budget for the support of schools for the ensuing year has not been approved on or before June 30 of any year, the school board may borrow funds necessary to enable it to operate the schools on a budget of up to 87 percent of the most recently approved school budget. If the school board borrows money under this section, it shall determine how all funds shall be expended.
16 V.S.A. § 213 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 5 / Section 213
§ 213. Deputy secretaries
Status: in_force

The Secretary shall employ such number of deputy secretaries as he or she deems necessary.
16 V.S.A. § 1542 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 37 / Section 1542
§ 1542. Regional advisory board
Status: in_force

(a) Each regional advisory board shall consist of:

(1) one member from each public high school in the center's service region, elected by and from among the members of that high school board for a term determined by that high school board; and

(2) the superintendent or his or her designee of each supervisory union within the center's service region; and

(3) one member elected for a term of three years by and from among the school board of each sending district in the center's service region that does not have a public high school represented on the advisory board under subdivision (1) of this section; except that, if there are more than three such districts in the center's service area, the advisory board shall select three school boards to represent the interests of all such districts, shall rotate its selections among the districts, and shall stagger the expiration of initial terms; and

(4) one member of the board of each independent comprehensive high school within a service region, elected by the members of that board for a term determined by that board; and

(5) once constituted, the regional advisory board shall elect three additional members for terms of three years to represent the interests of employers or employees, provided that no two terms shall expire in any year.

(b) A regional advisory board, with the consent of the State Workforce Development Board, may delegate its responsibilities to the grantee that performs workforce development activities in the region pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 542. In this case, the grantee shall become the regional advisory board unless and until the school board that operates the career technical center requests that the regional advisory board be reconstituted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.
16 V.S.A. § 764 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 11 / Section 764
§ 764. Secretary of State; recording certificates
Status: in_force

(a) To ensure that documentary evidence relating to the creation of union school districts can be found in one location, the Secretary of Education shall forward to the Secretary of State copies of the certifications designating the existence of each new union school district created pursuant to the State Board's “Final Report of Decisions and Order on Statewide School District Merger Decisions Pursuant to [2015 Acts and Resolves No.] 46, Sections 8(b) and 10” dated November 28, 2018 (the Order).

(b) The Secretary of State shall record the certifications and all subsequent amendments and addenda to the certifications.

(c) The Secretary of State shall file a certified copy of the recorded certification and any amendments or addenda with the elected clerk of each union school district created by the Order.
16 V.S.A. § 166b — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 3 / Section 166b
§ 166b. Home study program
Status: repealed

(a) Enrollment notice. A parent or legal guardian shall send the Secretary notice of intent to enroll the parent's or legal guardian's child in a home study program at least 10 business days prior to commencing home study. Such notice shall be submitted via a form developed by the Agency of Education. A notice under this subsection shall include the following:

(1) The name; age; and date, month, and year of birth of the child.

(2) The names, mailing addresses, email addresses, town of legal residence, and telephone numbers of all parents or guardians with legal custody who are legally authorized to make educational decisions for the student.

(3) An attestation that the academic progress of each child enrolled in a home study program will be assessed at the end of each school year and that the parent or guardian will maintain the record of such assessments. Permitted means of assessment shall include:

(A) a standardized assessment, which may be administered by the local school district or a testing service or administered in a manner approved by the testing company;

(B) a review of the student's progress by an individual who holds a current Vermont teacher's certificate;

(C) a parent or guardian report and portfolio to include a summary of what the student learned during the school year and at least four samples of student work;

(D) grades from an online academy or school; or

(E) evidence of passing of the GED.

(4) For each child not previously enrolled in a Vermont public school or Vermont home study program, independent professional evidence regarding whether the child has a documented disability and how the disability may affect the student's educational progress in a home study program.

(5) An attestation that each child being enrolled in home study will be provided the equivalent of at least 175 days of instruction in the minimum course of study per year, specifically:

(A) for a child who is younger than 13 years of age, the subject areas listed in section 906 of this title;

(B) for a child who is 13 years of age or older, the subject areas listed in subdivisions 906(b)(1), (2), (4), and (5) of this title; or

(C) for students with documented disabilities, a parent or guardian must attest to providing adaptations to support the student in the home study program.

(6) [Repealed.]

(7) The signatures of all parents or guardians with legal custody who are legally authorized to make educational decisions for the student. In the alternative, the parent seeking enrollment may provide attestation of sole primary educational decision-making authority.

(b) Enrollment. Within 10 business days following submission of a complete enrollment notice, the Secretary or designee shall send the home study program a written acknowledgment of receipt, which shall constitute sufficient enrollment verification for purposes of section 1121 of this title.

(1) [Repealed.]

(2) [Repealed.]

(c) Withdrawal. The parent or guardian shall notify the Secretary in writing within 10 business days following the date that any student is withdrawn from the student's home study program.

(d) [Repealed.]

(e) [Repealed.]

(f) [Repealed.]

(g) [Repealed.]

(h) [Repealed.]

(i) [Repealed.]

(j) Waiver. After the filing of the enrollment notice, if the home study program is unable to comply with any specific requirements due to deep religious conviction shared by an organized group, the Secretary may waive such requirements if the Secretary determines that the educational purposes of this section are being or will be substantially met.

(k) Annual notice. A parent or guardian who has provided a complete enrollment notice as described in subsection (a) of this section shall notify the Secretary on or before the start of each following year of the parent's or guardian's intention to continue to provide instruction through a home study program via a form provided by the Agency of Education. This notice shall be provided at least 10 business days prior to the intended start date of the home study program.

(l) [Repealed.]
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 2.04 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 11 / Section 2.04
App. § 11-2.4. Bonding of officers
Status: in_force

A Prudential Committee member shall not be a Clerk-Treasurer or Collector of Taxes. Before entering upon their duties, the Collector of Taxes and Clerk-Treasurer shall give a bond to the District conditioned for the faithful performance of their duties in such sums as may be required. When the Collector or Clerk-Treasurer for ten days neglects to give a bond as required, the office shall be vacant.
16 V.S.A. § 2102 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 61 / Section 2102
§ 2102. Commission on Public School Employee Health Benefits created
Status: in_force

(a) Commission created. There is created an independent commission to be called the Commission on Public School Employee Health Benefits (Commission) to determine, in accordance with section 2103 of this chapter, the amounts of the premiums and out-of-pocket expenses for school employee health benefits that shall be borne by school employers and by participating employees.

(b) Composition and appointment.

(1) The Commission shall have 10 members, of whom five shall be representatives of school employees and five shall be representatives of school employers.

(2)(A) The representatives of school employees shall be appointed as follows:

(i) four members appointed by the labor organization representing the greatest number of school employees in this State; and

(ii) one member appointed by the labor organization representing the second-greatest number of school employees in this State.

(B) The five representatives of school employers shall be appointed by the organization representing the majority of the public school boards in this State.

(C) The appointing authorities shall select appointees who have an understanding of health care and employer-employee relations and who demonstrate a willingness to work collaboratively.

(D) The term of each member of the Commission shall be six years, provided that of the members first appointed by the labor organization described in subdivision (A)(i) of this subdivision (2), one appointee shall serve a term of two years and one appointee shall serve a term of four years, and of the members first appointed by the organization representing the majority of the public school boards in this State, one appointee shall serve a term of two years and one appointee shall serve a term of four years.

(3) In the event of a vacancy, the appointing authority of the member whose seat becomes vacant shall appoint a successor to serve out the remainder of the member's term.

(c) Chairs. The Commission shall be chaired jointly by one member selected biennially by the representatives of school employees and one member selected biennially by the representatives of school employers.

(d) Removal of Commission members. Members of the Commission may be removed by the appointing authority of the member without cause.

(e) Decisions. All decisions of the Commission shall require the votes of a majority of the representatives of school employees and a majority of the representatives of school employers.

(f) Compensation. Commission members shall be entitled to receive per diem compensation and reimbursement of expenses as permitted under 32 V.S.A. § 1010 for not more than 20 meetings per year.

(g) Release time. A school district that employs a member of the Commission, or an alternate member of the Commission under subsection (j) of this section, who represents school employees or school employers shall grant the Commission member time off as necessary for the member to attend meetings of the Commission.

(h) Staffing and expenses. The Commission may hire staff as it deems necessary to carry out its duties under this chapter. Compensation for Commission staff and administrative expenses of the Commission shall be shared equally by school employers and school employees. The representatives of school employers and the representatives of school employees shall equitably apportion their share of the costs of compensation and administrative expenses among their members.

(i) Rulemaking. The Commission may adopt rules or procedures, or both, pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter 25 as needed to carry out its duties under this chapter.

(j) Alternate members.

(1) Four alternate members may be appointed to the Commission.

(2) Up to two alternate members may be appointed by representatives of school employees and up to two members may be appointed by representatives of school employers.

(3) The term of each alternate member, if appointed, shall be six years.

(4) An alternate member may serve temporarily in the role as a member appointed under subsection (b) of this section only in the absence of an appointed member and shall not otherwise have participation or voting rights in Commission business.

(5) An alternate member shall be appointed to be a full member of the Commission by the alternate member's appointing authority upon the resignation or removal of a full member.

(6) In the event of a vacancy of an alternate member, the appointing authority of the alternate member shall appoint a successor to serve out the remainder of the alternate member's term.

(7) Alternate members may be removed by the appointing authority of the alternate member without cause.

(k) Funding. The Commission shall request the Governor to include in the Governor's annual budget a minimum of $35,000.00 appropriated to the Agency of Education for per diem compensation and reimbursement of expenses for members of the Commission. Any unencumbered appropriation shall revert to the General Fund in the year following the conclusion of an agreement under subdivision 2104(b)(1) of this title.
16 V.S.A. § 4010 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 133 / Section 4010
§ 4010. Determination of weighted long-term membership and per pupil education spending [Effective until contingency met; see also 16 @ § 4010 effective July 1, 2028 if contingency met, set out below]
Status: repealed

(a) Definitions. As used in this section:

(1) “EL pupils” means pupils described under section 4013 of this title.

(2) “FPL” means the Federal Poverty Level.

(3) “Weighting categories” means the categories listed under subsection (b) of this section.

(b) Determination of average daily membership and weighting categories. On or before the first day of December during each school year, the Secretary shall determine the average daily membership, as defined in subdivision 4001(1) of this title, of each school district for the current school year and shall perform the following tasks.

(1) Using average daily membership, list for each school district the number of:

(A) pupils in prekindergarten;

(B) pupils in kindergarten through grade five;

(C) pupils in grades six through eight;

(D) pupils in grades nine through 12;

(E) pupils whose families are at or below 185 percent of FPL, using the highest number of pupils in the district:

(i) that meet this definition under the universal income declaration form; or

(ii) who are directly certified for free and reduced-priced meals; and

(F) EL pupils.

(2)(A) Identify all school districts that have low population density, measured by the number of persons per square mile residing within the land area of the geographic boundaries of the district as of July 1 of the year of determination, equaling:

(i) fewer than 36 persons per square mile;

(ii) 36 or more persons per square mile but fewer than 55 persons per square mile; or

(iii) 55 or more persons per square mile but fewer than 100 persons per square mile.

(B) Population density data shall be based on the best available U.S. Census data as provided to the Agency of Education by the Vermont Center for Geographic Information.

(C) Using average daily membership, list for each school district that has low population density the number of pupils in each of subdivisions (A)(i)–(iii) of this subdivision (2).

(3)(A) Identify all school districts that have one or more small schools, which are schools that have an average two-year enrollment of:

(i) fewer than 100 pupils; or

(ii) 100 or more pupils but fewer than 250 pupils.

(B) As used in subdivision (A) of this subdivision (3), “average two- year enrollment” means the average enrollment of the two most recently completed school years, and “enrollment” means the number of pupils who are enrolled in a school operated by the district on October 1. A pupil shall be counted as one whether the pupil is enrolled as a full-time or part-time student.

(C) Using average two-year enrollment, list for each school district that has a small school the number of pupils in each of subdivisions (A)(i)–(ii) of this subdivision (3).

(c) Reporting on weighting categories to the Agency of Education. Each school district shall annually report to the Agency of Education by a date established by the Agency the information needed in order for the Agency to compute the weighting categories under subsection (b) of this section for that district. In order to fulfill this obligation, a school district that pays public tuition on behalf of a resident student (sending district) to a public school in another school district, an approved independent school, or an out-of-state school (each a receiving school) may request the receiving school to collect this information on the sending district's resident student, and if requested, the receiving school shall provide this information to the sending district in a timely manner.

(d) Determination of weighted long-term membership. For each weighting category except the small schools weighting category under subdivision (b)(3) of this section, the Secretary shall compute the weighting count by using the long-term membership, as defined in subdivision 4001(7) of this title, in that category.

[Subdivision (d)(1) effective until contingency met; see also subdivision (d)(1) effective July 1, 2026 if contingency met, set out below.]

(1) The Secretary shall first apply grade level weights. Each pupil included in long-term membership shall count as one, multiplied by the following amounts:

(A) prekindergarten—negative 0.54;

(B) grades six through eight—0.36; and

(C) grades nine through 12—0.39.

[Subdivision (d)(1) effective July 1, 2026 if contingency met; see also subdivision (d)(1) effective until contingency met, set out above.]

(1) The Secretary shall first apply grade level weights. Each pupil included in long-term membership shall count as one, multiplied by the following amounts:

(A) [Repealed.]

(B) grades six through eight—0.36; and

(C) grades nine through 12—0.39.

(2) The Secretary shall next apply a weight for pupils whose family is at or below 185 percent of FPL. Each pupil included in long-term membership whose family is at or below 185 percent of FPL shall receive an additional weighting amount of 1.03.

(3) The Secretary shall next apply a weight for EL pupils. Each EL pupil included in long-term membership shall receive an additional weighting amount of 2.49.

(4) The Secretary shall then apply a weight for pupils living in low population density school districts. Each pupil included in long-term membership residing in a low population density school district, measured by the number of persons per square mile residing within the land area of the geographic boundaries of the district as of July 1 of the year of determination, shall receive an additional weighting amount of:

(A) 0.15, where the number of persons per square mile is fewer than 36 persons;

(B) 0.12, where the number of persons per square mile is 36 or more but fewer than 55 persons; or

(C) 0.07, where the number of persons per square mile is 55 or more but fewer than 100.

(5) The Secretary shall lastly apply a weight for pupils who attend a small school. If the number of persons per square mile residing within the land area of the geographic boundaries of a school district as of July 1 of the year of determination is 55 or fewer, then, for each pupil listed under subdivision (b)(3)(C) of this section (pupils who attend small schools):

(A) where the school has fewer than 100 pupils in average two-year enrollment, the school district shall receive an additional weighting amount of 0.21 for each pupil included in the small school's average two-year enrollment; or

(B) where the small school has 100 or more but fewer than 250 pupils, the school district shall receive an additional weighting amount of 0.07 for each pupil included in the small school's average two-year enrollment.

(6) A school district's weighted long-term membership shall equal long-term membership plus the cumulation of the weights assigned by the Secretary under this subsection.

[Subsection (e) not in effect July 1, 2025-June 30, 2029.]

(e) Hold harmless. A district's weighted long-term membership shall in no case be less than 96 and one-half percent of its actual weighted long-term membership the previous year prior to making any adjustment under this subsection.

(f) Determination of per pupil education spending. As soon as reasonably possible after a school district budget is approved by voters, the Secretary shall determine the per pupil education spending for the next fiscal year for the school district. Per pupil education spending shall equal a school district's education spending divided by its weighted long-term membership.

(g) Guidelines. The Secretary shall develop guidelines to enable clear and consistent identification of pupils to be counted under this section.

(h) Updates to weights. On or before January 1, 2027 and on or before January 1 of every fifth year thereafter, the Agency of Education and the Joint Fiscal Office shall calculate, based on their consensus view, updates to the weights to account for cost changes underlying those weights and shall issue a written report on their work to the House and Senate Committees on Education, the House Committee on Ways and Means, and the Senate Committee on Finance. The General Assembly shall update the weights under this section and transportation reimbursement under section 4016 of this title not less than every five years and the implementation date for the updated weights and transportation reimbursement shall be delayed by a year in order to provide school districts with time to prepare their budgets. Updates to the weights may include recalibration, recalculation, adding or eliminating weights, or any combination of these actions.

(a) Definitions. As used in this section:

(1) “EL pupils” means pupils described under section 4013 of this title.

(2) “FPL” means the Federal Poverty Level.

(3) “Weighting categories” means the categories listed under subsection (b) of this section.

(4) “Child with a disability” means any child in Vermont eligible under State rules to receive special education who is enrolled in any of kindergarten through grade 12.

(5) “Disability” means any of:

(A) a specific learning disability or a speech or language impairment, each of which is identified as “Category A”;

(B) an emotional disturbance, intellectual disability, developmental delay, or other health impairment, each of which is identified as “Category B”; or

(C) autism spectrum disorder, deaf-blindness, hearing impairment, orthopedic impairment, traumatic brain injury, or visual impairment, each of which is identified as “Category C.”

(6) “English language proficiency level” means each of the English language proficiency levels published as a standardized measure of academic language proficiency in WIDA ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 and available to members of the WIDA consortium of state departments of education.

(7) “Newcomer or SLIFE” means a pupil identified as a New American or as a student with limited or interrupted formal education.

(b) Determination of average daily membership and weighting categories. On or before the first day of December during each school year, the Secretary shall determine the average daily membership, as defined in subdivision 4001(1) of this title, of each school district for the current school year and shall, using average daily membership, list for each school district the number of

(1) pupils in prekindergarten;

(2) pupils in kindergarten through grade five;

(3) pupils in grades six through eight;

(4) pupils in grades nine through 12;

(5) pupils whose families are at or below 185 percent of FPL, using the highest number of pupils in the district:

(A) that meet this definition under the universal income declaration form; or

(B) who are directly certified for free and reduced-priced meals;

(6) EL pupils who have been most recently assessed at an English language proficiency level of:

(A) Level 1;

(B) Level 2 or 3;

(C) Level 4; or

(D) Level 5 or 6;

(7) EL pupils who are identified as Newcomer or SLIFE; and

(8) children with a disability whose disability is identified as:

(A) Category A;

(B) Category B; or

(C) Category C, provided that a child with multiple disabilities shall be counted solely under this subdivision (C).

(c) Reporting on weighting categories to the Agency of Education. Each school district shall annually report to the Agency of Education by a date established by the Agency the information needed in order for the Agency to compute the weighting categories under subsection (b) of this section for that district. In order to fulfill this obligation, a school district that pays public tuition on behalf of a resident student (sending district) to a public school in another school district, an approved independent school, or an out-of-state school (each a receiving school) may request the receiving school to collect this information on the sending district's resident student, and if requested, the receiving school shall provide this information to the sending district in a timely manner.

(d) Determination of weighted long-term membership. For each weighting category, the Secretary shall compute the weighting count by using the long-term membership, as defined in subdivision 4001(7) of this title, in that category.

(1) Prekindergarten weight. Each pupil included in long-term membership who is enrolled in prekindergarten shall receive an additional weighting amount of negative 0.54.

(2) Economic disadvantage weight. Each pupil included in long-term membership whose family is at or below 185 percent of FPL shall receive an additional weighting amount of 1.02.

(3) EL proficiency weights. Each EL pupil included in long-term membership shall receive an additional weighting amount, based on the EL pupil's English language proficiency level, of:

(A) 2.11, if assessed as Level 1;

(B) 1.41, if assessed as Level 2 or 3;

(C) 1.20, if assessed as Level 4; or

(D) 0.12, if assessed as Level 5 or 6.

(4) EL Newcomer/SLIFE weight. Each EL pupil included in long-term membership who is a Newcomer or SLIFE shall receive an additional weighting amount of 0.42.

(5) Special education weights. Each child with a disability included in long-term membership shall receive an additional weighting amount, based on the categorization of the child's disability, of:

(A) 0.79, if the disability is identified as Category A;

(B) 1.89, if the disability is identified as Category B; or

(C) 2.49, if the disability is identified as Category C.

(6) A school district's weighted long-term membership shall equal long-term membership plus the cumulation of the weights assigned by the Secretary under this subsection

(e) Hold harmless. A district's weighted long-term membership shall in no case be less than 96 and one-half percent of its actual weighted long-term membership the previous year prior to making any adjustment under this subsection

(f) Determination of educational opportunity payment. The Secretary shall determine each school district's educational opportunity payment by multiplying the school district's weighted long-term membership determined under subsection (d) of this section by the base amount.

(g) Guidelines. The Secretary shall develop guidelines to enable clear and consistent identification of pupils to be counted under this section.

(h) Updates to weights, base amount, and transportation reimbursement. On or before January 1, 2026 and on or before January 1 of every fifth year thereafter, the Agency of Education and the Joint Fiscal Office shall calculate, based on their consensus view and with the advice and consultation of a professional judgment panel convened by the Agency, updates to the weights and the base amount, including any inflationary measure, to account for cost changes underlying those weights and shall issue a written report on their work to the House and Senate Committees on Education, the House Committee on Ways and Means, and the Senate Committee on Finance. The General Assembly shall update the weights under this section, the base amount, and transportation reimbursement under section 4016 of this title not less than every five years and the implementation date for the updated weights and transportation reimbursement shall be delayed by a year in order to provide school districts with time to prepare their budgets. Updates to the weights may include recalibration, recalculation, adding or eliminating weights, or any combination of these actions.
16 V.S.A. § 3583 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 125 / Section 3583
§ 3583. Control by federal authority prohibited
Status: in_force

No supervision or control may be exercised under the provisions of this subchapter by any federal authority over the administration, personnel, curriculum, instruction, methods of instruction, or materials of instruction in any Vermont public school.
16 V.S.A. § 2185 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 72 / Section 2185
§ 2185. Determination of residency for tuition purposes
Status: in_force

(a) The Board of Trustees shall adopt policies related to residency for tuition purposes, consistent with State and federal requirements. Any policies adopted by the Board shall not discriminate against or exclude a person based solely on the person's immigration status, or lack thereof, if such person would otherwise qualify for and meet requirements for Vermont residency for tuition purposes as set forth by the Board and as permitted under federal law.

(b) Any member of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty who is transferred to Vermont for duty other than for the purpose of education shall, upon transfer and for the period of active duty served in Vermont, be considered a resident for in-state tuition purposes at the start of the next semester or academic period.

(c) For determination of residency for tuition to the Community College of Vermont, a person who resides in Vermont shall be considered a resident for in-state tuition purposes, beginning at the start of the next semester or academic period after arrival in Vermont, if that person:

(1) qualifies as a refugee pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(42) (Immigration and Nationality Act definition of refugee);

(2) is granted parole to enter the United States pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1182(d)(5) (temporary admission of nonimmigrants for urgent humanitarian reasons); or

(3) is issued a special immigrant visa pursuant to the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009, Pub. L. No. 111-8 (8 U.S.C. § 1101 note), as amended.

(d) The spouse and dependent child of any person who is a member of the U.S. Armed Forces and stationed in this State pursuant to military orders shall be entitled to be considered, upon taking up a residence in the State, a resident for in-state tuition purposes at the start of the next semester or academic period. The spouse or dependent child shall not lose classification as an in-state student if the spouse or dependent child continues to reside in the State and the member of the U.S. Armed Forces is transferred on military orders or retires. The spouse or dependent child shall lose this classification as an in-state student under this subsection if the spouse or dependent child no longer resides in the State and shall regain this classification upon again taking up a residency in the State only if the member of the U.S. Armed Forces is stationed in this State pursuant to military orders.

(e) Except as otherwise provided by law, or by consent of the individual identified in the record, information collected pursuant to this section that directly or indirectly identifies applicants or students, including grant, loan, scholarship, or outreach programs, is exempt from public inspection and copying under the Public Records Act and shall be kept confidential.
16 V.S.A. § 1071 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 25 / Section 1071
§ 1071. School year and school day
Status: repealed

(a) Minimum number of days. Except as provided in this section, each public school shall be maintained and operated for:

(1) At least 175 student attendance days in each school year. For purposes of this section, a majority of students enrolled in a school must be recorded on the school roll as in attendance on any day counted as a student attendance day.

(2) At least five teacher in-service education days, during which time activities shall be conducted without students present in order to increase the competency of the staff, improve the curriculum of the school, enable teachers to attend State educational meetings, or disseminate student progress information to parents or the community.

(b) Hours of operation. Within the minimum set by the State Board, the school board shall fix the number of hours that shall constitute a school day, subject to change upon the order of the State Board.

(c) Unanticipated closings. When a public school is closed for cause beyond the control of the school board, it may petition the State Board for a waiver of the requirements of this section. The petition shall be filed with the State Board within 10 days of each occurrence and not later than June 15 of the school year involved; and the State Board shall act on the petition at its next meeting. If the petition is approved and a waiver granted, the school district shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of this section. If the State Board fails to act at that meeting, the petition shall be deemed to have been approved and the waiver granted.

(d) [Repealed.]

(e) Regional calendar. Before April 1 of each year, the superintendents of schools and the headmasters of public schools not managed by school boards in an area shall meet, and by majority vote, establish a uniform calendar within that area for the following school year. The calendar shall include student attendance days, periods of vacation, holidays, and teacher in-service education days and shall comply with subsection (a) of this section. Unless permitted by the Secretary, no area served by a regional career technical center shall be divided into two or more calendar regions.

(f) Additional days. Nothing in this section prohibits a school from scheduling additional days for student attendance or teacher in-service education. However, those days shall not conflict with any applicable school calendar.

(g) Upon application of one or more school districts, after approval by the voters of each such district, the State Board may grant a waiver of the requirements of subsection (a) of this section if it is satisfied that equivalent educational programming will be maintained or improved. The waiver may be granted for any purpose, including the conservation of energy.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 23.17 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 23 / Section 23.17
App. § 23-17. District Treasurer
Status: in_force

The School District Treasurer shall:

(1) Deposit in the school account school tax levies paid over and received, as well as State education spending payments and all other State and federal public education payments.

(2) Serve as a member of the board of abatement.

(3) Keep an account and registry of monies, bonds, notes, and evidences of debt paid or delivered to or issued by the School District, and monies received and disbursed for the School District, which accounts shall be open to the inspection of persons interested.

(4) Invest and reinvest monies received on behalf of the School District with the approval of the Board of School Trustees.

(5) Keep uniform accounts.

(6) Appoint an Assistant District Treasurer and revoke any such appointment at any time, and file notice of the appointment and revocation with the School District clerk and School Board of Trustees.

(7) Keep a record showing the amount of taxes voted for the support of the School District.

(8) Pay orders drawn by the Board of School Trustees, keeping a record thereof.

(9) Settle with the person conducting the audit required under section 23-16 of this chapter 30 days prior to each annual School District meeting and at such other times as the Board of School Trustees may require.

(10) Upon retirement or resignation, immediately pay over to his or her successor all funds in his or her possession belonging to the School District, together with all official books and records.

(11) Keep in a separate bank account all monies appropriated or given for the use of the School District.

(12) Procure and maintain a personal bond in such sum as the Board of School Trustees shall determine, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the School District Treasurer's duties.

(13) Prepare an annual report and deliver the same to the Board of School Trustees within 60 days following the close of the School District's fiscal year.

Historical Citation

Added 2011, No. M-13 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 3, 2012.

Appendices

Editor's note—2004. The following appendices represent sections of the Winooski City charter that were incorporated by reference in the Winooski School District charter.

Appendix A

§ 7.1. City elections

(a) Regular elections. Annually on the first Tuesday in March, a meeting of the legal voters of said City shall be held at seven o'clock in the forenoon at a place to be designated by the City Council. Notice of said meeting shall be posted in at least three public places within said City not less than 14 days nor more than 25 days prior thereto. Such notices shall be signed by the City Clerk and in case of the Clerk's failure to do so, by the Mayor. If the annual meeting shall fail to be held for want of notice, the officers of the City may, at any time thereafter be elected at a special meeting called for that purpose. The several officers shall be elected by ballot, using the Australian system, and the ballot boxes shall remain open until seven o'clock in the afternoon for all offices and on all other questions to be voted upon, notwithstanding any State law to the contrary.

Appendix B

§ 7.2. Nominations in general

Nominations for the office of Mayor and Councilor shall be made by petitions which shall be filed with the City Clerk not less than 30 days nor more than 40 days before an annual City election or a special City election called for that purpose. The petition shall state the name of the candidate, the candidate's residence and the office sought and shall be signed by at least 50 legal voters of said City qualified to vote at the time the petition is filed. The petitions shall contain no party designations. A person shall not sign more than one petition for each office to be filled. The City Clerk shall cause the names of the persons so nominated to be printed on a ballot in alphabetical arrangement according to surname and sample ballots shall be posted in at least three public places at least ten days before election.

Appendix C

§ 7.1. City elections

(d) Checklist. Preceding each annual or special meeting of said City the City Council shall, at least 15 days before the annual or special City meeting, prepare and correct, except as herein otherwise provided, in the manner provided for the preparation and correction of checklists to be used in town meetings, and shall forthwith cause copies of such list to be posted by or under the direction of the City Clerk in two or more public places in such City and a copy to be filed in the City Clerk's office.

Appendix D

§ 7.1. City elections

(b) Qualified voters. The qualifications of voters in the City meetings shall be the same as those prescribed by law for voters in town meetings.

Appendix E

§ 5.12. Property sales and leases

(a) The City Council may authorize the sale of real or personal estate belonging to the City when the same shall not exceed in value ten thousand dollars, or may lease the same for a term not exceeding one year and all conveyances, grants and leases of any such real estate shall be executed by the Mayor and sealed with the City seal. The voters, at a duly warned annual or special City meeting, may authorize the sale of real or personal property belonging to the City when the value exceeds ten thousand dollars except for those sales provided for in subsection (c) of this section.

(b) The City shall have the authority to purchase real estate for the purpose of development. The purchase of such property must be approved by resolution of the City Council.

(c) The City Council may authorize the sale of real estate, belonging to the City, that exceeds ten thousand dollars in value, provided that such property was acquired for development purposes and that such transfer is made to the Winooski Community Development Corporation. Such transfers shall be executed by the Mayor and sealed with the City seal.
16 V.S.A. § 241 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 5 / Section 241
§ 241. Appointment
Status: in_force

(a) Each supervisory union board, with the advice of the Secretary, may employ a superintendent of schools.

(b) A superintendent shall be employed by written contract for a term not to exceed five years nor less than one year and shall work the number of hours required by contract, performing the duties designated in the contract or assigned by the board. A superintendent of schools may be dismissed for cause or as specified in the contract of employment.

(c) Not later than May 15 of a year in which an incumbent superintendent's contract of employment expires, the supervisory union board shall meet to renew or act otherwise upon the superintendent's contract. If a supervisory union employs a superintendent, the supervisory union board shall specify and assign the duties of a superintendent. If the supervisory union board does not hire a superintendent, the board may assign any duties assigned to the superintendent under this title to the school principal or principals in the supervisory union or to other qualified persons designated by the board.
16 V.S.A. § 267 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 7 / Section 267
§ 267. Joint agreements among supervisory unions
Status: in_force

(a) Supervisory unions, or administrative units not within a supervisory union, in order to provide services cooperatively, may at any annual or special meeting of the supervisory unions, by a majority vote of the directors present and eligible to vote, enter into a joint agreement to provide joint programs, services, facilities, and professional and other staff that are necessary to carry out the desired programs and services.

(b) The supervisory union may provide any authorized or required services by contract with any person, partnership, corporation, or school district within or outside the supervisory union or with other supervisory unions. The supervisory union may also provide such services to any independent school in the supervisory union area on such terms as the supervisory union board deems proper. Contracts shall be approved by the board and signed by the chair or the chair's designee. A contract may be for a term not to exceed four years renewable for successive four-year periods.

(c) The expense of carrying on these shared programs, services, and facilities shall be allocated according to a plan mutually agreed upon by the participating supervisory unions and the Secretary of Education, including agreement on revision and adequate auditing procedures to allocate costs.

(d) Facilities constructed to house such shared programs and services when constructed with funds from the State School Building Aid Bond Account and attached to an existing building become a part of a new construction program. The school district within which the special facilities are located shall own the facilities subject to the mutual agreement on reversion.

(e) A central treasury may be established among the participating unions. Such central treasury will receive and disburse funds of participating supervisory unions. Funds shall be disbursed only on orders signed by at least one authorized member from each of the participating supervisory unions. The participating supervisory unions may jointly own personal property under their contract.
16 V.S.A. § 3743 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 129 / Section 3743
§ 3743. Textbooks, appliances, and supplies
Status: in_force

The board shall select and provide all textbooks, appliances, and supplies required for use in the elementary schools and the textbooks required for use in the secondary schools in the town district that shall be paid for by the district. The selection of textbooks, appliances, and supplies shall be subject to the approval of the superintendent of the schools of the district. The board shall provide nonresident students attending the schools with the necessary textbooks, appliances, and supplies under the rules the Board of Education shall prescribe. The board of school directors with the superintendent shall make the rules and regulations it deems proper for the care and custody of all textbooks, appliances, and supplies.
16 V.S.A. § 569 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 9 / Section 569
§ 569. Purple Star Campus designation
Status: in_force

(a) As used in this section, “military-connected student” means a student who is a dependent of a current or former member of:

(1) the U.S. military serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, or Coast Guard on active duty;

(2) the Vermont National Guard;

(3) a reserve force of the U.S. Armed Forces; or

(4) a member of a military or reserve force described in subdivision (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection who was killed in the line of duty.

(b) The Agency of Education shall designate a school district as a Purple Star Campus if the school district applies and qualifies for the designation under this section.

(c) To qualify as a Purple Star Campus, a school district shall:

(1) designate a staff member as a military liaison, whose duties include:

(A) identifying military-connected students enrolled in the district's schools;

(B) serving as the point of contact between the school district and military-connected students and their families;

(C) determining appropriate school services available to military- connected students; and

(D) assisting in coordinating school programs relevant to military- connected students;

(2) maintain within the school district an internet website with an easily accessible web page that includes resources for military-connected students and their families, including information regarding:

(A) relocation to, enrollment at, registration at, and transferring records to the school district;

(B) academic planning, course sequences, and advanced classes available at the school district; and

(C) counseling and other support services available for military- connected students enrolled in the school district;

(3) maintain a transition program led by students, where appropriate, that assists military-connected students in transitioning into the school district;

(4) offer professional development for staff members on issues related to military-connected students; and

(5) offer at least one of the following initiatives:

(A) a resolution showing support for military-connected students and their families;

(B) recognition of the Month of the Military Child or Military Family Month with relevant events hosted by the school district; or

(C) a partnership with a local military installation that provides opportunities for active duty military members to volunteer with the school district, speak at an assembly, or host a field trip.

(d) To comply with the requirements under subdivision (c)(2), (4), or (5) of this section, a school district may partner with a third party to provide those services and initiatives.
16 V.S.A. § 3822 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 129 / Section 3822
§ 3822. Proceeding in Superior Court
Status: in_force

(a) An incorporated academy, institute, seminary, or other educational institution, and a school district, upon completion of the votes required by section 3821 of this title and before transfer of any property, shall apply to the Superior Court of the county in which the property is located setting forth the votes and any other material facts.

(b) The court shall issue an order stating the substance of the bill and fixing the time and place of hearing. The plaintiff shall cause the order to be published in a newspaper named in the order, three weeks successively, the last publication to be at least 10 days prior to the date fixed for the hearing. The plaintiff shall give further notice as required by the order.

(c) Upon hearing, the court shall determine what portion, if any, of the real and personal property to be transferred is held in trust, may order the transfer of that property subject to the terms of the trust, may make any other orders and decrees for the protection and disposition of the same it deems proper, and shall order the remainder of the real and personal property to be transferred in accordance with the votes authorizing the transfer for use for school purposes.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 19.03 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 19 / Section 19.03
App. § 19-3. First election
Status: in_force

The first election of officers of the Graded School District may be held at a special meeting duly warned by the District Clerk of District Number 2 in Jericho or of Number 3 in Underhill by both of the District Clerks, on a petition signed by seven legal voters in the Graded School District, under the laws governing the warning of special school meetings in other districts, and the officers so elected shall hold their respective offices until their successors are elected at the next annual school meeting.
16 V.S.A. § 1953 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 55 / Section 1953
§ 1953. Prior service credit
Status: in_force

A teacher who has ceased being a member upon reemployment is entitled to prior service credit upon depositing in the Pension Fund the contributions that would have been deducted from the teacher's compensation had he or she remained a member with interest as set forth in section 1944 of this title. The teacher, in order to qualify for the prior service credit, shall also deposit in the Fund a sum equal to the contributions that would have been contributed by the State had the teacher remained a member with interest as set forth in section 1944 of this title.
16 V.S.A. § 13 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 1 / Section 13
§ 13. Gifted and talented children
Status: in_force

(a) “Gifted and talented children” means children identified by professionally qualified persons who, when compared to others of their age, experience, or environment, exhibit capability of high performance in intellectual, creative, or artistic areas, possess an unusual capacity for leadership, or excel in specific academic fields.

(b) It is the intent of the General Assembly that those who provide educational services to children be encouraged to apply for any available funding that will help to provide teacher training and other services for the benefit of gifted and talented children.

(c) Nothing in this section shall create an additional entitlement to educational or other services.
16 V.S.A. § 2903a — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 99 / Section 2903a
§ 2903a. Repealed. 2021, No. 28, § 7, eff. June 30, 2027.
Status: repealed

(a) Creation. There is created the Advisory Council on Literacy. The Council shall advise the Agency of Education, the State Board of Education, and the General Assembly on how to improve proficiency outcomes in literacy for students in prekindergarten through grade 12 and how to sustain those outcomes.

(b) Membership. The Council shall be composed of the following 16 members:

(1) 10 members who shall serve as ex officio members:

(A) the Secretary of Education or designee;

(B) a member of the Standards Board for Professional Educators who is knowledgeable in licensing requirements for teaching literacy, appointed by the Standards Board;

(C) the Executive Director of the Vermont Superintendents Association or designee;

(D) the Executive Director of the Vermont School Boards Association or designee;

(E) the Executive Director of the Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators or designee;

(F) the Executive Director of the Vermont Principals' Association or designee;

(G) the Executive Director of the Vermont Independent Schools Association or designee;

(H) the Executive Director of the Vermont-National Education Association or designee;

(I) the State Librarian or designee; and

(J) the Executive Director of the Vermont Curriculum Leaders Association or designee; and

(2) seven members who shall serve two-year terms:

(A) [Repealed.]

(B) three teachers, appointed by the Vermont-National Education Association, who teach literacy, one of whom shall be a special education literacy teacher and two of whom shall teach literacy to students in prekindergarten through grade three;

(C) three community members who have struggled with literacy proficiency or supported others who have struggled with literacy proficiency, one of whom shall be a high school student, appointed by the Agency of Education in consultation with the Vermont Family Network; and

(D) one member appointed by the Agency of Education who has expertise in working with students with dyslexia; and

(3) two faculty members of approved educator preparation programs located in Vermont, one of whom shall be employed by a private college or university, appointed by the Agency of Education in consultation with the Association of Vermont Independent Colleges, and one of whom shall be employed by a public college or university, appointed by the Agency of Education in consultation with the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College and the Vermont State Colleges Corporation.

(c) Members with two-year terms.

(1) A member with a term limit shall serve a term of two years and until a successor is appointed. A term shall begin on January 1 of the year of appointment and run through December 31 of the last year of the term. Terms of these members shall be staggered so that not all terms expire at the same time.

(2) A vacancy created before the expiration of a term shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the unexpired portion of the term.

(3) A member with a term limit shall not serve more than two consecutive terms. A member appointed to fill a vacancy created before the expiration of a term shall not be deemed to have served a term for the purpose of this subdivision.

(d) Powers and duties. The Council shall advise the Secretary of Education on how to improve proficiency outcomes in literacy for students in prekindergarten through grade 12 and how to sustain those outcomes and shall:

(1) advise the Secretary on how to:

(A) update section 2903 of this title;

(B) implement the statewide literacy plan required by section 2903 of this title and whether, based on its implementation, changes should be made to the plan; and

(C) maintain the statewide literacy plan;

(2) advise the Secretary on what services the Agency should provide to school districts to support implementation of the plan and on staffing levels and resources needed at the Agency to support the statewide effort to improve literacy;

(3) develop a plan for collecting literacy-related data that informs:

(A) literacy instructional practices;

(B) teacher professional development in the field of literacy;

(C) what proficiencies and other skills should be measured through literacy assessments and how those literacy assessments are incorporated into local assessment plans; and

(D) how to identify school progress in achieving literacy outcomes, including closing literacy gaps for students from historically underserved populations;

(4) recommend evidence-based best practices for Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 literacy instruction within the multitiered system of supports required under section 2902 of this title to best improve and sustain literacy proficiency; and

(5) review literacy assessments and outcomes and provide ongoing advice as to how to continuously improve those outcomes and sustain that improvement.

(e) Report. Notwithstanding 2 V.S.A. § 20(d), annually on or before December 15, the Council shall submit a written report to the House and Senate Committees on Education with its findings, any recommendations for legislative action, and progress toward outcomes identified in this section. The report shall contain an executive summary, which shall not exceed two pages.

(f) Meetings.

(1) The Secretary of Education shall call the first meeting of the Council to occur on or before August 1, 2021.

(2) The Council shall select a chair from among its members.

(3) A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum.

(4) The Council shall meet not more than four times per year.

(g) Assistance. The Council shall have the administrative, technical, and legal assistance of the Agency of Education.

(h) Compensation and reimbursement. Compensation and reimbursement. Members of the Council shall be entitled to per diem compensation and reimbursement of expenses as permitted under 32 V.S.A. § 1010 for not more than four meetings of the Council per year.
16 V.S.A. § 826 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 21 / Section 826
§ 826. Notice of tuition rates; special education charges [Repealed July 1, 2029 if contingency met]
Status: in_force

(a) A school board, or the board of trustees of an independent school meeting education quality standards, that proposes to increase tuition charges shall notify the school board of the school district from which its nonresident students come, and the Secretary, of the proposed increase on or before January 15 in any year; such increases shall not become effective without the notice and not until the following school year.

(b) A school board or the board of trustees of an independent school meeting education quality standards may establish a separate tuition for one or more special education programs. No such tuition shall be established unless the State Board has by rule defined the program as of a type that may be funded by a separate tuition. Any such tuition shall be announced in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section. The amount of tuition shall reflect the net cost per pupil in the program. The announcement of tuition shall describe the special education services included or excluded from coverage. Tuition for part-time students shall be reduced proportionally.

(c) Excess special education costs incurred by a supervisory union in providing special education services to a student beyond those covered by tuition may be charged to the student's supervisory union for the district of residence. However, only actual costs or actual proportionate costs attributable to the student may be charged.

(d) The State Board shall adopt rules relating to the types of special education programs that may establish tuition charges and relating to methods and times of calculating excess charges.
16 V.S.A. § 2862 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 87 / Section 2862
§ 2862. Rules and regulations
Status: in_force

(a) The Board shall adopt rules and regulations and establish policies and procedures that it deems necessary to carry out the purpose of this subchapter. The rules and regulations so adopted shall include provisions relating to borrower eligibility, maximum loan amounts, interest rates, and other charges.

(b) In the case of loans reinsured under the Higher Education Act, the rules and regulations shall conform to the requirements of that act.

(c) Education loans guaranteed, made, financed, serviced, or otherwise administered by the Corporation are exempt from the interest rate and charges limitations of 9 V.S.A. §§ 41a and 42, but those rates and charges shall reflect the Corporation's costs of funds, its costs of education loan financing and servicing, and the risks associated with different types of education loans.

(d) Loans made pursuant to the Higher Education Act by institutions doing business in Vermont shall be made pursuant to this chapter.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 5.03 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 11 / Section 5.03
App. § 11-5.3. Issuance of negotiable bonds
Status: in_force

The District is hereby authorized and empowered by a vote of a majority of all voters voting at a legally warned meeting held for that purpose to issue its negotiable bonds or negotiable interest-bearing notes pursuant to State statutes.
16 V.S.A. § 838 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 21 / Section 838
§ 838. Capital improvement plan
Status: in_force

(a) Each school district shall develop and maintain a five-year capital operations and improvement plan for the school district and supervisory union, which shall be updated annually.

(b) The capital operations and improvement plan described in subsection (a) of this section shall be in a form developed and prescribed by the Secretary of Education after consultation with facilities management and school operations experts.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 1.02 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 11 / Section 1.02
App. § 11-1.2. Incorporation of district
Status: in_force

All that portion of the Town of Essex now embraced within the limits of the Essex Junction School District as incorporated by No. 113 of the Acts of 1872, and as has been amended and added thereto and which is also embraced within the limits of the incorporated Village of Essex Junction together with the inhabitants therein is hereby incorporated and made a body politic and corporate and shall hereafter be known by the name of the Essex Junction School District and by that name may use and be used, prosecute and defend in any court, may have a corporate seal and alter it at pleasure, may take, hold, and convey real and personal property and estate, may levy and collect taxes, and generally shall have the rights and liabilities incident to municipal corporations.
16 V.S.A. § 1541 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 37 / Section 1541
§ 1541. Responsibility of local school boards that operate career technical centers
Status: in_force

(a) A school board that operates a CTE center has responsibility for providing secondary and adult career technical education services within its service region.

(b) A school board that operates a CTE center shall establish a regional advisory board. It shall give due regard to the policy and financial recommendations of its regional advisory board. When the school board rejects a written recommendation of a regional advisory board, or fails to adopt a recommendation after 30 days, it shall notify the advisory board and the Secretary in writing, stating its reasons. If the State Board designates a service region for two or more comprehensive high schools, the boards of the high schools shall establish a joint regional advisory board.

(c) In consultation with its regional advisory board, a school board that operates a regional CTE center shall:

(1) annually set the budget for operation of the center;

(2) establish the secondary and adult curriculum of the regional center, including courses of study offered;

(3) whenever advantageous to the service region, provide for the decentralization of its career technical programs, including the creation of rotating and satellite programs;

(4) employ and, as need requires, dismiss an assistant director for adult education and, subject to section 243 of this title, a director of career technical education;

(5) establish admission and program completion policies;

(6) periodically evaluate the success of the center in serving all parts of its service area and in offering useful adult training and education programs;

(7) periodically evaluate the quality of each course of study offered by the center;

(8) coordinate use of the center with the Vermont State Colleges; with other State programs, including licensing, job training, and apprenticeship programs; and other approved institutions, for the provision of postsecondary career technical education programs, and charge fees not exceeding actual direct and indirect costs of the use of the center;

(9) offer programs designed to acquaint prospective students with CTE programs that do not require an enrollment commitment; and

(10) after giving due consideration to efficient and cost-effective use of the center, establish fees for building and equipment use.

(d) A school board that operates a CTE center:

(1) shall establish a CTE tuition;

(2) shall make the center's facilities and equipment available for providing CTE education to adults; and

(3) shall use and maintain all facilities designed and constructed for career technical education in a manner consistent with that purpose, except when those facilities are not needed for CTE and the Secretary consents.
16 V.S.A. § 185 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 3 / Section 185
§ 185. Amnesty protections
Status: in_force

Postsecondary schools shall create and adopt an amnesty policy that prohibits disciplinary action against a student reporting or otherwise participating in a school sexual misconduct resolution process for alleged ancillary policy violations related to the sexual misconduct incident at issue; provided, however, the school may take disciplinary action if it determines that the conduct giving rise to the alleged ancillary policy violation placed or threatened to place the health and safety of another person at risk. This policy shall not be construed to limit a counter-complaint made in good faith or to prohibit action as to a report made in good faith.
16 V.S.A. § 2184 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 72 / Section 2184
§ 2184. School of Dental Hygiene
Status: in_force

(a) The Vermont State Colleges shall establish and operate a School of Dental Hygiene for the training of dental hygienists. The Colleges shall have the authority to grant certificates of graduation on the successful completion of a two-year course in dental hygiene.

(b) The General Assembly shall appropriate funds to conduct a curriculum of a recognized School of Dental Hygiene to the State Colleges.

(c) The Colleges shall grant special tuition rates to residents of the State who agree to practice dental hygiene in the State for two years following graduation. The Colleges shall give preference in admissions to eligible students who are residents of the State.

(d) The Vermont State Colleges are authorized and empowered to receive from any source sums donated for scholarships or general improvements and may cooperate with the federal government or any agency thereof in securing federal funds for dental hygiene education in the State.
16 V.S.A. § 2693 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 83 / Section 2693
§ 2693. When operative-Article III
Status: in_force

This compact shall become operative immediately as to those states executing it whenever any two or more of the states of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut have executed it in the form which is in accordance with the laws of the respective compacting states.
16 V.S.A. § 806a — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 19 / Section 806a
§ 806a. Definitions - Article II
Status: in_force

As used in this compact, unless the context clearly requires a different construction:

A. “Active duty” means: full-time duty status in the active uniformed service of the United States, including members of the National Guard and Reserve on active duty orders pursuant to 10 U.S.C. Chapter 1209 and 1211.

B. “Children of military families” means: a school-aged child or children, enrolled in Kindergarten through Twelfth (12th) grade, in the household of an active duty member.

C. “Compact commissioner” means: the voting representative of each compacting state appointed pursuant to Article VIII of this compact.

D. “Deployment” means: the period one (1) month prior to the service members' departure from their home station on military orders though six (6) months after return to their home station.

E. “Education(al) records” means: those official records, files, and data directly related to a student and maintained by the school or local education agency, including but not limited to records encompassing all the material kept in the student's cumulative folder such as general identifying data, records of attendance and of academic work completed, records of achievement and results of evaluative tests, health data, disciplinary status, test protocols, and individualized education programs.

F. “Extracurricular activities” means: a voluntary activity sponsored by the school or local education agency or an organization sanctioned by the local education agency. Extracurricular activities include, but are not limited to, preparation for and involvement in public performances, contests, athletic competitions, demonstrations, displays, and club activities.

G. “Interstate Commission on Educational Opportunity for Military Children” means: the commission that is created under Article IX of this compact, which is generally referred to as Interstate Commission.

H. “Local education agency” means: a public authority legally constituted by the state as an administrative agency to provide control of and direction for Kindergarten through Twelfth (12th) grade public educational institutions.

I. “Member state” means: a state that has enacted this compact.

J. “Military installation” means: a base, camp, post, station, yard, center, homeport facility for any ship, or other activity under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense, including any leased facility, which is located within any of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Marianas Islands, and any other U.S. Territory. Such term does not include any facility used primarily for civil works, rivers and harbors projects, or flood control projects.

K. “Nonmember state” means: a state that has not enacted this compact.

L. “Receiving state” means: the state to which a child of a military family is sent, brought, or caused to be sent or brought.

M. “Rule” means: a written statement by the Interstate Commission promulgated pursuant to Article XII of this compact that is of general applicability, implements, interprets, or prescribes a policy or provision of the compact, or an organizational, procedural, or practice requirement of the Interstate Commission, and has the force and effect of a rule promulgated under the Vermont Administrative Procedure Act as found in 3 V.S.A. chapter 25, and includes the amendment, repeal, or suspension of an existing rule.

N. “Sending state” means: the state from which a child of a military family is sent, brought, or caused to be sent or brought.

O. “State” means: a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Marianas Islands, and any other U.S. Territory.

P. “Student” means: the child of a military family for whom the local education agency receives public funding and who is formally enrolled in Kindergarten through Twelfth (12th) grade.

Q. “Transition” means: 1) the formal and physical process of transferring from school to school or 2) the period of time in which a student moves from one school in the sending state to another school in the receiving state.

R. “Uniformed service” means: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard as well as the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Public Health Services.

S. “Veteran” means: a person who served in the uniformed services and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.
16 V.S.A. § 136 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 1 / Section 136
§ 136. Wellness program; Advisory Council on Wellness and Comprehensive Health
Status: repealed

(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Fitness program” means a program that includes a physical education program and a physical activity program.

(2) “Nutrition” includes all food and beverages sold or served in the food service program, vending machines, snack bars, and school stores.

(3) “Physical activity program” means a program that includes, in addition to regular physical education classes, minimum daily physical activity for each student provided through activities such as recess and other recreation periods, and participation in athletics either during or after regular school hours. “Physical activity” means moderate and vigorous physical activities.

(4) “Physical education program” means a sequential, developmentally appropriate program that is an enjoyable experience for students and is designed to help students develop the knowledge, skill, self-management skill, attitudes, and confidence needed to adopt and maintain physical fitness throughout their lives.

(5) “Wellness program” means a program that includes physical fitness and comprehensive health education as defined in section 131 of this title.

(b) The Secretary shall establish an Advisory Council on Wellness and Comprehensive Health that shall include at least three members with expertise in health services, health education, or health policy; at least one member who is a school counselor; and at least one member who is a school social worker. The members shall serve without compensation. The Council shall assist the Agency to plan, coordinate, and encourage wellness and comprehensive health programs in the public schools and shall meet not less than twice a year. The Council shall also examine and coordinate state health wellness policies and federal wellness policies to identify and, if possible, eliminate any redundancies.

(c) The Secretary shall collaborate with other agencies and councils working on childhood wellness to:

(1) Supervise the preparation of appropriate wellness program curricula for use in the public schools, promote programs for the preparation of teachers to teach these curricula, and assist in the development of wellness programs.

(2) [Repealed.]

(3) Establish and maintain a website that displays data from a youth risk behavior survey in a way that enables the public to aggregate and disaggregate the information.

(4) Research funding opportunities for schools and communities that wish to build wellness programs and make the information available to the public.

(5) [Repealed.]

(d) The Agency shall offer assistance to school districts and supervisory unions to provide teacher instruction in wellness programs.

(e) Any school district board or supervisory union board may establish a wellness community advisory council to inventory community programs and assets and to assist the school board and community in developing and implementing wellness programs. The school board shall provide public notice to the community to allow all interested parties to apply for appointment. The school board shall endeavor to appoint members who represent various points of view and expertise within the community regarding wellness programs. Members may include representatives from coordinated school health teams, teachers, school administrators, students, community members, health care providers, parents, and others.
16 V.S.A. § 793 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 17 / Section 793
§ 793. Powers of Interstate School Districts-Article III
Status: in_force

A. Powers. Each interstate school district shall be a body corporate and politic, with power:

a. To acquire, construct, extend, improve, staff, operate, manage and govern public schools within its boundaries;

b. To sue and be sued, subject to the limitations of liability hereinafter set forth;

c. To have a seal and alter the same at pleasure;

d. To adopt, maintain and amend bylaws not inconsistent with this compact, and the laws of the two states;

e. To acquire by purchase, condemnation, lease or otherwise, real and personal property for the use of its schools;

f. To enter into contracts and incur debts;

g. To borrow money for the purposes hereinafter set forth and to issue its bonds or notes therefor;

h. To make contracts with and accept grants and aid from the United States, the State of New York, the State of Vermont, any agency or municipality thereof, and private corporations and individuals for the construction, maintenance, reconstruction, operation and financing of its schools; and to do any and all things necessary in order to avail itself of such aid and cooperation;

i. To employ such assistants, agents, servants, and independent contractors as it shall deem necessary or desirable for its purposes; and

j. To take any other action which is necessary or appropriate in order to exercise any of the foregoing powers.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 2.06 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 11 / Section 2.06
App. § 11-2.6. Moderator
Status: in_force

The Moderator shall preside at the District meeting and in his or her absence, a Moderator Pro Tempora may be elected. As the presiding officer at District meetings, the Moderator shall perform the same duties and have the same authority as moderators at town meetings.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 13.08 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 13 / Section 13.08
App. § 13-8. Officers and Prudential Committee
Status: in_force

The officers of the Incorporated School District shall be a Moderator, a Clerk, a Treasurer, a Collector, and an Auditor, who shall be chosen annually, and a Prudential Committee of seven hereafter to be chosen as follows:

At each annual meeting of the Town of Middlebury, there shall be elected a member of the Committee for a term of three years. A vacancy on the Committee shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by a majority of the members of the Committee. All elected officers shall be elected by Australian ballot, chosen from the legally qualified voters of the Town, and shall hold their respective offices until their successors are elected and qualified.
16 V.S.A. § 706 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 11 / Section 706
§ 706. Proposal to form study committee; budget and membership
Status: in_force

(a) Establishment of committee. When the boards of two or more school districts vote to establish a study committee to study the advisability of forming a union school district or are petitioned to do so by at least five percent of voters in the school district, the boards shall meet with the superintendent or superintendents of each school district. With the advice of the superintendent or superintendents, the boards shall establish a budget for the study committee's work and shall determine the number of persons to serve on the study committee pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.

(b) Budget and membership. Each participating school district's share of the established budget and membership on the study committee shall be the same as the proportion of the school district's equalized pupils to the total equalized pupils of all school districts intending to participate formally in the study committee. As used in this subsection, “equalized pupils” has the same meaning as in section 4001 of this title.

(c) Existing union school districts.

(1) Existing union elementary or union high school district; proposed unified union school district. If the board of an existing union elementary or union high school district votes to participate in a study committee to consider formation of a unified union school district, or is petitioned by the voters to do so, then:

(A) The interests of the existing union school district shall be represented by its member districts on the study committee.

(B) Any warning and vote on the study committee budget pursuant to section 707 of this chapter and the warning and vote on any resulting proposal to form a unified union school district pursuant to section 710 shall be at the member district level.

(C) If the existing union school district does not have any member districts because all towns for which it is organized are members of both a union elementary school district and a union high school district, then the existing union school district shall represent its own interests on the study committee, and the towns within it shall not participate on its behalf.

(D) If a town is a member of both a union elementary school district and a union high school district, is not independently organized as a district that is responsible for the education of students in any grade, and does not have a town school district board, then notwithstanding other provisions to the contrary:

(i) To the extent possible, the boards of the union elementary and union high school districts of which the town is a member shall make a reasonable attempt, jointly, to appoint a member to the study committee who resides in the town.

(ii) The legislative body or appropriate officer of the town shall perform electoral functions, including warning meetings and conducting the voting process, ordinarily performed by and in member districts on behalf of a union school district.

(2) Existing unified union school district; proposed unified union school district. If the board of a unified union school district votes to participate in a study committee to consider formation of a new unified union school district rather than the enlargement of the existing unified union school district pursuant to section 721 (joining an existing union school district) of this chapter, or is petitioned by the voters to do so, then:

(A) The existing unified union school district shall represent its own interests on the study committee, and the towns within it shall not participate on its behalf.

(B) To the extent possible, the board of the existing unified union school district shall make a reasonable attempt to appoint members to the study committee who reside in each town within the district.

(C) Any warning and vote on the study committee budget pursuant to section 707 of this chapter and the warning and vote of the electorate on any resulting proposal to form a new unified union school district pursuant to section 710 shall proceed pursuant to the provisions for commingled Australian ballot voting as set forth in subchapter 3 (unified union school districts) of this chapter.

(3) Existing union elementary or union high school district; proposed union elementary or union high school district. If the board of an existing union elementary or union high school district votes to participate in a study committee to consider formation of a new union elementary or union high school district rather than enlarging the existing union school district pursuant to section 721 (joining an existing union school district) of this chapter, or is petitioned by the voters to do so, then:

(A) The existing union school district shall represent its own interests on the study committee, and the member districts of the existing union school district shall not participate on its behalf.

(B) To the extent possible, the board of the existing union school district shall make a reasonable attempt to appoint members to the study committee who reside in each of the member districts within the existing union school district.

(C) Any warning and vote on the study committee budget pursuant to section 707 of this chapter and the warning and vote of the electorate on any resulting proposal to form a new union elementary or union high school district pursuant to section 710 of this chapter shall proceed pursuant to the provisions for commingled Australian ballot voting as set forth in subchapter 4 (union elementary and union high school districts) of this chapter.
16 V.S.A. § 1571 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 37 / Section 1571
§ 1571. Definitions
Status: in_force

In this subchapter:

(1) “Regional career technical center school district” and “regional CTE center school district” mean a district that maintains a regional career technical center under a governance structure approved by vote of the electorate pursuant to this subchapter.

(2) “School district” means a school district that maintains a high school.
16 V.S.A. § 429 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 9 / Section 429
§ 429. Loans
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding subsection 4029(b) of this title, a school board may draw orders for loans without interest to the town's general fund, and the town selectboard may draw orders for loans without interest to the school district fund, the loans to be secured by a note signed by both the selectboard and the school board that stipulates mutually agreeable terms and conditions. A note shall be payable not more than 90 days after its issuance and shall be payable on demand anytime within the 90-day term. The school board shall report all loans to the Agency pursuant to subsection 4029(f) of this title. For purposes of this section, “town” and “selectboard” shall have the same meaning as they have in 1 V.S.A. § 139.
16 V.S.A. § 908 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 23 / Section 908
§ 908. Pre-Memorial Day exercises
Status: in_force

The last half-day's session of the public schools before Memorial Day shall be devoted to exercises commemorative of the history of the nation during its wars and to patriotic instruction in the principles of liberty and the equal rights of man.
16 V.S.A. § 1578 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 37 / Section 1578
§ 1578. Regional career technical center school district meetings
Status: in_force

The checklist for a regional career technical center school district and records of proceedings shall be made and maintained in the same manner as those functions are carried out in a union school district under sections 706u and 706v of this title.
16 V.S.A. § 1944e — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 55 / Section 1944e
§ 1944e. Retired teachers health and medical benefits
Status: in_force

(a) Payment of a portion of the cost of health and medical benefits provided by subsection 1942(p) of this title for retired members and their dependents shall be made from the Benefits Fund. The Board shall determine the total costs of the applicable standard plan for a retired member and of the applicable standard plan for a retired member and spouse, and the Board shall pay the following portion of those costs:

(1) For retired members:

(A) 80 percent of the cost for a retired member who has either at least 10 years of creditable service as of July 1, 2010, or 25 years of creditable service at the time of retirement;

(B) 70 percent of the cost for a retired member who has fewer than 10 years of creditable service as of July 1, 2010, and 20 years or more but fewer than 25 years of creditable service at the time of retirement;

(C) 60 percent of the cost for a retired member who has fewer than 10 years of creditable service as of July 1, 2010, and 15 or more but fewer than 20 years of creditable service at the time of retirement; and

(D) for retired members who do not meet the requirements of subdivisions (A) through (C) of this subdivision (1), no portion of the costs shall be paid.

(2) For a retired member's spouse. In addition to the payments for retired members' health and medical benefits specified in subdivision (a)(1) of this section, 80 percent of the cost for the retired member's spouse during the retired member's life, where:

(A) the retired member has fewer than 15 years of creditable service as of July 1, 2010, and at least 25 years of creditable service at the time of retirement; or

(B) the retired member has 15 or more but fewer than 25 years of creditable service as of July 1, 2010, and at least 10 additional years of creditable service at the time of retirement; or

(C) the retired member has 25 or more but fewer than 30 years of creditable service as of July 1, 2010, and at least 35 years of creditable service at the time of retirement; or

(D) the retired member has at least 30 years of creditable service as of July 1, 2010, and at least five additional years of creditable service at the time of retirement; and

(E) the service was not purchased, restored, granted, or transferred on or after July 1, 2010.

(b) The Board shall pay an equal dollar amount for eligible retirees regardless of the plan selected. All eligible retirees may select health plan coverage from a range of plans approved by the Board. Retired members may authorize deductions to be made from their monthly retirement allowance for the balance of the cost of such benefits for the retired members and their dependents.

(c) Periodically, the Board shall approve the following:

(1) a standard plan for retirees who are not yet eligible for Medicare, which plan shall provide first dollar coverage for subscribers;

(2) a standard plan for retirees who are eligible for Medicare, which plan shall provide first dollar coverage for subscribers; and

(3) a range of plans that may be selected by retirees, including the standard applicable plans.

(d) For fiscal year 2004 and thereafter, the cost of the applicable standard plan determined under this subsection shall not exceed the cost of the $250.00 comprehensive plan offered in fiscal year 2003, adjusted for the appropriate fiscal year. In the event of the discontinuance of the $250.00 comprehensive plan, a plan with a comparable expenditure profile shall be used as a benchmark.

(e) As of January 1, 2007 and thereafter, upon retirement, members entitled to prorated Group medical benefit plan premium payments from the Retirement System under the terms of this section shall have a one-time option to reduce the percentage of premium payments from the Benefits Fund during the member's life, with the provision that the Benefits Fund shall continue making an equal percentage of premium payments after the member's death for the life of the dependent beneficiary nominated by the member under section 1941 of this title, should such dependent beneficiary survive the member. The Board, after consultation with its actuary, shall establish reduced premium payment percentages that are as cost neutral to the Benefits Fund as possible.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 2.03 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 11 / Section 2.03
App. § 11-2.3. Vacancies
Status: in_force

When an officer resigns, dies, becomes incapacitated, or removes residency from the District, such office shall be considered vacant. When a vacancy occurs in any office, other than the office of Moderator, Clerk-Treasurer, and Collector of Taxes, the Prudential Committee shall forthwith, by appointment, in writing, fill such a vacancy until the election of a successor at the annual meeting next thereafter. At such annual meeting, the voters of the School District shall fill the vacancy in any elected office, other than the office of Moderator, for the remainder of the term. When the office of the Moderator, Clerk-Treasurer, or Collector of Taxes becomes vacant, the Prudential Committee shall forthwith by appointment, in writing, appoint a Moderator, Clerk-Treasurer, or Collector of Taxes to fill such vacancy until midnight of June 30 following election of a successor, in the case of the Moderator's office, or appointment of a successor, in the case of the Clerk-Treasurer's office or the Collector of Taxes' office. All appointments under this section shall be filed and recorded in the office of the Clerk-Treasurer. No person shall be appointed to fill a vacancy in office who would not be eligible for election to such office.
16 V.S.A. § 1431 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 31 / Section 1431
§ 1431. Concussions and other head injuries
Status: in_force

(a) Definitions. As used in this subchapter:

(1) “Coach” means a person who instructs or trains students on a school athletic team.

(2) “Collision sport” means football, hockey, lacrosse, or wrestling.

(3) “Contact sport” means a sport, other than football, hockey, lacrosse, or wrestling, defined as a contact sport by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

(4) “Health care provider” means an athletic trainer, or other health care provider, licensed pursuant to Title 26, who has within the preceding five years been specifically trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and other head injuries. Training pursuant to this subdivision shall include training materials and guidelines for practicing physicians provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if available.

(5) “School athletic team” means an interscholastic athletic team or club sponsored by a public or approved independent school for elementary or secondary students.

(6) “Youth athlete” means an elementary or secondary student who is a member of a school athletic team.

(b) Guidelines and other information. The Secretary of Education or designee, assisted by members of the Vermont Principals' Association selected by that association, members of the Vermont School Boards Insurance Trust, and others as the Secretary deems appropriate, shall develop statewide guidelines, forms, and other materials, and update them when necessary, that are designed to educate coaches, youth athletes, and the parents and guardians of youth athletes regarding:

(1) the nature and risks of concussions and other head injuries;

(2) the risks of premature participation in athletic activities after receiving a concussion or other head injury;

(3) the importance of obtaining a medical evaluation of a suspected concussion or other head injury and receiving treatment when necessary;

(4) effective methods to reduce the risk of concussions occurring during athletic activities; and

(5) protocols and standards for clearing a youth athlete to return to play following a concussion or other head injury, including treatment plans for such athletes.

(c) Notice and training. The principal or headmaster of each public and approved independent school in the State, or a designee, shall ensure that:

(1) the information developed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section is provided annually to each youth athlete and the athlete's parents or guardians;

(2) each youth athlete and a parent or guardian of the athlete annually sign a form acknowledging receipt of the information provided pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection and return it to the school prior to the athlete's participation in training or competition associated with a school athletic team;

(3)(A) each coach of a school athletic team receive training no less frequently than every two years on how to recognize the symptoms of a concussion or other head injury, how to reduce the risk of concussions during athletic activities, and how to teach athletes the proper techniques for avoiding concussions; and

(B) each coach who is new to coaching at the school receive training prior to beginning his or her first coaching assignment for the school; and

(4) each referee of a contest involving a high school athletic team participating in a collision sport receive training not less than every two years on how to recognize concussions when they occur during athletic activities.

(d) Participation in athletic activity.

(1) Neither a coach nor a health care provider shall permit a youth athlete to continue to participate in any training session or competition associated with a school athletic team if the coach or health care provider knows or should know that the athlete has sustained a concussion or other head injury during the training session or competition.

(2) Neither a coach nor a health care provider shall permit a youth athlete who has been prohibited from training or competing pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection to train or compete with a school athletic team until the athlete has been examined by and received written permission to participate in athletic activities from a health care provider.

(e) Action plan.

(1) The principal or headmaster of each public and approved independent school in the State or a designee shall ensure that each school has a concussion management action plan that describes the procedures the school shall take when a student athlete suffers a concussion. The action plan shall include policies on:

(A) who makes the initial decision to remove a student athlete from play when it is suspected that the athlete has suffered a concussion;

(B) what steps the student athlete must take in order to return to any athletic or learning activity;

(C) who makes the final decision that a student athlete may return to athletic activity; and

(D) who has the responsibility to inform a parent or guardian when a student on that school's athletic team suffers a concussion.

(2) The action plan required by subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be provided annually to each youth athlete and the athlete's parents or guardians.

(3) Each youth athlete and a parent or guardian of the athlete shall annually sign a form acknowledging receipt of the information provided pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection and return it to the school prior to the athlete's participation in training or competition associated with a school athletic team.

(f) Health care providers; presence at athletic events.

(1) The home team shall ensure that a health care provider is present at any athletic event in which a high school athletic team participates in a collision sport. If an athlete on the visiting team suffers a concussion during the athletic event, the health care provider shall notify the visiting team's athletic director within 48 hours after the injury occurs.

(2) Home teams are strongly encouraged to ensure that a health care provider is present at any athletic event in which a high school athletic team participates in a contact sport.

(3) A school shall notify a parent or guardian within 24 hours of when a student participating on that school's athletic team suffers a concussion.
16 V.S.A. § 1694 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 51 / Section 1694
§ 1694. Powers and duties of the Standards Board for Professional Educators
Status: in_force

In addition to any other powers and duties prescribed by law or incidental or necessary to the exercise of such lawful powers and duties, the Standards Board shall:

(1)(A) Adopt rules pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter 25 with respect to the licensing of teachers and administrators, and of speech-language pathologists and audiologists as provided in 26 V.S.A. chapter 87.

(B) Not less than once every five years, review its continuing education or other continuing competency requirements for professional educators. The review results shall be in writing and address the following:

(i) the renewal requirements for licensure and endorsements;

(ii) the renewal requirements in other jurisdictions, particularly in the Northeast region;

(iii) the cost of the renewal requirements for the licensees; and

(iv) an analysis of the utility and effectiveness of the renewal requirements with respect to the purpose set forth in section 1691 of this chapter.

(2) Establish standards for educator preparation programs in Vermont and approve those that meet the standards so that a person graduating from an approved program shall be eligible for a license to engage in teaching or school administration in accordance with Standards Board rules. The Standards Board may accept accreditation of an educator preparation program in Vermont or another state from a national accreditation entity as sufficient for approval.

(A) Each Vermont educator preparation program seeking Results Oriented Program Approval (ROPA) shall be subject to the following fees.

(i) Authority to recommend licensure. Colleges, universities, and other educator preparation programs that have the authority to recommend applicants for licensure shall pay an annual fee of $1,000.00.

(ii) New program initiation. Colleges, universities, and other educator preparation programs that do not have existing approved ROPA programs, or that wish to add an additional program approved by ROPA, shall pay a fee of $2,000.00 for the initial program application.

(iii) Program review. Colleges, universities, and other educator preparation programs with approved ROPA programs shall pay an annual fee of $25.00 for each applicant who completes a program.

(iv) Two-year report. Colleges, universities, and other educator preparation programs shall pay a fee of $500.00 for the review of the two-year report that they are required to submit following their program review. Programs reviewed to be exemplary by the Vermont Standards Board for Professional Educators may have the requirement of the two-year report waived; in these cases, programs shall not be subject to the two-year report fee.

(v) Visit. Colleges, universities, and other educator preparation programs shall pay a fee of $1,500.00 for the travel, lodging, and meal expenses of the review team. If a program chooses to have a review team chair travel from outside the State under Vermont State Board of Professional Educators (VSBPE) Policy N2, the program is responsible for all additional expenses in excess of $1,500.00.

(B) Fees collected under this section shall be credited to special funds established and managed pursuant to 32 V.S.A. chapter 7, subchapter 5, and shall be available to the Agency to offset the costs of providing those services.

(3)(A) Establish standards, including endorsements, according to which individuals may obtain a license or have one renewed or reinstated.

(B) Adopt rules for an application process to provide licensure to applicants who can demonstrate three years or more of licensed practice in good standing in another jurisdiction within the United States, regardless of whether that jurisdiction has licensing requirements substantially similar to those of this State. The Standards Board may, by rule, exclude an endorsement from the process required by this subdivision (B) if it finds that licensure through this process for the endorsement does not fulfill the goals set forth in section 1691 of this chapter.

(4) Oversee and monitor the application and licensing process administered by the office. The Standards Board may, by adoption of a written policy that is posted on the Agency's website, allow specific military credentials to satisfy one or more requirements for licensure.

(5) Develop a code of professional ethics and act as advisor to professional educators regarding its interpretation.
16 V.S.A. § 750 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 11 / Section 750
§ 750. Union elementary or union high school district budget; preparation and authorization
Status: in_force

(a) The board of a union elementary or union high school district shall prepare and distribute a proposed budget annually for the next school year pursuant to the provisions of subdivision 563(11) (powers of school boards; budget) of this title.

(b) If the voters do not approve the board's proposed budget, then the board shall prepare a revised proposed budget pursuant to 17 V.S.A. § 2680(c)(2) (local elections using the Australian ballot system; rejected budget).

(c) If the voters do not approve a budget on or before June 30 of any year, the board of the unified union school district may borrow funds pursuant to the authority granted under section 566 (school districts; authority to borrow) of this title. As used in section 566, the “most recently approved school budget” of a union school district in its first fiscal year of full operations means the cumulative budget amount of the most recently approved school budgets of all districts that merged to form the union district plus 1 percent.
16 V.S.A. § 1522 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 37 / Section 1522
§ 1522. Definitions
Status: repealed

As used in this chapter:

(1) “Secondary CTE student” means a resident of this State, of any age, who has not completed high school and is enrolled in a secondary career technical education program.

(2) “Adult student” means a resident of this State, of any age, who has completed high school and who needs additional career technical education for entry into the labor force or who needs to upgrade skills to qualify for higher pay or for more dependable employment.

(3) “Secondary career technical education” or “secondary CTE” means an educational program leading to a high school diploma, designed to provide students with career and technical knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will prepare them for further education, enhance their employment options, or lead to an industry-recognized credential.

(4) “Regional CTE center” means any of the 16 regional CTE centers operating with State support on January 1, 1984 and any other centers so designated thereafter by rule of the State Board.

(5) “Sending district” means a school district paying tuition on behalf of a student to a school district that provides CTE courses.

(6) “Receiving district” means a school district, inside or outside of this State, receiving tuition on behalf of a student to whom it provides career technical education. The classification of a school district as a receiving district is not altered by reason of the participation of that district in a contract for management of the regional CTE center under section 1543 of this title.

(7) “Service region” means, for each regional CTE center, a region surrounding it designated by rule of the State Board under section 1531 of this title. The State Board may designate a service region for two or more comprehensive high schools if that region is not served by a career technical center.

(8), (9) [Repealed.]

(10) “CTE tuition” means the amount calculated by subtracting from total regional technical CTE center costs all expenditures from State and federal grants except for incentive grants, adult education grants, or other State grants as defined by State Board rule, then dividing the result by the sum of the actual number of full-time equivalent out-of-state students and the average of the full-time equivalent Vermont students for the three prior years.

(11) “Adult career technical education” or “adult CTE” means an educational program that is not part of a postsecondary degree program, that does not award postsecondary credit, and that provides students with career and technical knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will prepare them for further education, enhance their employment options, or lead to an industry-recognized credential.

(12) “Postsecondary career technical education” or “postsecondary CTE” means an educational program or course of study that awards postsecondary credit and is designed to provide students with career and technical knowledge, skills, and attitudes that will prepare them for further education, enhance their employment options, or lead to an industry-recognized credential.

(13) “Postsecondary CTE student” means a resident of this State, of any age, who desires to enroll in, or is enrolled in, a postsecondary CTE program.

(14) “Comprehensive high school” means a public or independent school other than a career technical center that provides secondary career technical education approved under section 1533 of this title.
16 V.S.A. § 515 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 9 / Section 515
§ 515. Payment of a deficit
Status: in_force

When a demand is made upon a district for the payment of an execution issued against it and the district has no available funds to pay the same, the prudential committee shall borrow funds sufficient to pay such execution and related charges and shall add the debt to the following year's adopted budget pursuant to 24 V.S.A. § 1523(b).
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 7.01 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 7 / Section 7.01
App. § 7-1. Incorporation of district
Status: in_force

Such portions of the Town of Bradford as lie within the present limits of School District Number 2 and within the present limits of School District Number 12, and the inhabitants thereof, are hereby incorporated and constituted a school district of the Town of Bradford, by the name of the Bradford Academy and Graded School District; all the property owned by the Districts Numbers 2 and 12 shall be the property of the Bradford Academy and Graded School District; and all debts and liabilities of the District Numbers 2 and 12 shall be assumed and paid by the Bradford Academy and Graded School District; and the Bradford Academy and Graded School District shall have all the powers and privileges, and shall be subject to all the duties and liabilities that are incident to graded school districts under the general laws of this State.
16 V.S.A. § 1562 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 37 / Section 1562
§ 1562. Tryout classes
Status: in_force

From the monies annually available for use in career technical education, the State Board may reimburse part of the program cost attributable to programs designed to assist students in deciding whether to enroll in career technical courses. As a condition of such assistance, the program shall demonstrate that it has taken steps to encourage each student to consider enrolling in courses not traditional for that student's gender.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 5.03 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 5 / Section 5.03
App. § 5-3. New district to own all property of old districts
Status: in_force

All real estate and other property and all assets of Bennington Graded School District, Inc. and Greater Bennington Schools, Inc. shall become the property of Bennington School District Incorporated on July 1 in the year following the calendar year in which it is voted to dissolve the old districts and to create the new district pursuant to subsection 8(a) of this chapter, subject, however, to any agreements with respect thereto made by Bennington Graded School District, Inc., or Greater Bennington Schools, Inc., before July 1 in such year.
16 V.S.A. § 806k — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 19 / Section 806k
§ 806k. Rulemaking functions of the interstate commission - Article XII
Status: in_force

A. Rulemaking Authority — The Interstate Commission shall promulgate reasonable rules in order to effectively and efficiently achieve the purposes of this Compact. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Interstate Commission exercises its rulemaking authority in a manner that is beyond the scope of the purposes of this Act, or the powers granted hereunder, then such an action by the Interstate Commission shall be invalid and have no force or effect.

B. Rulemaking Procedure — Rules shall be made pursuant to a rulemaking process that substantially conforms to the “Model State Administrative Procedure Act,” of 1981, Uniform Laws Annotated, Vol. 15, p.1 (2000) as amended, as may be appropriate to the operations of the Interstate Commission.

C. Not later than thirty (30) days after a rule is promulgated, any person may file a petition for judicial review of the rule; provided, that the filing of such a petition shall not stay or otherwise prevent the rule from becoming effective unless the court finds that the petitioner has a substantial likelihood of success. The court shall give deference to the actions of the Interstate Commission consistent with applicable law and shall not find the rule to be unlawful if the rule represents a reasonable exercise of the Interstate Commission's authority.

D. If a majority of the legislatures of the compacting states rejects a rule by enactment of a statute or resolution in the same manner used to adopt the compact, then such rule shall have no further force and effect in any compacting state.
16 V.S.A. § 141 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 3 / Section 141
§§ 141-144a. Repealed. 1969, No. 298 (Adj. Sess.), § 79.
Status: in_force

The Statutes below include the actions of the 2025 session of the General Assembly. NOTE : The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
16 V.S.A. § 257 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 5 / Section 257
§ 257. Fees for fingerprinting; Fingerprint Fee Special Fund
Status: in_force

State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies may charge a fee of up to $35.00 for providing applicants or other individuals with a set of classifiable fingerprints as required by this subchapter. No fee shall be charged to retake fingerprints determined by the Vermont Crime Information Center not to be classifiable. Fees collected by the State of Vermont under this section shall be credited to the Fingerprint Fee Special Fund established and managed pursuant to 32 V.S.A. chapter 7, subchapter 5, and shall be available to the Department of Public Safety to offset the costs of providing these services.
16 V.S.A. § 2975 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 101 / Section 2975
§ 2975. Unusual special education costs; financial assistance
Status: in_force

The Secretary may use funds for allowable special education expenditures, as defined in State Board of Education rules, to directly assist supervisory unions with special education expenditures of an unusual or unexpected nature. These funds shall be appropriated in the amount of two percent times the census grant as defined in section 2961 of this title. The Secretary's decision regarding a supervisory union's eligibility for and amount of assistance shall be final.
16 V.S.A. § 718 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 11 / Section 718
§ 718. Transfer of real property to town in which it is located
Status: in_force

If the original voter-approved articles of agreement require sale of real property to the town in which the property is located and the sale is scheduled to occur after the operational date, or if after the operational date and after completing any statutory and contractual prerequisites the union school district offers to sell any of its real property to the town in which the property is located, then the town may assume title to the real property for a price that is less than the fair market value only as follows:

(1) The conveyance to the town shall be made subject to all encumbrances of record, the assumption or payment of all outstanding bonds and notes, and the repayment of any school construction aid or grants that may be required by law if any such obligation was incurred before the operational date.

(2) The conveyance to the town shall be conditioned upon the town owning and using the real property for community and public purposes for a minimum of five years.

(3) If the town sells the real property prior to five years of ownership, then the town shall compensate the union school district for all capital improvements and renovations initiated after the operational date and prior to the sale to the town.
16 V.S.A. § 1051 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 24 / Section 1051
§ 1051. Statement of public policy
Status: in_force

It is the policy of the State of Vermont to cooperate with religious groups by adjusting the schedule of public schools to provide periodic released time for religious instruction, provided that such adjustments do not interfere with the conduct of secular educational programs in the schools.
16 V.S.A. § 1045 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 23 / Section 1045
§ 1045. Driver training course
Status: in_force

(a) A driver education and training course, approved by the Agency of Education and the Department of Motor Vehicles, shall be made available to students whose parent or guardian is a resident of Vermont and who have reached their 15th birthday and who are regularly enrolled in a public or independent high school approved by the State Board.

(b) After June 30, 1984, all driver education courses shall include a course of instruction approved by the State Board and the council on the effects of alcohol and drugs on driving.

(c) All driver education courses shall include instruction on motor vehicle liability insurance and the motor vehicle financial responsibility laws of the State.

(d) All driver education courses shall include instruction on the adverse environmental, health, economic, and other effects of unnecessary idling of motor vehicles and on the law governing prohibited idling of motor vehicles.
16 V.S.A. § 2973a — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 101 / Section 2973a
§ 2973a. Special education; best practices; policy
Status: in_force

It is the public policy of the State that integrated special education services are recognized as an essential responsibility of the educational system that benefits all students and contribute to the good of the State. This section and section 2974 of this title recognize that best practices in delivery of such services promote this policy.
16 V.S.A. § 477 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 9 / Section 477
§ 477. Merger of town and incorporated school districts
Status: in_force

(a) An incorporated school district, by a majority vote of the legal voters present and voting at any meeting legally warned, may surrender its charter as a corporation for the maintenance of public schools or such part of its charter as pertains to the maintenance of public schools. Such surrender shall take effect not later than July 1 following the vote so taken, and such school corporation shall cease to exist, and it shall become thereby a part of the town school district. In the event of any such merger notwithstanding the provisions of section 423 of this title, the directors of the incorporated school district holding office at the time of the merger shall become members of the board of school directors of the town school district and shall continue in that office until the expiration of the terms for which they were elected by the incorporated school district.

(b) By a majority vote of the legal voters present and voting at any meeting legally warned, a town district may become a part of an incorporated district, provided the incorporated district, at a meeting legally warned, votes to accept such merger. Such merger shall take effect July 1 following the vote so taken. When such a merger has occurred, the incorporated district shall be considered a town district in all respects pertaining to the maintenance and administration of its public schools.

(c) In case of a union of an incorporated district and a town district under either subsection (a) or (b) of this section, each district shall settle its own business affairs and pay all its indebtedness, except for repairs and new buildings, shall deposit its records with the town clerk, and shall no longer exist except for the settlement of its own pecuniary affairs. In effecting such settlement, a district may remain in existence for not more than five years for the purpose only of voting, assessing, and collecting a special tax annually to pay such indebtedness.
16 V.S.A. § 321 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 7 / Section 321
§ 321. Treasury; uses
Status: in_force

A supervisory union shall have a treasury for the purpose of transacting the financial affairs of the supervisory union and any joint operations among or within supervisory unions authorized under section 267 of this title.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 17.02 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 17 / Section 17.02
App. § 17-2. Officers; trustees
Status: in_force

The School District at its first annual meeting shall elect three Trustees as follows: One for the term of one year, one for the term of two years, and one for the term of three years; and at all subsequent annual meetings vacancies by the expiration of the terms of office of Trustee shall be filled by the election of Trustees for the term of three years each; and all vacancies caused by death, registration, removal from the District, or other cause shall be filled at an annual or special meeting warned for the purpose, for the unexpired term of such Trustees only. The Trustees shall have all the powers and perform all the duties of a Prudential Committee of a school district, and shall choose one of their number to be President, and may appoint a Secretary of the Board, each of whom shall hold office for the term of one year and until their successors are chosen and appointed. There shall also be elected a Collector, Treasurer, and three Auditors at each annual meeting of the District for the term of one year each, and vacancies in either of the offices may be filled at any special meeting called for that purpose, and they shall serve in their respective offices until their successors are elected. The President of the Board of Trustees shall serve as Moderator at all meetings of the District, and the Secretary of the Board of Trustees who shall not be a member of the Board shall serve as Clerk of the District and shall be invested with the same powers and subject to the same duties and liabilities of clerks of school districts under the school district system.
16 V.S.A. § 795 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 17 / Section 795
§ 795. Officers-Article V
Status: reserved

A. Officers: general. The officers of an interstate school district shall be a board of school directors, a chairman of the board, a vice-chairman of the board, a secretary of the board, a moderator, a clerk, a treasurer and three auditors. Except as otherwise specifically provided, they shall be eligible to take office immediately following their election; they shall serve until the next annual meeting of the interstate district and until their successors are elected and qualified. Each shall take oath for the faithful performance of his duties before the moderator, or a notary public or a justice of the peace of the state in which the oath is administered. Their compensation shall be fixed by vote of the district. No person shall be eligible to any district office unless he is a voter in the district. A custodian, school teacher, principal, superintendent or other employee of an interstate district acting as such shall not be eligible to hold office as a school director.

B. Board of directors.

a. How chosen. Each member district shall be represented by at least one resident on the board of school directors of an interstate school district. A member district shall be entitled to such further representation on the interstate board of school directors as provided in the articles of agreement as amended from time to time. The articles of agreement as amended from time to time may provide for school directors at large, as above set forth. No person shall be disqualified to serve as a member of an interstate board because he is at the same time a member of the school board of a member district.

b. Term. Interstate school directors shall be elected for terms in accordance with the articles of agreement.

c. Duties of board of directors. The board of school directors of an interstate school district shall have and exercise all of the powers of the district not reserved herein to the voters of the district.

d. Organization. The clerk of the district shall warn a meeting of the board of school directors to be held within ten days following the date of the annual meeting, for the purpose of organizing the board, including the election of its officers.

C. Chairman of the board. The chairman of the board of interstate school directors shall be elected by the interstate board from among its members at its first meeting following the annual meeting. The chairman shall preside at the meetings of the board and shall perform such other duties as the board may assign to him.

D. Vice-Chair of the board of directors. The vice-chairman of the interstate board shall be elected in the same manner as the chairman. He shall represent a member district in a state other than that represented by the chairman. He shall preside in the absence of the chairman and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the interstate board.

E. Secretary of the board. The secretary of the interstate board shall be elected in the same manner as the chairman. Instead of electing one of its members, the interstate board may appoint the interstate district clerk to serve as secretary of the board in addition to his other duties. The secretary of the interstate board (or the interstate district clerk, if so appointed) shall keep the minutes of its meetings, shall certify its records, and perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the board.

F. Moderator. The moderator shall preside at the district meetings, regulate the business thereof, decide questions of order, and make a public declaration of every vote passed. He may prescribe rules of procedure; but such rules may be altered by the district. He may administer oaths to district officers in either state.

G. Clerk. The clerk shall keep a true record of all proceedings at each district meeting, shall certify its records, shall make an attested copy of any records of the district for any person upon request and tender of reasonable fees therefor, if so appointed, shall serve as secretary of the board of school directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be required by custom or law.

H. Treasurer. The treasurer shall have custody of all of the monies belonging to the district and shall pay out the same only upon the order of the interstate board. He shall keep a fair and accurate account of all sums received into and paid from the interstate district treasury, and at the close of each fiscal year he shall make a report to the interstate district, giving a particular account of all receipts and payments during the year. He shall furnish to the interstate directors, statements from his books and submit his books and vouchers to them and to the district auditors for examination whenever so requested. He shall make all returns called for by laws relating to school districts. Before entering on his duties, the treasurer shall give a bond with sufficient sureties and in such sum as the directors may require. The treasurer's term of office is from July 1 to the following June 30.

I. Auditors. At the organization meeting of the district, three auditors shall be chosen, one to serve for a term of one year, one to serve for a term of two years, and one to serve for a term of three years. After the expiration of each original term, the successor shall be chosen for a three year term. At least one auditor shall be a resident of New York, and one auditor shall be a resident of Vermont. An interstate district may vote to employ a certified public accountant to assist the auditors in the performance of their duties. The auditors shall carefully examine the accounts of the treasurer and the directors at the close of each fiscal year, and at such other times whenever necessary, and report to the district whether the same are correctly cast and properly vouched.

J. Superintendent. The superintendent of schools shall be selected by a majority vote of the board of school directors of the interstate district with the approval of both commissioners.

K. Vacancies. Any vacancy among the elected officers of the district shall be filled by the interstate board until the next annual meeting of the district or other election, when a successor shall be elected to serve out the remainder of the unexpired term, if any. Until all vacancies on the interstate board are filled, the remaining members shall have full power to act.
16 V.S.A. § 822 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 21 / Section 822
§ 822. School district to maintain public high schools or pay tuition
Status: in_force

(a) Each school district shall maintain one or more approved high schools in which high school education is provided for its resident students unless:

(1) the electorate authorizes the school board to close an existing high school and to provide for the high school education of its students by paying tuition to a public high school, an approved independent high school, or an independent school meeting education quality standards, to be selected by the parents or guardians of the student, within or outside the State; or

(2) the school district is organized to provide only elementary education for its students.

(b) For purposes of this section, a school district that is organized to provide kindergarten through grade 12 and maintains a program of education for only the first eight years of compulsory school attendance shall be obligated to pay tuition for its resident students for at least four additional years.

(c)(1) A school district may both maintain a high school and furnish high school education by paying tuition:

(A) to a public school as in the judgment of the school board may best serve the interests of the students; or

(B) to an approved independent school or an independent school meeting education quality standards if the school board judges that a student has unique educational needs that cannot be served within the district or at a nearby public school.

(2) The judgment of the board shall be final in regard to the institution the students may attend at public cost.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 19.07 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 19 / Section 19.07
App. § 19-7. Effective date
Status: in_force

This act shall take effect from passage.
16 V.S.A. § 1551a — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 37 / Section 1551a
§ 1551a. Secondary students not enrolled in a high school
Status: in_force

(a) Enrollment in a high school shall not be a precondition for enrollment in a career technical center for a student of any age without a diploma. For the purposes of this section, a general education development credential shall not be considered a high school diploma.

(b) A school district may establish reasonable procedures to require its resident students to discuss educational opportunities within career technical centers or the high school. Procedures shall not interfere with enrollment in a career technical center. If a student without a diploma who is not enrolled in a high school enrolls in a career technical center, within 10 days of enrollment, the career technical center shall notify the school district of residence of the enrollment.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 3.07 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 3 / Section 3.07
App. § 3-7. Courses of study; acceptance of scholars
Status: in_force

The Trustees may make such bylaws, rules, and regulations, for the gradation, instruction, and management of the Academy and Graded School, and for the care of the property of the District, as they may deem expedient not inconsistent with the laws of the State; they shall establish a course or courses of study in each of the schools and shall, in conjunction with the teachers of the schools, arrange and hold a public examination of all the schools at the close of each term thereof if thought best, and assign each scholar to the particular grade or department which each shall be found qualified to enter; shall assign each student to the proper grade upon admission to the school, and may change students from one grade to another during term time, whenever the interest of the students or the good of the school may seem to require it. The Trustees shall, unless otherwise directed by a vote of the District at any annual meeting thereof, allow scholars from other districts in the Town of Barton or from other towns to attend the Academy and Graded School with equal advantages of resident scholars, at rates of tuition corresponding as nearly as may be to the usual rates for the same instruction in schools of like character in the State.
16 V.S.A. § 2008 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 57 / Section 2008
§ 2008. Finality of decisions
Status: in_force

All decisions of the school board regarding matters in dispute in negotiations shall, after full compliance with this chapter, be final.
16 V.S.A. § 806b — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 19 / Section 806b
§ 806b. Applicability - Article III
Status: in_force

A. Except as otherwise provided in Section B, this compact shall apply to the children of:

1. active duty members of the uniformed services as defined in this compact, including members of the National Guard and Reserve on active duty orders pursuant to 10 U.S.C. Chapter 1209 and 1211;

2. members or veterans of the uniformed services who are severely injured and medically discharged or retired for a period of one (1) year after medical discharge or retirement; and

3. members of the uniformed services who die on active duty or as a result of injuries sustained on active duty for a period of one (1) year after death.

B. The provisions of this interstate compact shall only apply to local education agencies as defined in this compact.

C. The provisions of this compact shall not apply to the children of:

1. inactive members of the national guard and military reserves;

2. members of the uniformed services now retired, except as provided in Section A;

3. veterans of the uniformed services, except as provided in Section A; and

4. other U.S. Dept. of Defense personnel and other federal agency civilian and contract employees not defined as active duty members of the uniformed services.
16 V.S.A. § 2941 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 101 / Section 2941
§ 2941. Policy and purpose
Status: in_force

It is the policy of the State to ensure equal educational opportunities for all children in Vermont. This means that children with disabilities are entitled to receive a free appropriate public education. The purpose of this chapter is to enable the Agency to ensure the provision of special education services and supports in accordance with individualized education programs necessary to meet the needs of children with disabilities.
16 V.S.A. § 134 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 1 / Section 134
§ 134. Religious exemption
Status: in_force

Any student whose parent shall present to the school principal a signed statement that the teaching of disease, its symptoms, development, and treatment, conflicts with the parents' religious convictions shall be exempt from such instruction, and no child so exempt shall be penalized by reason of that exemption.
16 V.S.A. § 1940 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 55 / Section 1940
§ 1940. Termination of service; death; refund; pension
Status: in_force

(a)(1) Upon the withdrawal of a member from service prior to retirement, the amount of the member's accumulated contributions, less not more than one-third of the regular interest credited thereon as determined by the Board, will be returnable to the member. In lieu of the return of contributions:

(A) a member who has attained the age of 57 and completed at least five years of creditable service or completed 25 years of creditable service as of June 30, 2010, may allow his or her contributions to remain in the System and receive a retirement allowance, commencing as early as age 55;

(B) a member who has not attained the age of 57 or completed 25 years of creditable service as of June 30, 2010 but who has five or more years of creditable service may allow his or her contributions to remain in the System and receive a retirement allowance commencing as early as age 55 or when the combination of the member's age and years of creditable service totals 90, whichever comes first.

(2) In either instance set forth in subdivisions (1)(A) and (B) of this subsection, the retirement allowance shall consist of the annuity provided by his or her accumulated contributions with interest to the date on which the allowance commences, and a pension equal to a service retirement pension computed on the basis of the member's compensation and creditable service to his or her date of withdrawal from service.

(b)(1) Upon the death of a Group A or Group C member before retirement the member's accumulated contributions will be payable to such primary beneficiary, primary and secondary beneficiaries, or joint beneficiaries, if any, as the member has nominated by written designation duly acknowledged and filed with the Board. In the absence of a written designation of beneficiary or in the event the designated beneficiary is deceased, the return of accumulated contributions with interest payable as a result of the death of the member prior to retirement shall be payable as follows:

(A) In the case of an open estate, to the administrator or executor.

(B) In the case of a closed estate and the deceased member's account is valued at less than $1,000.00, in accordance with the Probate Division of the Superior Court decree of distribution.

(C) In the absence of an open estate or Probate Division of the Superior Court decree of distribution, and where the deceased member's account is valued at less than $1,000.00 to the surviving spouse of the deceased owner, or, if there is no surviving spouse, then to the next of kin according to 14 V.S.A. § 314.

(D) In all other cases a probate estate shall be opened by the claimant, or other interested party, in order to determine the appropriate distribution of the proceeds of the deceased member's account. When an estate is opened solely to distribute the proceeds of a deceased member's account under this section, the Probate Division of the Superior Court may waive any filing fees.

(2) In addition, if any member was in service at the date of the member's death or on leave of absence granted subject to Board rules and had completed one or more years of creditable service, or if the member's death was the result of an accident while in service or on leave of absence under Board rules, a pension equal to ten percent of the member's average final compensation, but not less than $50.00 per month, will be payable on account of each of the member's dependent children under 18 years of age, or, if a dependent student, under 23 years of age, not exceeding a total of three. However, if a surviving child of any age was mentally or physically incapacitated for substantial gainful employment before attaining 18 years of age, the pension will be payable for the duration of the child's incapacity.

(3) The survivors of a member who dies after December 31, 2006, while performing qualified military service shall be entitled to any additional benefits, other than benefit accruals related to the period of qualified military service, that would have been provided under the Plan had the member resumed employment and then terminated employment on account of death.
16 V.S.A. § 1701 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 51 / Section 1701
§ 1701. Secretary's determination
Status: in_force

(a) Matters involving denial of licensure. With respect to an applicant's appeal, the Secretary shall, within 10 days of receiving the committee's recommendation, affirm or reverse the licensing decision and notify the applicant in writing. If the Secretary reverses the decision, the office shall issue a license accordingly. If the Secretary affirms the decision, the applicant may appeal by notifying the Secretary in writing within 10 days of receiving the Secretary's decision. The Secretary shall notify the hearing panel administrative officer of the appeal.

(b) Matters involving alleged unprofessional conduct or incompetence. With respect to a licensee alleged either incompetent or to have engaged in unprofessional conduct, the Secretary shall, within 10 days of receiving the investigation committee's recommendation, determine whether to issue a formal charge and what, if any, licensing action should be imposed. If the Secretary determines no formal charge is warranted, the Secretary shall notify in writing the licensee and, if the licensee is employed, the superintendent of the school district of employment. If the Secretary determines a formal charge is warranted, the Secretary shall prepare a formal charge, file it with the hearing panel administrative officer, and cause a copy to be served upon the licensee charged together with a notice of hearing and procedural rights, as provided in this chapter. The Secretary shall provide a copy of the formal charge to the superintendent of the school district, if any, in which the licensee is employed, or if the licensee is employed as a superintendent, to the chair of the supervisory union that employs the superintendent, provided the superintendent or board chair agrees to maintain the confidentiality and privileged status of the information as provided in subsection 1708(d) of this title. If the Secretary finds that public health, safety, or welfare imperatively requires emergency action and incorporates a finding to that effect in the formal charge, the hearing panel may order summary suspension of a license pending proceedings for revocation or other action. These proceedings shall be promptly instituted and determined.
16 V.S.A. § 3442 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 123 / Section 3442
§ 3442. State Aid for School Construction Program [Effective July 1, 2026]
Status: in_force

The Agency of Education shall be responsible for implementing the State Aid for School Construction Program according to the provisions of this chapter. The Agency shall be responsible for:

(1) reviewing all preliminary applications for State school construction aid and issuing an approval or denial in accordance with section 3445 of this chapter;

(2) adopting rules pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter 25 pertaining to school construction and capital outlay, including rules to specify a point prioritization methodology and a bonus incentive structure aligned with the legislative intent expressed in section 3440 of this title;

(3) including as part of its budget submitted to the Governor pursuant to subdivision 212(21) of this title its annual school construction funding request;

(4) developing a prequalification and review process for project delivery consultants and architecture and engineering firms specializing in prekindergarten through grade 12 school design, renovation, or construction and maintaining a list of such prequalified firms and consultants;

(5) providing technical assistance and guidance to school districts and supervisory unions on all phases of school capital projects;

(6) providing technical advice and assistance, training, and education to school districts, supervisory unions, general contractors, subcontractors, construction or project managers, designers, and other vendors in the planning, maintenance, and establishment of school facility space;

(7) maintaining a current list of school construction projects that have received preliminary approval, projects that have received final approval, and the priority points awarded to each project;

(8) collecting, maintaining, and making publicly available quarterly progress reports of all ongoing school construction projects that shall include, at a minimum, the costs of the project and the time schedule of the project;

(9) recommending policies and procedures designed to reduce borrowing for school construction programs at both State and local levels;

(10) conducting a needs survey at least every five years to ascertain the capital construction, reconstruction, maintenance, and other capital needs for all public schools and maintaining such data in a publicly accessible format;

(11) developing a formal enrollment projection model or using projection models already available;

(12) encouraging school districts and supervisory unions to investigate opportunities for the maximum utilization of space in and around the district or supervisory union;

(13) collecting and maintaining a clearinghouse of prototypical school plans, as appropriate, that may be consulted by eligible applicants;

(14) retaining the services of consultants, as necessary, to effectuate the roles and responsibilities listed within this section; and

(15) notwithstanding 2 V.S.A. § 20(d), annually on or before December 15, submitting a written report to the General Assembly regarding the status and implementation of the State Aid for School Construction Program, including the data required to be collected pursuant to this section.
16 V.S.A. § 1123 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 25 / Section 1123
§ 1123. Attendance may be excused
Status: repealed

(a) The superintendent of a public school may excuse, in writing, any student from attending the school for a definite time, but for not more than ten consecutive school days and only for emergencies or for absence from town.

(b) The superintendent of an elementary school held for more than 175 school days in a school year may excuse, in writing, a student of the school from attending more than 175 days.

(c) [Repealed.]
16 V.S.A. § 1705 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 51 / Section 1705
§ 1705. Hearing officer recommendation
Status: in_force

The hearing officer shall conduct the hearing for the purpose of issuing recommended findings of fact, conclusions of law, and a proposed decision to the hearing panel. The hearing officer may administer oaths and otherwise exercise the powers of a judicial officer regarding the conduct of a fair and impartial hearing. Within 30 days of the hearing, the hearing officer shall recommend to the hearing panel findings of fact, conclusions of law, and a decision and by certified mail provide a copy to the applicant or licensee.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 15.03 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 15 / Section 15.03
App. § 15-3. Authority to make rules and establish schools
Status: in_force

The Graded School District may make bylaws, rules, and regulations as it may deem expedient, not inconsistent with the laws of this State, and may provide for the establishment and maintenance of such number of schools and of such grade or grades and for teaching therein such branches of knowledge as it may deem expedient.
16 V.S.A. § 717 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 11 / Section 717
§ 717. Dissolution, reorganization, and discontinuation of forming districts
Status: in_force

(a) Unified union school district; dissolution of forming districts. On its operational date, a unified union school district shall supplant all forming districts and the forming districts shall cease to exist; provided, however, that if the voter-approved articles of agreement explicitly provide for it, then the supplanted forming districts and their boards may continue to exist for up to six months after the operational date for the sole purpose of completing any outstanding business that cannot legally be performed by the new unified union school district.

(b) Union Elementary and Union High School Districts.

(1) Reorganization of forming districts. On its operational date, a union elementary or union high school district shall supplant each forming district for the grades for which the union elementary or union high school district is organized (the supplanted grades). Each forming district shall cease to be organized to provide for education in the supplanted grades but shall continue to be responsible for the other grades for which it is organized; provided, however, that if the voter-approved articles of agreement explicitly provide for it, then the forming districts and their boards may continue to exist for the supplanted grades for up to six months after the operational date for the sole purpose of completing any outstanding business that cannot legally be performed by the new union elementary or union high school district.

(2) Dissolution of forming districts. If a forming district is organized to provide for education solely in the grades for which the new union elementary or union high school district is organized and the forming district is a member district of another union school district for all other grades, prekindergarten through grade 12, then the forming district shall cease all educational operations on the new union district's operational date, the new union school district shall assume all powers and responsibilities of the forming district, and the forming district shall cease to exist; provided, however, that if the voter-approved articles of agreement explicitly provide for it, then the forming district and its board may continue to operate for up to six months after the operational date for the sole purpose of completing any outstanding business that cannot legally be performed by the new union elementary or union high school district.
16 V.S.A. § 2174 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 72 / Section 2174
§ 2174. Board of Trustees; power
Status: in_force

The Board of Trustees may confer such honors and degrees as are usually given in colleges and universities and any other appropriate degrees and shall appoint a chancellor of the Corporation and a president for each institution under its control and prescribe their duties, salaries, and terms of office. The Board shall make bylaws and regulations for the government of its meetings and each institution under its control prescribing, among other things, the terms of admission, courses of instruction, educational standards, rates of tuition, scholarships, and other student aids.
16 V.S.A. § 2695 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 83 / Section 2695
§ 2695. General powers of board; contracts-Article V
Status: in_force

The board shall have the power to: (1) collect, correlate, and evaluate data in the fields of its interest under this compact; to publish reports, bulletins and other documents making available the results of its research; and, in its discretion, to charge fees for said reports, bulletins and documents; (2) enter into such contractual agreements or arrangements with any of the compacting states or agencies thereof and with educational institutions and agencies as may be required in the judgment of the board to provide adequate services and facilities in educational fields covered by this compact; provided, that it shall be the policy of the board in the negotiation of its agreements to serve increased numbers of students from the compacting states through arrangements with then existing institutions, whenever in the judgment of the board adequate service can be so secured in the New England region. Each of the compacting states shall contribute funds to carry out the contracts of the board on the basis of the number of students from such state for whom the board may contract. Contributions shall be at the rate determined by the board in each educational field. Except in those instances where the board by specific action allocates funds available to it under Article VII hereof, the board's authority to enter into such contracts shall be only upon appropriation of funds by the compacting states. Any contract entered into shall be in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the board and in accordance with the laws of the compacting states.
16 V.S.A. § 2880d — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 87 / Section 2880d
§ 2880d. Vermont Higher Education Investment Plan accounts; matching allocations for families with limited income
Status: in_force

(a) The Corporation shall invite the parents or legal guardians of each Program beneficiary to open a Vermont Higher Education Investment Plan account on the beneficiary's behalf.

(b) The beneficiary, his or her parents or legal guardians, other individuals, and private and public entities may make additional deposits into a beneficiary's Investment Plan account.

(c) Annually, the Corporation shall deposit into the Program Fund a matching allocation of up to $250.00 per eligible child on a dollar-to-dollar basis for contributions made that year to a single Investment Plan account established for the child under this section, provided that at the time of deposit, the eligible child has a family income of less than 250 percent of the federal poverty level.

(d) Notwithstanding subsection (c) of this section, if the available funds in a given calendar year are insufficient to provide for the maximum allocation amounts under this subsection, the Corporation shall prorate the allocations accordingly.
16 V.S.A. § 1262b — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 27 / Section 1262b
§ 1262b. Rules
Status: in_force

The State Board shall adopt rules governing grants under section 1262a of this title. The rules shall provide for grants from State funds in accordance with federal guidelines for food programs. The State Board may adopt other rules that are necessary to carry out the provisions of this subchapter.
16 V.S.A. § 730 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 11 / Section 730
§ 730. Unified union school district board members; nomination and election; bond
Status: in_force

(a) If by Australian ballot. The provisions of this subsection shall apply to a unified union school district that conducts elections for board membership by Australian ballot.

(1) Proportional to town population.

(A) When membership on the board of a unified union school district is apportioned to each town within the district in a number that is closely proportional to the town's relative population, the voters residing in the town may file a petition nominating a candidate for board membership. A petition is valid only if:

(i) the candidate is a current voter of the town;

(ii) the petition identifies the term of office for which the candidate is nominated;

(iii) the petition is signed by at least 30 voters residing in the town or one percent of the legal voters in the town, whichever is less;

(iv) the voters file the petition with the town clerk not later than 5:00 p.m. on the sixth Monday preceding the day of the election; and

(v) the candidate files with the town clerk a written consent to the printing of the candidate's name on the ballot.

(B) After confirming that the names on the petition correspond to registered voters of the town, the town clerk shall transmit the name of each duly nominated candidate to the clerk of the unified union school district.

(C) The district clerk shall prepare a unified union school district ballot for each town and shall transmit the ballot to the town clerk to make available to the voters residing in the town.

(D) The voters of a town within the unified union school district shall elect as many board members as are apportioned for that term of office based on the population of the town.

(2) Modified at-large model: allocation to town; at-large representation.

(A) When membership on the board of a unified union school district is allocated to each town within the district, but the allocation is not closely proportional to the town's relative population and the board member is elected at-large, the voters residing in any one or more of the towns within the district may file a petition nominating a candidate for board membership under the “modified at-large” model. A petition is valid only if:

(i) the candidate is a current voter of the town to which the seat is allocated;

(ii) the petition identifies the term of office for which the candidate is nominated;

(iii) the petition is signed by at least 60 voters residing in the unified union school district or one percent of the legal voters in the district, whichever is less;

(iv) the voters file the petition with the clerk of the unified union school district not later than 5:00 p.m. on the sixth Monday preceding the day of the election; and

(v) the candidate files with the district clerk a written consent to the printing of the candidate's name on the ballot.

(B) Not later than 5:00 p.m. on the sixth Monday preceding the day of the election, the town clerk of each town within the unified union school district shall furnish to the district clerk, at the expense of the district, authenticated copies of the checklist of legal voters within the town as the checklist appears after revisions are made pursuant to 17 V.S.A. §§ 2141–2150.

(C) The district clerk shall prepare the unified union school district ballot to include the name of each duly nominated candidate and shall transmit the ballot to the town clerk of each town within the district to make available to the voters residing in the town.

(D) The voters of the unified union school district shall elect as many board members as are to be elected at-large for that term of office under the “modified at-large” model.

(3) At-large representation.

(A) When membership on a unified union school district board is not apportioned or allocated pursuant to subdivision (1) (proportional to town population) or (2) (modified at-large) of this subsection (a) and the board member is elected at large, the voters residing in any one or more of the towns within the district may file a petition nominating a candidate for at-large board membership. A petition is valid only if:

(i) the candidate is a current voter of a town within the unified union school district;

(ii) the petition identifies the term of office for which the candidate is nominated;

(iii) the petition is signed by at least 60 voters residing in the unified union school district or one percent of the legal voters in the district, whichever is less;

(iv) the voters file the petition with the clerk of the unified union school district not later than 5:00 p.m. on the sixth Monday preceding the day of the election; and

(v) the candidate files with the district clerk a written consent to the printing of the candidate's name on the ballot.

(B) Not later than 5:00 p.m. on the sixth Monday preceding the day of the election, the town clerk of each town within the unified union school district shall furnish to the district clerk, at the expense of the district, authenticated copies of the checklist of legal voters within the town as the checklist appears after revisions are made pursuant to 17 V.S.A. §§ 2141–2150.

(C) The district clerk shall prepare the unified union school district ballot to include the name of each duly nominated candidate and shall transmit the ballot to the town clerk of each town within the district to make available to the voters residing in the town.

(D) The voters of the unified union district shall elect as many board members as are to be elected at-large for that term of office.

(b) If not by Australian ballot. The provisions of this subsection shall apply to a unified union school district that has not voted to conduct elections for board membership by Australian ballot.

(1) The nomination and election of candidates for the office of unified union school district board member shall occur at a warned meeting of the unified union school district; provided, however, if the district elects board members under the “proportional to town population” model, then the nomination and election of candidates shall occur at an annual or special meeting of the town in which the candidate resides, warned for the purpose pursuant to subsection 737(f) of this chapter.

(2) Voters shall only nominate a person who is present at the meeting and the person shall accept or reject the nomination.

(3) The clerk shall ensure that the candidate is a voter of a specific town if the district elects board members under either the “proportional to town population” model or the “modified at-large” model.

(c) Bond. Before a newly elected board member enters upon the duties of office, the district shall ensure that the district's blanket bond covers the new member. In lieu of a blanket bond, the district may choose to provide suitable crime insurance coverage.

(d) Notification. Within 10 days after the election of a board member pursuant to this section, the district clerk shall transmit the name of newly elected board members to the Secretary of State.
16 V.S.A. § 1802 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 53 / Section 1802
§ 1802. Transition of employees to newly created employer
Status: in_force

(a) Prior to the first day of a New District's or a new SU's existence, upon creation of the Transitional Board, the Board shall:

(1) appoint a negotiations council for the New District or New SU for the purpose of negotiating with future employees' representatives; and

(2) recognize the representatives of the Employees of the Realigning Districts or Realigning SUs as the recognized representatives of the employees of the New District or New SU.

(b) Negotiations shall commence within 90 days after formation of the Transitional Board and shall be conducted pursuant to the provisions of chapter 57 of this title for teachers and administrators and pursuant to 21 V.S.A. chapter 22 for other employees.

(c) An Employee of a Realigning District or Realigning SU who was not a probationary employee shall not be considered a probationary employee of the New District or New SU.

(d) If a new agreement is not ratified by both parties prior to the first day of the New District's or New SU's existence, then:

(1) the parties shall comply with the existing agreements in place for Employees of the Realigning Districts or the Realigning SUs until a new agreement is reached;

(2) the parties shall adhere to the provisions of an agreement among the Employees of the Realigning Districts or the Realigning SUs, as represented by their respective recognized representatives, regarding how provisions under the existing contracts regarding issues of seniority, reduction in force, layoff, and recall will be reconciled during the period prior to ratification of a new agreement; and

(3) a new employee beginning employment after the first day of the New District's or New SU's existence shall be covered by the agreement in effect that applies to the largest bargaining unit for Employees of the Realigning Districts in the New District or for Employees of the Realigning SU in the New SU.

(e) On the first day of its existence, the New District or New SU shall assume the obligations of existing individual employment contracts, including accrued leaves and associated benefits, with the Employees of the Realigning Districts.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 13.06 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 13 / Section 13.06
App. § 13-6. Adoption of rules and regulations
Status: in_force

The Incorporated School District may make all such necessary rules and regulations in regard to the attendance of scholars, and the course of instruction in the school or schools, as shall not be inconsistent with the laws of this State.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 5.02 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 11 / Section 5.02
App. § 11-5.2. Borrowing
Status: in_force

The District may borrow money in any year in anticipation of taxes assessed in such year, in an amount not to exceed 90 percent of the taxes assessed in such year. Such notes or orders, however, must mature within one year from the date thereof and be paid from the taxes assessed and collected in such year.
16 V.S.A. § 714 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 11 / Section 714
§ 714. Initial members of union school district board; tallying of at-large votes; oath of office and assumption of duties
Status: in_force

(a) Tallying of at-large votes for initial members of board. If the voters have elected some or all of the initial members of the union school district board under either model involving at-large voting as set forth in subdivision 711(d)(2) (proposed unified union school district; modified at-large), (d)(3) (proposed unified union school district; at-large), (e)(2) (proposed union elementary or union high school district; modified at-large), or (e)(3) (proposed union elementary or union high school district; at-large) of this chapter, then the total votes cast for each of the at-large candidates shall be calculated as follows:

(1) Within seven days after the vote, the clerk of each school district voting on the proposal to form a union school district shall transmit electronically to the Secretary of Education the total number of votes cast in that school district for each at-large candidate.

(2) The Secretary shall calculate the total votes cast for each candidate and transmit those calculations to the clerks for verification. Ballots cast by the voters of any “advisable” district that does not approve the proposal to form a new union school district shall not be included in the calculation.

(3) When each clerk has verified the calculations, the Secretary shall prepare and execute a certification of the votes cast for each candidate.

(b) Notification. If the voters approve formation of a new union school district, then within 30–45 days after the vote or 15 days after a vote to reconsider the original vote to form the district, whichever is later, the notification of the election of initial board members shall be sent to the Secretary of State as follows:

(1) The clerk of each forming district shall transmit the names of board members elected in a manner that is proportional to town population as set forth in subdivision 711(d)(1) (proposed unified union district; proportional to town population) or (e)(1) (proposed union elementary or union high school district; proportional to town population) of this chapter.

(2) The Secretary of Education shall transmit the names of board members elected under either model involving at-large voting.

(c) Oath of office; assumption of duties; election of chair and clerk. The superintendent of the supervisory union serving the new union school district shall cause the initial board members to be sworn in. Although the swearing-in may occur prior to the organizational meeting required by section 715 of this chapter, it shall not occur before the Secretary of State files the certified copy of the recorded certification with each clerk pursuant to subsection 713(e) of this chapter. The initial board members shall assume office upon being sworn in and shall meet to elect one of their number to serve as the board chair and one other of its number to serve as the board clerk, and to transact any other business within its jurisdiction; provided, however, such meeting shall not occur prior to the organizational meeting required by section 715 of this chapter.
16 V.S.A. § 3448f — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 123 / Section 3448f
§ 3448f. Energy performance contracting; authorization; State aid
Status: repealed

(a) Definitions. As used in this section:

(1) “Cost-saving measure” means any facility improvement, repair, or alteration or any equipment, fixture, or furnishing to be constructed or installed in any facility that is designed to reduce energy consumption and operating costs or to increase the operating efficiency of facilities for their appointed functions, that is cost effective, and that is further defined by State Board rule.

(2) “District” means a district or independent school eligible for assistance under section 3447 of this title.

(3) “Energy and operational cost-savings” means any expense that is eliminated or decreased on a long-term basis as a result of any cost-saving measure, but does not include shifting personnel costs or similar short-term cost-savings.

(4) “Performance contract” means a contract for the valuation, recommendation, and implementation of one or more cost-saving measures for the purpose of realizing energy and operational cost-savings where payment by the district is contingent on energy or operational cost-saving results.

(b) Authorization. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a district may enter into a performance contract pursuant to this section for a period not to exceed 20 years. Cost-saving measures implemented under the contract shall comply with all State and local building codes.

(c) Selection of qualified contractor.

(1) Request for proposals. The district shall issue a request for proposals from individuals or entities interested in entering into a performance contract (who shall become the “contractor”), shall consider the proposals, and shall select a qualified contractor to engage in final contract negotiations. In developing the request for proposals and in selecting a qualified contractor, the district should make use of any assistance available from Efficiency Vermont, the School Energy Management Program of the Vermont Superintendents Association, and other similar entities. Factors to be considered in the final selection shall include contract terms, comprehensiveness of the proposal, comprehensiveness of cost-saving measures, experience of the contractor, quality of technical approach, and overall benefits to the district.

(2) Financial grade audit. The person selected pursuant to this subsection shall prepare a financial grade energy audit that, upon acceptance by the district, shall be part of the final performance contract executed with the district. If after preparation of the financial grade energy audit the district decides not to execute a performance contract with the contractor, the district shall pay the qualified contractor for costs incurred in preparing the financial grade energy audit. If, however, the district decides to execute a performance contract with the contractor, the costs of the financial grade energy audit shall be part of the costs of the performance contract.

(3) [Repealed.]

(d) Installment payment and lease-purchase agreements. A district may enter into a performance contract structured as an installment payment contract or lease-purchase agreement for the purchase and installation of cost-saving measures. Financing implemented through the contractor or a person other than the contractor is authorized.

(e) Payment schedule and savings. Each performance contract shall provide that all payments between parties, except obligations on termination of the contract before its expiration, shall be made over time, and that the objective of the performance contract is implementation of cost-saving measures and energy and operational cost-savings.

(f) State funding for energy conservation measures.

(1) Application for construction aid. A district that intends to construct or install cost-saving measures under a performance contract and wishes to receive State school construction aid in connection with those measures shall submit a written application to the Secretary that:

(A) specifies the need for and purpose of the project, including details of the cost-saving measure or measures proposed;

(B) provides details concerning the qualifications of the person with whom the district has entered or intends to enter into a performance contract and concerning the district's adherence to the selection process required by subsection (c) of this section, including detailed information regarding the assistance received from Efficiency Vermont, the School Energy Management Program, and similar entities;

(C) provides detailed information concerning the energy and operational cost-savings projected to result from the proposed cost-saving measures;

(D) provides detailed information concerning the amount and schedule of payments to be made under the terms of the performance contract; and

(E) provides any other information the Secretary deems necessary for consideration of the application.

(2) Approval of application. After consultation with the Department of Buildings and General Services and any other expert resources that may be available, including Efficiency Vermont and the School Energy Management Program, the Secretary may approve a complete application.

(3) Priorities. Following approval of a district's application, the State Board shall assign points, established by Board rule, to the project so that the project can be placed on a priority list distinct from but similar to the list established under section 3448 of this title, based on the number of points received. Once a project receives points, if it does not receive funding in a given year, it shall not lose points in subsequent years and, pursuant to Board rule and provided the scope of the project remains the same, it shall gain points due to the length of time on the list and may gain points for any other reason. Prioritized projects under this section shall be included in the State Board's request for legislative appropriation as a separate and distinct line item under section 3448 of this title. Any legislative appropriation made to fund the line item for performance contracts shall not exceed 20 percent of the appropriation made in the same year to fund State aid for school construction under section 3448.

(4) Award of State aid. A district shall not be reimbursed for debt incurred due to borrowing funds in anticipation of aid under this section. The total amount of an award shall be 20 percent of the approved total cost of the project, provided the total award shall not exceed the total payment that would be due from the district, less interest.

(5) Eligible costs. A project or portions of a project under this section shall be eligible for aid pursuant to criteria established by State Board rule.

(6) Payment. Upon completion of the construction or installation of the cost-saving measure, determination by the Department of Buildings and General Services that implementation of the cost-saving measures is expected to result in energy and operational cost-savings, and legislative appropriation sufficient to fund the State aid due under this section, the State Board shall certify an award for the project to the Commissioner of Finance and Management who shall issue a warrant for the payment of the award. A district awarded State aid under this section shall use the State aid solely for the purpose of paying all or a portion of the obligation due under the performance contract at the time the award is received.

(g) Refund upon sale. Upon the sale by a district of any energy-saving measure or building in which an energy-saving measure was constructed or installed, for which State aid was awarded under this section, the district shall refund funds equal to the aid received. All refunds shall be deposited with the State Treasurer and used for awards under this section and section 3448 of this title. No district shall receive any State general aid unless the district complies with this subsection.
16 V.S.A. § 478 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 9 / Section 478
§ 478. Prudential committee; vacancies
Status: in_force

Unless the incorporated district has a provision in its charter to the contrary, when a vacancy occurs on a prudential committee, the remaining members shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy until the next annual or special meeting. The members shall choose the new member by majority vote of those present and voting.
16 V.S.A. § 215 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 5 / Section 215
§ 215. Challenge to Excellence grants
Status: in_force

(a) Purpose and findings. It is a goal of the General Assembly to promote quality education for every Vermont child and to create an opportunity for every Vermont student to achieve his or her personal best, while respecting divergent student goals and personal learning styles and abilities. The General Assembly finds that a school's climate for learning is improved when parents, community members, and business leaders actively participate in promoting educational opportunities for every student. Further, it is the compassion and innovation of individual teachers and school personnel that often create the impetus for students to achieve excellence in education.

(b) Grant Program. The Secretary shall establish and implement a Challenge to Excellence Grant Program for the purpose of promoting quality education for Vermont students. Eligible applicants include Vermont public schools, including regional career technical centers, and Vermont supervisory unions on behalf of a school or schools. All proposals shall be to develop or carry out a comprehensive plan, which may be an action plan pursuant to subdivision 165(a)(1) of this title, to create educational opportunities for each student within the school. Any plan shall be developed with the involvement of parents and other community members, staff, and business representatives and shall be designed to assist students in meeting State Board and school board standards. Grants shall be for up to $50,000.00 and shall include a 1-1 match from other sources of funding, including grants from businesses, foundations, or other federal or local funding. Priority shall be given to schools that the Secretary finds are having difficulty meeting the quality standards listed in subsection 165(a) of this title or are making insufficient progress in improving student performance in relation to the standards set forth in subdivision 164(9) of this title. Eligible activities include:

(1) a comprehensive planning and goal-setting process to promote a quality education for all students within the school;

(2) activities to carry out a comprehensive plan to promote quality education for students within the school; and

(3) innovative methods to create educational opportunities for students according to a comprehensive plan, including special classes and activities; mentorship; summer institutes on math, science, reading and language arts, social studies, service, the arts, or technology; partnerships for learning with businesses, postsecondary schools, and community organizations; tutorials; programs for at-risk or gifted students; and guidance, peer counseling, and career planning activities.
16 V.S.A. § 836 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 21 / Section 836
§ 836. Tuition overcharge or undercharge [Repealed July 1, 2029 if contingency met]
Status: in_force

(a) Annually, on or before November 1, the Secretary shall inform each school board of a receiving public school, each board of trustees of a receiving approved independent school for which the Secretary has calculated a net cost per pupil, and each sending school district in Vermont of the calculated net cost per elementary or secondary pupil in the receiving schools. Each school board or board of trustees of a receiving school shall then determine whether it overcharged or undercharged any sending district for tuition charges and shall notify the district by December 15 of the same year of the amount due or the amount to be refunded or credited.

(b) If the sending district has paid tuition charges in excess of three percent of the calculated net cost per elementary or secondary pupil and is not sending enough students to the receiving district to use the overcharge funds as credit against tuition, the receiving district shall refund the overcharge money by July 31; provided, however, that the refund shall be in the amount that exceeded a three-percent overcharge. Interest owed the sending district on overcharge monies shall begin to accrue on December 1, at the rate of one-half percent per month.

(c) If the receiving district has undercharged tuition in an amount three percent or more than the calculated net cost per elementary or secondary pupil, the sending district shall pay the receiving district an amount equal to the amount of the undercharge that is between three percent and ten percent of the net cost per pupil. If payment is not made by July 31 of the year following the year in which the undercharge was determined, interest owed the receiving district on undercharge monies shall begin to accrue on August 1, at the rate of one percent per month.
16 V.S.A. § 1981 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 57 / Section 1981
§ 1981. Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter unless the context requires otherwise:

(1) “Administrator” means any person so licensed by the Vermont Standards Board for professional educators, the majority of whose employed time in a school or a school district is devoted to serving as superintendent, assistant superintendent, assistant to the superintendent, supervisor, principal, or assistant principal.

(2) “Professional negotiations” means the meeting, conferring, consulting, discussing, and negotiating in good faith between a school board negotiations council and a teachers' organization negotiations council or an administrators' organization negotiations council to reach agreement.

(3) “School board” means the board of school directors of a school district or its equivalent in any independent elementary or secondary school.

(4) “School district” means any public school district or any independent elementary or secondary school within the State that directly or indirectly receives support from public funds.

(5) “Teacher” means any person licensed employable as a teacher by the Vermont Standards Board for Professional Educators who is not an administrator as defined in this section.

(6) A “teachers' organization” or an “administrators' organization” means an organization, committee, council, group, or separate unit thereof in which teachers or administrators participate and that exists, in whole or in part, for the purpose of professional negotiation.

(7) “Agency fee” means a fee deducted by an employer from the salary or wages of an employee who is not a member of an employee organization, which is paid to the employee organization that is the exclusive bargaining agent for the bargaining unit of the employee. The agency fee shall not exceed 85 percent of the amount payable as dues by members of the employee organization and shall be deducted in the same manner as dues are deducted from the salary or wages of members of the employee organization and shall be used to defray the costs of chargeable activities.

(8) “School board negotiations council” means, for a supervisory district, its school board, and, for school districts within a supervisory union or board of cooperative education services, the body comprising representatives designated by each school board within the supervisory union or board of cooperative education services and by the supervisory union board or board of cooperative education services to engage in professional negotiations with a teachers' or administrators' organization.

(9) “Teachers' organization negotiations council” or “administrators' organization negotiations council” means the body comprising representatives designated by each teachers' organization or administrators' organization within a supervisory district, supervisory union, or board of cooperative education services to act as its representative for professional negotiations.
16 V.S.A. § 1166 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 25 / Section 1166
§ 1166. Possession of a firearm at school
Status: in_force

(a) In this section, the terms “to school” and “firearm” shall have the same meaning that the terms have in 18 U.S.C. § 921. The school board may expand the definitions, however, provided they remain consistent with federal law.

(b) Each school board shall adopt and implement policies regarding a student who brings a firearm to or possesses a firearm at school, which at a minimum shall include:

(1) A provision that any student who brings a firearm to or possesses a firearm at school shall be referred to a law enforcement agency. In addition to any other action the law enforcement agency may take, it may report the incident to the Department for Children and Families.

(2) A provision that the superintendent or principal, with the approval of the school board following opportunity for a hearing, shall expel from the school for not less than one calendar year any student who brings a firearm to or possesses a firearm at school; provided, however, the school board may modify the expulsion on a case-by-case basis. Modifications may be granted in circumstances such as:

(A) The student is unaware that he or she has brought a firearm to or possessed a firearm at school.

(B) The student did not intend to use the firearm to threaten or endanger others.

(C) The student has a disability and the misconduct is related to the student's disability.

(D) The student does not present an ongoing threat to others and a lengthy expulsion would not serve the best interests of the student.

(c) Annually at a time and on a form determined by the Secretary, each superintendent shall provide the Secretary with a description of the circumstances surrounding expulsions imposed under this section, the number of students expelled, and the type of firearm involved.
16 V.S.A. § 1591 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 37 / Section 1591
§ 1591. Governance
Status: in_force

The governing body for the provision of postsecondary career technical education shall be the Board of Trustees of the Vermont State Colleges pursuant to chapter 72 of this title. However, nothing in this chapter shall be interpreted to diminish or interfere with the rights and responsibilities of students in postsecondary degree-granting programs or the public or private institutions offering such programs.
16 V.S.A. § 1128 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 25 / Section 1128
§ 1128. Legal pupil taken to school; nonresident child living in district
Status: in_force

(a) A superintendent may and the truant officer shall stop a child between the ages of six and 16 years or a child 16 years of age or over and enrolled in public school, wherever found during school hours, and shall, unless such child is excused or exempted from school attendance, take the child to the school that she or he should attend.

(b) A child of legal school age who is not exempt from school attendance and who has not finished the elementary school course and is living in a district other than the place of legal residence shall, with the school board's approval, be admitted immediately to a school in the district where he or she is found. If the child is not admitted to school, then immediate action shall be taken by the truant officer to cause the return of the child to the district of his or her residence.
16 V.S.A. § 252 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 5 / Section 252
§ 252. Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this subchapter:

(1) “Criminal record” means the record of:

(A) convictions in Vermont, including whether any of the convictions is an offense listed in 13 V.S.A. § 5401(10) (sex offender definition for registration purposes); and

(B) convictions in other jurisdictions recorded in other state repositories or by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

(2) “School board” means the board of school directors of a school district or its equivalent in any independent school.

(3) “School district” means, unless the context otherwise clearly requires, a school district or a supervisory union.

(4) “Unsupervised” means not in the presence of a responsible adult in the employ of or under the direction of the independent school or school district.

(5) “User agreement” means an agreement between the Vermont Crime Information Center and a party requesting and receiving criminal record information that requires the party to comply with all federal and State laws, rules, regulations, and policies regulating the release of criminal record information and the protection of individual privacy.
16 V.S.A. § 2943 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 101 / Section 2943
§ 2943. Secretary of Education for children with disabilities; powers
Status: in_force

The Secretary of Education, by virtue of the office, shall be Secretary of Education for children with disabilities and shall superintend all matters relating to the essential early education and special education of children with disabilities. In addition, the Secretary, in coordination with the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living, and the Department for Children and Families, shall ensure that appropriate educational services are provided to children and adolescents with a severe emotional disturbance in accordance with the provisions of 33 V.S.A. chapter 43 and may accept gifts, grants, or other donations to carry out the purpose of this chapter.
16 V.S.A. § 806f — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 19 / Section 806f
§ 806f. Graduation - Article VII
Status: in_force

In order to facilitate the on-time graduation of children of military families, states and local education agencies shall incorporate the following procedures:

A. Waiver requirements — Local education agency administrative officials shall waive specific courses required for graduation if similar course work has been satisfactorily completed in another local education agency or shall provide reasonable justification for denial. Should a waiver not be granted to a student who would qualify to graduate from the sending school, the local education agency shall provide an alternative means of acquiring required coursework so that graduation may occur on time.

B. Exit exams — States shall accept: 1) exit or end-of-course exams required for graduation from the sending state; or 2) national norm-referenced achievement tests; or 3) alternative testing, in lieu of testing requirements for graduation in the receiving state. In the event the above alternatives cannot be accommodated by the receiving state for a student transferring in his or her senior year, then the provisions of Article VII, Section C shall apply.

C. Transfers during senior year — Should a military student transferring at the beginning or during his or her senior year be ineligible to graduate from the receiving local education agency after all alternatives have been considered, the sending and receiving local education agencies shall ensure the receipt of a diploma from the sending local education agency, if the student meets the graduation requirements of the sending local education agency. In the event that one of the states in question is not a member of this compact, the member state shall use best efforts to facilitate the on-time graduation of the student in accordance with Sections A and B of this Article.