16 V.S.A. § 2882 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 89 / Section 2882
§ 2882. Vermont state postsecondary review entity; powers and duties
Status: in_force

(a) The Vermont state postsecondary review entity shall review institutions of higher education in accordance with standards established in 20 U.S.C. § 1099a-3 and with standards established by the Vermont state postsecondary review entity with the agreement of the federal Department of Education.

(b) The Vermont state postsecondary review entity may enter into agreements with the Secretary of the Federal Department of Education pursuant to 20 U.S.C. Chapter 28, Subchapter IV, Part G.
16 V.S.A. § 112 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 1 / Section 112
§ 112. Designation as state agency
Status: in_force

The Council is designated as the state agency to formulate and apply for grants-in-aid to the State under the National Arts and Cultural Development Act of 1964, as amended.
16 V.S.A. § 2965 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 101 / Section 2965
§ 2965. Withholding of aid
Status: in_force

If a supervisory union, school district, or agency fails to meet its legally established obligations toward a child with a disability or the child's parent, and as a result the Agency of Education incurs costs to meet these obligations beyond those otherwise incurred under this chapter, the Secretary shall withhold the amount of funds incurred from any grants due the supervisory union, school district, or agency under this subchapter.
16 V.S.A. § 1093 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 25 / Section 1093
§ 1093. Nonresident students
Status: in_force

A school board may receive into the schools under its charge nonresident students under such terms and restrictions as it deems best, and money received for the instruction of the students shall be paid into the school fund of the district.
16 V.S.A. § 2694 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 83 / Section 2694
§ 2694. General administrative powers and duties of board-Article IV
Status: in_force

The board shall annually elect from its members a chairman and vice-chairman and shall appoint and at its pleasure remove or discharge said officers. It may appoint and employ an executive secretary and may employ such stenographic, clerical, technical or legal personnel as shall be necessary, and at its pleasure remove or discharge such personnel. It shall adopt a seal and suitable bylaws and shall promulgate any and all rules and regulations which may be necessary for the conduct of its business. It may maintain an office or offices within the territory of the compacting states and may meet at any time or place. Meetings shall be held at least once each year. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but no action of the board imposing any obligation on any compacting state shall be binding unless a majority of the members from such compacting state shall have voted in favor thereof. Where meetings are planned to discuss matters relevant to problems of education affecting only certain of the compacting states, the board may vote to authorize special meetings of the board members of such states. The board shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements and shall make an annual report to the governor and the legislature of each compacting state, setting forth in detail the operations and transactions conducted by it pursuant to this compact, and shall make recommendations for any legislative action deemed by it advisable, including amendments to the statutes of the compacting states which may be necessary to carry out the intent and purpose of this compact. The board shall not pledge the credit of any compacting state without the consent of the legislature thereof given pursuant to the constitutional processes of said state. The board may meet any of its obligations in whole or in part with funds available to it under Article VII of this compact; provided, that the board takes specific action setting aside such funds prior to the incurring of any obligation to be met in whole or in part in this manner. Except where the board makes use of funds available to it under Article VII hereof, the board shall not incur any obligations for salaries, office, administrative, traveling or other expenses prior to the allotment of funds by the compacting states adequate to meet the same. Each compacting state reserves the right to provide hereafter by law for the examination and audit of the accounts of the board. The board shall appoint a treasurer and assistant treasurer who may be empowered to perform any and all duties of the treasurer. Fiscal disbursements of the board shall be valid only when authorized by any two persons from among those authorized by the board to execute this authority, and when substantiated by vouchers signed and countersigned by any two persons from among those authorized by the board to execute this authority. The executive secretary shall be custodian of the records of the board with authority to attest to and certify such records or copies thereof.
16 V.S.A. § 1946 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 55 / Section 1946
§ 1946. Exemption of member's interest; assignment
Status: in_force

That portion of the compensation of a member deducted or to be deducted under this chapter, the rights of a member or beneficiary to an annuity, pension, or retirement allowance hereunder, and all a member's rights in the assets of the System, shall be exempt from taxation, including income tax, and from the operation of any laws relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, and shall not be attached or taken upon execution or other process of any court. No assignment by a member or beneficiary of any part of the assets to which he or she is or may be entitled, or of any right to or interest in the assets, shall be valid except as specifically provided in this chapter.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 23.08 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 23 / Section 23.08
App. § 23-8. Abatement board
Status: in_force

The officers of the Winooski School District, except the Collector, shall be a Board for the Abatement of District Taxes, and it shall have the same power which the Board for abatement of town taxes has in the abatement of such taxes. The Trustees of the District, on request of the Collector, shall call a meeting of such Board on or before January 15 in each year, by posting a notice thereof in three public places in such District at least five days before such meeting.
16 V.S.A. § 2700 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 83 / Section 2700
§ 2700. Default by compacting state-Article X
Status: in_force

If any compacting state shall at any time default in the performance of any of its obligations assumed or imposed in accordance with the provisions of this compact, all rights and privileges and benefits conferred by this compact or agreement hereunder shall be suspended from the effective date of such default as fixed by the board. Unless such default shall be remedied within a period of two years following the effective date of such default, this compact may be terminated with respect to such defaulting state by affirmative vote of three-fourths of the other member states. Any such defaulting state may be reinstated by (a) performing all acts and obligations upon which it has heretofore defaulted, and (b) application to and approval by a majority vote of the board.
16 V.S.A. § 602 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 10 / Section 602
§ 602. Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter:

(1) “Educator” means any:

(A) individual licensed under chapter 51 of this title, the majority of whose employed time in a public school district, supervisory union, or board of cooperative education services is assigned to furnish to students direct instructional or other educational services, as defined by rule of the Standards Board, or who is otherwise subject to licensing as determined by the Standards Board; or

(B) individual licensed under chapter 51 of this title, the majority of whose employed time in a public school, school district, or supervisory union is assigned to developing and managing school curriculum, evaluating and disciplining personnel, or supervising and managing a public school system or public school program.

(2) “Supervisory union” means an administrative, planning, and educational service unit created by the State Board under section 261 of this title that consists of two or more school districts. This term also means a supervisory district.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 15.01 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 15 / Section 15.01
App. § 15-1. Establishment of District
Status: in_force

All of the Town of Bennington which is included within the limits of the incorporated Village of North Bennington is hereby constituted a school district in the Town by the name of the North Bennington Graded School District and the Graded School District shall have all the powers and privileges and shall be subject to all the duties and liabilities that are incident to school districts as established under the laws of this State.
16 V.S.A. § 2027 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 57 / Section 2027
§ 2027. Fees and expenses
Status: in_force

The parties shall share equally the fee of the arbitrator and all other mutually incurred costs incidental to the arbitration.
16 V.S.A. § 2283 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 75 / Section 2283
§ 2283. Department of Police Services
Status: in_force

(a) The Board of Trustees may establish a Department of Police Services and authorize the appointment to the Department of police officers and a director of the Department who shall be a police officer. Officers so appointed shall be sworn and shall have all law enforcement powers provided by 24 V.S.A. § 1935. Appointments and oaths shall be in writing and shall be filed with and maintained by the Board of Trustees of the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College. The director shall have free and direct access to the Board of Trustees on matters pertaining to law enforcement.

(b) An officer appointed pursuant to this section shall have no law enforcement authority until satisfactory completion of a course of training pursuant to 20 V.S.A. chapter 151. The University of Vermont shall have access to training programs offered pursuant to 20 V.S.A. chapter 151 upon the same terms and conditions as municipal police officers. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the Board of Trustees or its duly authorized representative from requiring additional qualification or training as a condition of initial or continuing appointment.

(c) An officer appointed under authority of this section shall be an employee of the University of Vermont and shall be subject to such terms and conditions of employment as are imposed by the Board of Trustees or its duly authorized representative. An officer so appointed may exercise law enforcement authority only while employed in good standing by the University of Vermont.

(d) Upon written complaint of misconduct by one or more persons concerning any police officer appointed under this section, the director of the Department shall cause an investigation to be conducted in a manner consistent with the policies and procedures established by the Board of Trustees or its duly authorized representative for such purposes. The complainant may appeal the final action of the department to the President of the University of Vermont, who shall convene an advisory commission consisting of three persons, no more than one of whom has a direct or indirect University affiliation. The advisory commission shall provide advice and counsel to the President in assuring appropriate final disposition of the complaint.

(e) Without limiting the powers described in subsection (a) of this section, the Department of Police Services may, for the purpose of coordinating effective law enforcement services, enter into any arrangements or agreements with any municipality if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board of Trustees or its duly authorized representative.
16 V.S.A. § 2950 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 101 / Section 2950
§ 2950. State-placed students
Status: in_force

(a) Supervisory union reimbursement. The supervisory union in which there is a school district responsible for educating a State-placed student under section 1075 of this title may claim and the Secretary shall reimburse 100 percent of all special education costs for the student, including costs for mainstream services. As a condition of receiving this reimbursement, the supervisory union shall provide documentation in support of its claim, sufficient to enable the Secretary to determine whether to recommend appropriate cost-saving alternatives. The Secretary may approve any costs incurred in educating a State-placed student who is not eligible for special education that are incurred due to the special needs of the student, and, if approved, the Secretary shall pay those costs. When a State agency places and registers a student in a new district, the district and the supervisory union of which it is a member may request and the Agency of Education or the agency that placed the student, or both, shall provide prompt consultative and technical assistance to the receiving district and the supervisory union.

(b) Residential payments.

(1) For a student in the care and custody of the Commissioner for Children and Families who is placed in a 24-hour residential facility within or outside Vermont, the Secretary of Education shall pay the education costs, and the Commissioner for Children and Families shall arrange for the payment of the remainder of the costs. However, if the State interagency team, as defined in 33 V.S.A. § 4302, finds such placement inappropriate for the student's education needs, then the Secretary of Education shall pay none of the education costs of the placement and the Commissioner for Children and Families shall arrange for the payment of the full cost of the placement.

(2) For a student who is placed in a 24-hour residential facility within or outside Vermont by a Vermont licensed child placement agency, a designated community mental health agency, any other agency as defined by the Secretary of Education, or a Vermont State agency or department other than the Department of Corrections or the Department for Children and Families, the Secretary of Education shall pay the education costs and the agency or department in whose care the student is placed shall arrange for the payment of the remainder of the costs. However, if the State interagency team, as defined in 33 V.S.A. § 4302, finds such placement inappropriate for the student's education needs, then the Secretary shall pay none of the education costs of the placement and the agency or department in whose care the student is placed shall arrange for payment of the full cost of the placement. This subdivision does not apply to a student for whom a residential placement is:

(A) specified in the student's individualized education program; and

(B) funded in collaboration with another agency.

(c) Out-of-state placement. For a State-placed student who is placed outside Vermont and who is attending a public school outside Vermont, the Secretary of Education shall pay the education costs for the student.
16 V.S.A. § 1699 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 51 / Section 1699
§ 1699. Reports of alleged unprofessional conduct or incompetence
Status: in_force

(a) An individual who has reasonable cause to believe a licensee has engaged in unprofessional conduct or is incompetent may, and a superintendent who has reasonable cause to believe a licensee has engaged in unprofessional conduct or is incompetent shall, submit a written report to the Secretary concerning allegations of unprofessional conduct or incompetence about a licensee. A principal submitting a report under this section shall submit it to the superintendent and may also submit it to the Secretary.

(b) Except as provided in section 1708 of this title, information provided the licensing office under this section shall be confidential.

(c) A person who acts in good faith under the provisions of this section shall not be liable for damages in any civil action.
16 V.S.A. § 710 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 11 / Section 710
§ 710. Vote to form union school district
Status: in_force

Subject to the provisions of subsections 706(c) (proposal to form study committee; existing union school districts) and 708(b) (study committee; necessary and advisable districts) of this chapter, the voters of each school district identified as “necessary” or “advisable” shall vote whether to form the proposed union school district, as follows:

(1) The vote shall be held on the date specified in the final report.

(2) The vote shall be by Australian ballot.

(3) The vote shall be at separate school district meetings held on the same day.

(4) The opportunity for early and absentee voting pursuant to 17 V.S.A. §§ 2531–2550 shall be provided.

(5) The board of each school district voting on the proposal shall warn the vote either as a special meeting of the school district or as part of its annual meeting.
16 V.S.A. § 1983 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 57 / Section 1983
§ 1983. Right to be heard
Status: in_force

Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit any individual or organization representative, subject to reasonable rules of procedure that may be adopted by the school board, from appearing before the school board to be heard, but not to negotiate, on any matters of school district operation.
16 V.S.A. § 709 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 11 / Section 709
§ 709. Review by local school district boards; consideration and approval by State Board of Education
Status: in_force

(a) If a study committee determines that it is advisable to propose formation of a union school district, then the committee shall transmit its report and proposed articles of agreement to the school board of each school district that the report identifies as either “necessary” or “advisable” to formation of the proposed union school district. Each board may review the report and proposed articles and may provide its comments to the study committee. The study committee has sole authority to determine the contents of the report and proposed articles and to decide whether to submit them to the State Board under subsection (b) of this section.

(b) If a study committee determines that it is advisable to propose formation of a union school district, then the committee shall transmit the report and proposed articles of agreement to the Secretary, who shall submit them with recommendations to the State Board.

(c)(1) The State Board:

(A) shall consider the study committee's report and proposed articles of agreement and the Secretary's recommendations;

(B) shall provide the study committee an opportunity to be heard;

(C) may ask the Secretary or the study committee, or both, to make further investigation and may consider any other information the State Board deems to be pertinent; and

(D) may request that the study committee amend the report or the proposed articles of agreement, or both.

(2) If the State Board finds that formation of the proposed union school district is in the best interests of the State, the students, and the school districts, and aligns with the policy set forth in section 701 of this title, then it shall approve the study committee's report and proposed articles of agreement, together with any amendments, as the final report and proposed articles of agreement, and shall give notice of its action to the study committee.

(d) The chair of the study committee shall file a copy of the approved final report and proposed articles of agreement with the clerk of each school district identified as “necessary” or “advisable” at least 30 days prior to the vote of the electorate on whether to form the union school district.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 5.11 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 5 / Section 5.11
App. § 5-11. Mt. Anthony Union High School District (No. 14) directors elected at large
Status: in_force

The two Directors of Mt. Anthony Union High School District (No. 14) elected by Bennington Graded School District, Inc. and the two Directors of the Union District elected by Greater Bennington Schools, Inc. shall be elected as four Directors at large from Bennington School District Incorporated at the first annual meeting of the District and thereafter.
16 V.S.A. § 178 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 3 / Section 178
§ 178. Harassment and hazing prevention policies; postsecondary schools
Status: in_force

(a) The board of trustees or other governing body of each postsecondary school operating in Vermont shall adopt and ensure enforcement of a policy establishing that harassment as defined in subdivision 11(a)(26) of this title is a form of unlawful discrimination and therefore prohibited. The board shall also require the establishment of procedures to address complaints of discriminatory harassment and to initiate educational programs designed to prevent such conduct.

(b) The board of trustees or other governing body of each postsecondary school operating in Vermont shall adopt and ensure enforcement of a policy prohibiting hazing, which shall define hazing in a manner that is at least as stringent as the definition contained in subdivision 11(a)(30) of this title. The policy shall include penalties or sanctions, or both, for organizations that or individuals who engage in hazing; revocation or suspension of an organization's permission to operate or exist within the institution's purview if that organization knowingly permits, authorizes, or condones hazing; and clear delineation of circumstances under which hazing will be reported to a law enforcement agency. A summary of the policy shall be distributed to all students at least annually.
16 V.S.A. § 2045 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 59 / Section 2045
§ 2045. Interstate cooperation-Article V
Status: in_force

The party States agree that:

1. They will, so far as practicable, prefer the making of multilateral contracts pursuant to Article III of this Agreement.

2. They will facilitate and strengthen cooperation in interstate licensing and other elements of educational personnel qualification and for this purpose shall cooperate with agencies, organizations, and associations interested in licensing and other elements of educational personnel qualification.
16 V.S.A. § 1706 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 51 / Section 1706
§ 1706. Decision and order
Status: in_force

(a) Hearing panel decision. The hearing panel may take additional evidence and may accept, reject, or modify the recommendations of the hearing officer and shall issue findings of fact, conclusions of law, and an order within 30 days of receiving the recommendations, unless the hearing panel grants an extension for good cause. The hearing panel shall provide a copy of the decision to the Secretary and, by certified mail, the applicant or licensee charged. If formal charges are not substantiated, the hearing panel shall include in its order a statement that the charges were not substantiated by the evidence, and it shall dismiss the charges.

(b) Charges substantiated. If formal charges are substantiated, the hearing panel, in its order, may: take no action; issue a warning; issue a private reprimand; issue a public reprimand; or condition, limit, suspend, or revoke the license to practice. An administrative penalty not to exceed $1,000.00 may be imposed by itself or in connection with the issuance of a warning or of a private or public reprimand.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 1.04 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 1 / Section 1.04
App. § 1-4. Control of lands and rents; rights and obligations
Status: reserved

Except as otherwise provided by Sec. 4 of No. 66 of the Acts of 1955, the Board of Trustees shall have the right to use, control, sell, or dispose of all the real estate and personal property now or hereafter belonging to the University of Vermont, belonging to the Vermont Agricultural College, and belonging to any other institution at the time of its union or thereafter, if such union shall be made with this corporation agreeably to this charter; subject, however, to the payment of any debts of any of the institutions existing at the time of such union, and subject to any trusts, duties, and obligations connected therewith, and shall be entitled to receive and use, for the purposes aforesaid, the rents and uses of any of the aforesaid lands, including the rents and uses of all such lands as have been heretofore reserved in any charter of land in this State for the use and benefit of any college, and may have the same rights in respect to the lands, and to any leases of the same, and to any rents arising therefrom, that the institutions respectively now have, and may maintain suits in their own name, or in the name of the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, to recover the same; provided, that the rights of all parties shall remain, and the same defenses shall be had to such suits as if the same were brought in the name and as between the original parties; and the corporation hereby created shall, at all times, assume, discharge, and perform all the debts, duties, trusts, and obligations which the several institutions were subject to, at the time they became united in the corporation known as the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, by virtue of this charter.
16 V.S.A. § 1324 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 29 / Section 1324
§ 1324. Superintendent's duties
Status: in_force

At the end of the school year, the superintendent shall examine the register of each school, verify the accuracy of the information, and notify in writing the chair of the school board and the Secretary that the school register for the year is complete and accurate.
16 V.S.A. § 2879f — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 87 / Section 2879f
§ 2879f. Annual reports
Status: in_force

The Corporation shall review, on an annual basis, the financial status of the Program and the participation rate in the Program. The Corporation shall also review the continued viability of the Program and the administration of the Program by the Corporation.
16 V.S.A. § 180 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 3 / Section 180
§ 180. Student rights-Freedom of expression
Status: in_force

(a)(1) The General Assembly finds that freedom of expression and freedom of the press are fundamental principles in our democratic society granted to every citizen of the nation by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and to every resident of this State by Vt. Const. Ch. I, Art. 13.

(2) These freedoms provide all citizens, including students, with the right to engage in robust and uninhibited discussion of issues.

(3) The General Assembly intends to ensure free speech and free press protections for both public school students and students at public institutions of higher education in this State in order to encourage students to become educated, informed, and responsible members of society.

(b) As used in this chapter:

(1) “Media adviser” means an individual employed, appointed, or designated by a school or its governing body to supervise or provide instruction relating to school-sponsored media.

(2) “School” means a public postsecondary school operating in the State.

(3) “School-sponsored media” means any material that is prepared, written, published, or broadcast as part of a school-supported program or activity by a student journalist and is distributed or generally made available as part of a school-supported program or activity to an audience beyond the classroom in which the material is produced.

(4) “Student journalist” means a student enrolled at a school who gathers, compiles, writes, edits, photographs, records, or prepares information for dissemination in school-sponsored media.

(5) “Student supervisor” is a student who is responsible for editing school-sponsored media.

(c)(1) Subject to subsection (e) of this section, a student journalist may exercise freedom of speech and freedom of the press in school-sponsored media.

(2) Subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not be construed to be limited by the fact that the school-sponsored media are:

(A) supported financially by a school or its governing body, or by use of facilities owned by the school; or

(B) produced in conjunction with a class in which the student journalist is enrolled.

(d)(1) Subject to subsection (e) of this section, the student supervisors of school-sponsored media are responsible for determining the content of their respective media.

(2) Subject to subdivision (1) of this subsection, a media adviser may teach professional standards of English and journalism to student journalists.

(e) This section shall not be construed to authorize or protect content of school-sponsored media that:

(1) is libelous or slanderous;

(2) constitutes an unwarranted invasion of privacy;

(3) may be defined as obscene, gratuitously profane, threatening, or intimidating;

(4) may be defined as harassment, hazing, or bullying under section 11 of this title;

(5) violates federal or State law; or

(6) creates the imminent danger of materially or substantially disrupting the ability of the school to perform its educational mission.

(f) Absent a showing that a particular publication will cause direct, immediate, and irreparable harm that would warrant the issuance of a prior restraint order against the private media, school officials are not authorized to censor or subject to prior restraint the content of school-sponsored media. Content shall not be suppressed solely because it involves political or controversial subject matter or is critical of the school or its administration.

(g) A student journalist may not be disciplined for acting in accordance with this section.

(h) A media adviser may not be dismissed, suspended, disciplined, reassigned, or transferred for:

(1) taking reasonable and appropriate action to protect a student journalist for engaging in conduct protected by this section; or

(2) refusing to infringe on conduct that is protected by this section, by the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution, or by the Vermont Constitution.

(i) Each school or its governing body shall adopt a written policy consistent with the provisions of this section.

(j) No expression made by students in school-sponsored media shall be deemed to be an expression of school policy.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 3.09 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 3 / Section 3.09
App. § 3-9. Distribution of public moneys
Status: in_force

In the distribution of the public moneys, that portion which may be divided among the several school districts, irrespective of the number of scholars or the attendance at school, shall be so divided as to give the Barton Academy and Graded School District the share of the original district of which it is composed, and the Barton Academy and Graded School District shall have all the rights, privileges, and benefits now enjoyed by Barton Academy by School District Number One in Barton.
16 V.S.A. § 556 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 9 / Section 556
§ 556. Liability for damage to textbook or learning materials
Status: in_force

The parent or guardian of a student shall be liable to a school district for damage occasioned by loss, destruction, injury, or detention by the student of a textbook or other learning materials, to be recovered in an action on this statute in the name of the district.
16 V.S.A. § 1700 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 51 / Section 1700
§ 1700. Investigation
Status: in_force

(a) Investigation committee. Upon receiving notice of either an applicant's appeal of a licensing office decision or an allegation of unprofessional conduct or incompetence on the part of a licensee, the hearing panel administrative officer shall assign one or more of its licensee members to serve on an investigation committee with an investigator and prosecuting attorney assigned by the Secretary of Education to investigate the licensing decision or allegation and make recommendations to the Secretary in accordance with subsections (b) and (d) of this section. Teacher members shall be assigned to assist in the investigation of matters involving teachers and administrator members in matters involving administrators. Members shall not serve on a hearing panel regarding any matter they assisted in investigating. If the administrative officer is unable to assign one or more members to the investigation committee by reason of disqualification, resignation, vacancy, or necessary absence, the officer shall appoint ad hoc members who shall meet the requirements of subsection 1693(b) of this title.

(b) Preliminary review. After conducting a preliminary review of an allegation of unprofessional conduct or incompetence or of a denial of a license based on alleged unprofessional conduct or incompetence, the investigation committee shall make a recommendation to the Secretary regarding whether to conduct a formal investigation.

(c) Formal investigation. If the Secretary decides to conduct a formal investigation, the Secretary shall:

(1) notify the educator and direct the investigation committee to proceed with a formal investigation; and

(2) notify the superintendent of the school district in which the educator may be employed, or if the educator is currently employed as a superintendent, the chair of the board of the supervisory union or supervisory district that employs the superintendent, that the office has commenced a formal investigation of an allegation of unprofessional conduct or incompetence and shall specify the provisions of section 1698 of this title that best describe the allegation.

(d) Recommendation. Upon completing its investigation, the investigation committee shall recommend that the Secretary, with respect to a license application, affirm, or reverse a licensing office decision or, with respect to alleged unprofessional conduct or incompetence, issue, or not issue formal charges.

(e) Professional guidance. In its recommendation as to whether the Secretary should issue formal charges and, if so, what form they should take, the committee may consider the effect it believes its professional guidance may have in mitigating the need for and nature of licensing action.
16 V.S.A. § 2877 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 87 / Section 2877
§ 2877. Vermont Higher Education Investment Plan created
Status: in_force

(a) There is created a program of the State to be known as the Vermont Higher Education Investment Plan and a trust for that purpose to be administered by the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation as an instrumentality of the State. The program may consist of one or more different investment plans, including one or more plans that may be offered to a participant only with the assistance of a qualified financial advisor.

(b) In order to establish and administer the Investment Plan, the Corporation, in addition to its other powers and authority, shall have the power and authority to:

(1) Develop and implement educational programs and related informational materials for participants and their families. Special efforts shall be made to contact families with young children and to reach individuals whose access to higher education opportunities has been limited.

(2) Enter into agreements with any approved postsecondary education institution, the State, or any federal or other agency or entity as required for the operation of an Investment Plan pursuant to this subchapter.

(3) Accept any grants, gifts, legislative appropriations, and other monies from the State; any unit of federal, State, or local government; or any other person, firm, partnership, or corporation for contribution to the account of the Investment Plan, or for the operation or other related purposes of the Corporation.

(4) Invest the funds received from participants in appropriate investment vehicles approved and held in trust for participants by the Corporation as selected by the participants, including education loans made by the Corporation.

(5) Enter into participation agreements with participants.

(6) Develop and use two or more types of participation agreements to provide a range of investment options for participants.

(7) Make payments as directed by the participants pursuant to participation agreements.

(8) Make refunds to participants upon the termination of participation agreements pursuant to the provisions, limitations, and restrictions set forth in this subchapter and the rules, policies, and procedures adopted by the Corporation.

(9) Make provision for the payment of costs of administration and operation of an Investment Plan subject to the limitations on charges on participation agreements established in subdivision 2878(5) of this title.

(10) Adopt rules, policies, and procedures to implement this subchapter and take all necessary action to ensure an Investment Plan is in conformance with the Internal Revenue Code and other applicable law.

(11) Effectuate and carry out all of the powers granted by this subchapter, and have all other powers necessary to carry out and effectuate the purposes, objectives, and provisions of this subchapter pertaining to the Investment Plan Program, including the power to:

(A) carry out studies and projections in order to advise participants regarding present and estimated future postsecondary education costs and levels of financial participation in the Plan required in order to enable participants to achieve their educational funding objectives; and

(B) procure insurance, guarantees, or other protections against any loss in connection with the assets or activities of the investment plan.
16 V.S.A. § 739 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 11 / Section 739
§ 739. Conduct of vote if by Australian ballot
Status: in_force

For any vote that proceeds by Australian ballot in a unified union school district:

(1) A district voter shall vote by Australian ballot in the town in which the voter currently resides at the polling location identified in the warning.

(2) Voting shall occur in each town on the same day.

(3) The board of civil authority of each town shall be responsible for determining the eligibility of persons to vote and for supervising voting at that polling location.

(4) The opportunity for early and absentee voting pursuant to 17 V.S.A. §§ 2531–2550 (conduct of elections; early and absentee voters) shall be provided.
16 V.S.A. § 2861 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 87 / Section 2861
§ 2861. Establishment
Status: in_force

There is hereby created an Education Loan Program for the purpose of assisting qualified students to pursue schooling beyond the secondary level. It is the intention of the Legislature in establishing the Education Loan Program under this subchapter to serve Vermont resident students and their families throughout their educational careers; and to serve nonresident students attending Vermont postsecondary institutions and the families of those students throughout their educational careers. It is also the intention of the Legislature that education loans made under this subchapter not be collateralized at the time of their origination.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 13.05 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 13 / Section 13.05
App. § 13-5. School funds; State aid
Status: repealed

If the merger occurs, School District No. 4 in Middlebury shall be entitled to all the public money distributed to Middlebury and to all State aid granted to the town of Middlebury and provisions heretofore granted to the District inconsistent with this section shall be repealed.
16 V.S.A. § 3824 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 129 / Section 3824
§ 3824. The Austine School for the Deaf; selection of president
Status: in_force

Any president of the Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing selected and hired subsequent to June 11, 2003 shall be selected and hired pursuant to the provisions for employing a superintendent of schools in section 241 of this title. For purposes of this section, the terms “supervisory union,” “supervisory union board,” and “supervisory district board” as used in section 241 shall mean the Board of Trustees of the Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
16 V.S.A. § 751 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 11 / Section 751
§ 751. Annual report; data
Status: in_force

(a) The board of a union elementary or union high school district shall prepare an annual report concerning the affairs of the district and have it printed and distributed to the voters of the district pursuant to the provisions of subdivision 563(10) (powers of school boards; report) of this title. The board shall file the report with the union district clerk and the clerk of each member district.

(b) Annually, on or before August 15, the union elementary or union high school district board shall provide to the Secretary answers to statistical inquiries that may be addressed to the district by the Secretary.
16 V.S.A. § 563a — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 9 / Section 563a
§ 563a. Prevention, identification, and reporting of child sexual abuse and sexual violence
Status: in_force

Each school board of a school district and governing body of an approved or recognized independent school shall ensure that adults employed in the schools within its jurisdiction receive orientation, information, or instruction on the prevention, identification, and reporting of child sexual abuse, as defined in 33 V.S.A. § 4912(8), and sexual violence. This shall include information regarding the signs and symptoms of sexual abuse, sexual violence, grooming processes, recognizing the dangers of child sexual abuse in and close to the home, and other predatory behaviors of sex offenders. The school board or governing body shall also provide opportunities for parents, guardians, and other interested persons to receive the same information. The Agencies of Education and of Human Services shall provide materials and technical support to any school board or governing body that requests assistance in implementing this section.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 3.03 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 3 / Section 3.03
App. § 3-3. Transfer of property; assumption of debts; rent payments
Status: in_force

All property of whatever character, belonging to the Barton Academy, an institution incorporated by the Legislature by act approved November 14, 1854, shall become the property of the Barton Academy and Graded School District whenever the Barton Academy shall vote, at a meeting legally called for that purpose, to accept the provisions of this act and all debts and liabilities of the Barton Academy shall be assumed and paid by the corporation hereby created. The Selectboard of the Town of Barton shall annually pay over the rents and profits arising from the grammar school lands in the town to the Trustees of the Barton Academy and Graded School District together with all sums arising from that source now in their hands and unappropriated.
16 V.S.A. § 747 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 11 / Section 747
§ 747. Board members; term; conduct of meetings; quorum and voting; powers and duties
Status: in_force

(a) Members. Except as set forth in subchapter 2 (exploration, formation, and organization) of this chapter for initial members, each member of the board of a union elementary school or union high school district shall:

(1) be elected by the voters at a warned meeting pursuant to section 748 (union elementary and union high school district board members) of this chapter;

(2) assume office upon election, except as provided in subdivision 755(f)(3) (warnings of union elementary and union high school district meetings) of this chapter; and

(3) be sworn in before entering upon the duties of the office.

(b) Term. A member elected at an annual meeting shall serve for a term of three years or until the member's successor is elected and has taken the oath of office. A member elected at a special meeting shall serve for the balance of the term remaining.

(c) Quorum. A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum. Subject to the provisions of subsection (d) of this section but notwithstanding any other provision of law, the concurrence of a majority of members present at a union elementary or union high school district board meeting shall be necessary and sufficient for board action; provided, however, the concurrence of more than a majority shall be necessary if required for a particular action by the voter-approved articles of agreement.

(d) Weighted voting. If weighted voting is used to achieve constitutionally required proportionality for members elected under the “proportional to town population” model set out in subdivisions 711(e)(1) (proposed union elementary or union high school district; proportional to town population) and 748(a)(1) (union elementary and union high school district board members; Australian ballot; proportional to town population) of this chapter, then a number of members of the board holding a majority of the total number of weighted votes shall constitute a quorum, and a majority of the weighted votes cast shall be necessary and sufficient for board action.

(e) Board chair and board clerk. At the meeting next following each annual meeting, the union elementary or union high school district board shall elect one of its number to serve as the chair of the board and one other of its number to serve as the clerk of the board.

(f) Powers, duties, and liabilities. The powers, duties, and liabilities of a union elementary or union high school district board, board chair, and board clerk shall be the same as those of a board, board chair, and board clerk of a town school district.

(g) Minutes. The board clerk shall prepare minutes of the proceedings of the union elementary or union high school district board, unless the board votes to delegate those duties to another individual. The board clerk shall transmit the minutes and all other documents constituting the record of board proceedings to the clerk of the union elementary or union high school district, who shall be responsible for maintaining a permanent record of board proceedings. In the board clerk's absence, another member of the school board shall assume the duties of the clerk.

(h) Stipend. The board clerk may be paid upon order of the board.
16 V.S.A. § 2834 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 87 / Section 2834
§ 2834. Powers and duties
Status: repealed

(a) The Board has the power to adopt rules, regulations, policies, and procedures not inconsistent with law, governing the application for and the origination, servicing, and repayment of loans, the awarding of grants to students, and the Corporation's other activities and programs.

(b) [Repealed.]
16 V.S.A. § 552 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 9 / Section 552
§ 552. Validation of school districts and bonds voted for school construction
Status: in_force

No action shall be brought directly or indirectly attacking, questioning, or in any manner contesting the legality of the formation, or the existence as a body corporate and politic of any union school district created pursuant to chapter 11 of this title after six months from the date of recording in the office of the Secretary of State the certificate of the Secretary of Education designating the district as required by section 706g of this title; nor shall any action be brought directly or indirectly attacking, questioning, or in any manner contesting the legality or validity of bonds, issued or unissued, voted by a school district after six months from the date upon which voters in the school district met pursuant to warning and voted affirmatively to issue bonds to defray the cost of school improvements. This section shall be liberally construed to effect the legislative purpose to validate and make certain the legal existence of all school districts in this state and the validity of bonds issued by school districts, and to bar every right to question the existence of a school district or the validity of a bond voted by it, in any manner, and to bar every remedy therefor notwithstanding any defects or irregularities, jurisdictional or otherwise, after the expiration of the six-month period.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 17.09 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 17 / Section 17.09
App. § 17-9. Public act; effective date
Status: in_force

This act shall be under the control of future legislation to alter or amend as the public good may require, and shall take effect whenever a majority of the legal voters resident within the limits of that part of the Town of Barton, which prior to March 31 A.D. 1892 was known and designated as School District Number Seven in the Town, present at a meeting of the voters legally notified and warned to be held at the school house in the Village of Barton Landing on the third Tuesday of March, A.D. 1895, shall vote to accept the provision of this act; the notice and warning for the meeting shall be made by one of the Selectboard members of the Town of Barton, to be held as aforesaid, giving at least ten days' notice of the time and place of such meeting, and such notices to be posted in three or more public places in the Village, who is hereby directed to insert in the warning for the meeting an article requesting the legal voters aforesaid to vote upon the acceptance of the provisions of this act, the Selectboard member shall preside at the meeting, and if a majority present of the voters shall vote to accept the provision of this act, the Selectboard member shall then direct the voters to proceed to the election of the officers hereinbefore provided for, and such officers shall hold their respective offices for the respective terms hereinbefore provided, and the commencement and expiration of the same shall be taken to be the same as though this meeting was held on the second Tuesday of March 1895.
16 V.S.A. § 1054 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 24 / Section 1054
§ 1054. Prohibitions
Status: in_force

(a) No person shall conduct a periodic released time religious education course on public school property.

(b) No periodic released time program shall interfere with the completion by any student of requirements for graduation as established from time to time by the Agency.

(c) No administrator or teacher in a public school cooperating in a periodic released time program shall direct a student to take or not to take a periodic released time course.
16 V.S.A. § 266 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 7 / Section 266
§ 266. School board having more than three members
Status: in_force

For the purpose of holding meetings and transacting the business of a supervisory union, the school board of any district assigned to a supervisory union, and having more than three members, shall elect from such board three members who shall represent and act for it in meetings of the supervisory union to which it is assigned. But the school board of any district that employs no teacher shall have only one vote in said supervisory union meeting.
16 V.S.A. § 1602 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 39 / Section 1602
§ 1602. School board responsibilities
Status: in_force

(a) A school board or its equivalent in any independent secondary school may establish and operate a student apprenticeship program under this chapter when the school board has received approval from the regional advisory board.

(b) Each school board that runs a student apprenticeship program shall:

(1) Employ a student apprenticeship coordinator who shall:

(A) Find student apprenticeship opportunities for students.

(B) Develop working relationships between the school and business community.

(C) Select safe and appropriate worksites for student apprentices.

(D) Work with businesses to identify worksite mentors.

(E) Select, adapt and use curricula to meet the academic and career technical education needs of student apprentices.

(F) Quarterly, review each student's performance and the suitability of the program to the student's needs. Report the results of the review to the regional advisory board pursuant to section 1605 of this title.

(G) Annually, report to the regional advisory board concerning the effectiveness of the program pursuant to section 1605 of this title.

(2) Ensure preparation of individuals employed by business to be worksite mentors according to guidelines established by the State Board. Each participating business shall support the preparation of the worksite mentor as a condition to participating in the student apprenticeship program.

(3) Collaborate with and integrate the program with Vermont's school-to-work system.
16 V.S.A. § 2046 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 59 / Section 2046
§ 2046. Agreement evaluation-Article VI
Status: in_force

The designated state officials of any party States may meet from time to time as a group to evaluate progress under the Agreement and to formulate recommendations for changes.
16 V.S.A. § 796 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 17 / Section 796
§ 796. Appropriation and Apportionment of Funds-Article VI
Status: in_force

A. Budget. Before each annual meeting, the interstate board shall prepare a report of expenditures for the preceding fiscal year, an estimate of expenditures for the current fiscal year, and a budget for the succeeding fiscal year.

B. Appropriation. The interstate board of directors shall present the budget report of the annual meeting. The interstate district shall appropriate a sum of money for the support of its schools and for the discharge of its obligations for the ensuing fiscal year.

C. Apportionment of appropriation. Subject to the provisions of article VII hereof, the interstate board shall first apply against such appropriation any income to which the interstate district is entitled, and shall then apportion the balance among the member districts in accordance with one of the following formulas as determined by the articles of agreement as amended from time to time:

a. All of such balance to be apportioned on the basis of the ratio that the fair market value of the taxable property in each member district bears to that of the entire interstate district; or

b. All of such balance to be apportioned on the basis that the average daily resident membership for the preceding fiscal year of each member district bears to that of the average daily resident membership of the entire interstate school district; or

c. A formula based on any combination of the foregoing factors.

The term “fair market value of taxable property” shall mean the last locally assessed valuation of a member district in New York, as last equalized by the New York State Tax Commission.

The term “fair market value of taxable property” shall mean the equalized grand list of a Vermont member district, as determined by the Vermont Department of Taxes.

Such assessed valuation and grand list may be further adjusted (by elimination of certain types of taxable property from one or the other or otherwise) in accordance with the articles of agreement, in order that the fair market value of taxable property in each state shall be comparable.

“Average daily resident membership” of the interstate district in the first instance shall be the sum of the average daily resident membership of the member districts in the grades involved for the preceding fiscal year where no students were enrolled in the interstate district schools for such preceding fiscal year.

D. Share of New York member district. The interstate board shall certify the share of a New York member district of the total appropriation to the school board of each member district which shall add such sum to the amount appropriated by the member district itself for the ensuing year and raise such sum in the same manner as though the appropriation had been voted at a school district meeting of the member district. The interstate district shall not set up its own capital reserve funds; but a New York member district may set up a capital reserve fund in accordance with Education Law §§ 3651 and 3652, to be turned over to the interstate district in payment of the New York member district's share of any anticipated obligations.

E. Share of Vermont member district. The interstate board shall certify the share of a Vermont member district of the total appropriation to the school board of each member district which shall add such sum to the amount appropriated by the member district itself for the ensuing year and raise such sum in the same manner as though the appropriation had been voted at a school district meeting of the member district.
16 V.S.A. § 1624 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 42 / Section 1624
§ 1624. School library material selection policy
Status: in_force

(a) Each school board and each approved independent school shall develop, adopt, ensure the enforcement of, and make available in the manner described under subdivision 563(1) of this title a library material selection policy. Each superintendent and head of school of an approved independent school shall develop and implement procedures for the reconsideration and retention of materials. The policy and procedures shall affirm the importance of intellectual freedom and be guided by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Vermont laws prohibiting discrimination in places of public accommodation, the 2004 American Library Association's Freedom to Read Statement, the 2024 Vermont Freedom to Read Statement, and reflect Vermont's diverse people and history, including diversity of race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, religion, and political beliefs.

(b) In order to ensure a student's First Amendment rights are protected and all students' identities are affirmed and dignity respected, the policy and procedures required under subsection (a) of this section shall prohibit the removal of school library materials for the following reasons:

(1) partisan approval or disapproval;

(2) the author's race, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation, political views, or religious views;

(3) school board members' or members of the public's discomfort, personal morality, political views, or religious views;

(4) the author's point of view concerning the problems and issues of our time, whether international, national, or local;

(5) the race, nationality, gender identity, sexual orientation, political views, or religious views of the protagonist or other characters; or

(6) content related to sexual health that addresses physical, mental, emotional, or social dimensions of human sexuality, including puberty, sex, and relationships.

(c) The policy and procedures required under subsection (a) of this section shall ensure that school library staff are responsible for curating and developing collections that provide students with access to a wide array of materials that are relevant to students' research, independent reading interests, and educational needs, as well as ensuring such materials are tailored to the cognitive and emotional levels of the children served by the school.
16 V.S.A. § 3597 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 125 / Section 3597
§ 3597. Tax-credit bond financing; qualified school academy zones; qualified school construction bonds
Status: in_force

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Pub. L. No. 111-5, expanded existing and created new tax-credit bond programs available to public schools. Accordingly, school districts are authorized to issue bonds to finance public school building construction and rehabilitation, the purchase of equipment, the development of course materials, and teacher and personnel training, consistent with Sections 1397E and 54F of the Internal Revenue Code, pertaining to qualified school academy zones and qualified school construction bonds.
16 V.S.A. § 2502 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 78 / Section 2502
§ 2502. Gender-affirming health care and reproductive health care readiness; reports
Status: in_force

(a) Each institution shall report to the Agency of Human Services annually, on or before November 1, on the current status of its gender-affirming health care and reproductive health care readiness, including:

(1) whether the institution has an operational health center on campus;

(2) whether the institution employs health care providers on campus;

(3) the types of gender-affirming health care services and reproductive health care services that the institution offers to its students on campus and the supports that the institution provides to students who receive those services;

(4) the institution's efforts to assist students with obtaining gender- affirming health care services and reproductive health care services from licensed health care professionals through telehealth;

(5) the institution's proximity to a hospital, clinic, or other facility that provides gender-affirming health care services or reproductive health care services, or both, that are not available to students on campus;

(6) the information that the institution provides regarding facilities that offer gender-affirming health care services and reproductive health care services that are not available to students on campus, including information regarding the scope of the services that are available at each such facility; and

(7) the availability, convenience, and cost of public transportation between the institution and the closest facility that provides gender-affirming health care services or reproductive health care services, or both, and whether the institution provides transportation.

(b) On or before January 31 of each year, the Agency of Human Services shall compile the materials submitted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and report to the House Committees on Education, on Health Care, and on Human Services and the Senate Committees on Education and on Health and Welfare on the status of gender-affirming health care and reproductive health care readiness at Vermont's institutions.
16 V.S.A. § 1574 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 37 / Section 1574
§ 1574. Vote to adopt the alternative structure
Status: in_force

Each town school district, incorporated school district, unified union school district, and city school district within the career technical center region shall vote on adoption of the alternative governance structure and formation of a regional career technical center school district. The vote shall be held on the date specified in the final report. The vote shall be by Australian ballot at separate school district meetings held on the same day and during the same hours. The polls shall remain open at least eight hours. Absentee voting as provided by 17 V.S.A. §§ 2531-2550 shall be permitted. Ballots may be commingled. The meetings shall be warned as a special meeting of each school district voting on the proposal.
16 V.S.A. § 259 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 5 / Section 259
§ 259. Penalties; remedy
Status: in_force

(a) A person who, without authorization, discloses criminal record check information received under this subchapter shall be fined not more than $2,000.00. Each unauthorized disclosure shall constitute a separate violation.

(b) A person who suffers damages as a result of willful unauthorized disclosure of criminal record check information received under this subchapter may recover those damages together with reasonable attorney's fees in a civil action.

(c) In addition to any other penalties described in this section, the Secretary may initiate a review of the professional licensure of any person who willfully discloses criminal record check information received under this subchapter.
16 V.S.A. § 907 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 23 / Section 907
§ 907. Lincoln's birthday
Status: in_force

Exercises in commemoration of the birth, life, and services of Abraham Lincoln shall be conducted in all public and independent schools on the last school day before February 12, annually.
16 V.S.A. § 1162 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 25 / Section 1162
§ 1162. Suspension or expulsion of students
Status: in_force

(a) A superintendent or principal may, pursuant to policies adopted by the school board that are consistent with State Board rules, suspend a student for up to 10 school days or, with the approval of the board of the school district, expel a student for up to the remainder of the school year or up to 90 school days, whichever is longer, for misconduct:

(1) on school property, on a school bus, or at a school-sponsored activity when the misconduct makes the continued presence of the student harmful to the welfare of the school;

(2) not on school property, on a school bus, or at a school-sponsored activity where direct harm to the welfare of the school can be demonstrated; or

(3) not on school property, on a school bus, or at a school-sponsored activity where the misconduct can be shown to pose a clear and substantial interference with another student's equal access to educational programs.

(b) Nothing contained in this section shall prevent a superintendent or principal, subject to subsequent due process procedures, from removing immediately from a school a student who poses a continuing danger to persons or property or an ongoing threat of disrupting the academic process of the school, or from expelling a student who brings a weapon to school pursuant to section 1166 of this title.

(c) Principals, superintendents, and school boards are authorized and encouraged to provide alternative education services or programs to students during any period of suspension or expulsion authorized under this section.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this chapter, a student enrolled in a public school, approved independent school, or prequalified private prekindergarten program who is under eight years of age shall not be suspended or expelled from the school; provided, however, that the school may suspend or expel the student if the student poses an imminent threat of harm or danger to others in the school.
16 V.S.A. § 255 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 5 / Section 255
§ 255. Public and independent school employees; contractors
Status: in_force

(a) Superintendents, headmasters of recognized or approved independent schools, and their contractors shall request criminal record information for the following:

(1) the person a superintendent or headmaster is prepared to recommend for any full-time, part-time, or temporary employment;

(2) any person directly under contract to an independent school or school district who may have unsupervised contact with school children;

(3) any employee of a contractor under contract to an independent school or school district who is in a position that may result in unsupervised contact with school children;

(4) any student working toward a degree in teaching who is a student teacher in a school within the superintendent's or headmaster's jurisdiction.

(b) After signing a user agreement, a superintendent or a headmaster shall make a request directly to the Vermont Crime Information Center. A contractor shall make a request through a superintendent or headmaster.

(c) A request made under subsection (b) of this section shall be accompanied by a set of the person's fingerprints and a fee established by the Vermont Crime Information Center that shall reflect the cost of obtaining the record from the FBI. The fee shall be paid in accordance with adopted school board policy.

(d)(1) Upon completion of a criminal record check, the Vermont Crime Information Center shall send to the superintendent a notice that no record exists or, if a record exists, a copy of any criminal record.

(2) Upon completion of a criminal record check, the Vermont Crime Information Center shall send to the headmaster a notice that no record exists or, if a record exists:

(A) A copy of Vermont criminal convictions.

(B) A notice of any criminal record that is located in either another state repository or FBI records, but not a record of the specific convictions. However, if there is a record relating to any crimes of a sexual nature involving children, the Vermont Crime Information Center shall send this record to the Secretary who shall notify the headmaster in writing, with a copy to the person about whom the request was made, that the record includes one or more convictions for a crime of a sexual nature involving children.

(e) Information received by a superintendent or headmaster under subsection (d) of this section shall be forwarded as follows:

(1) In the case of a request other than one made on behalf of a contractor, the superintendent or headmaster shall forward a copy of the information to the person about whom the request was made.

(2) In the case of a request made on behalf of a contractor, the superintendent or headmaster shall inform the contractor in writing either that no record exists or that a record does exist but shall not reveal the content of the record to the contractor. The contractor shall then forward a copy of the information received to the person about whom the request was made.

(f) Information sent to a person by the Secretary, a headmaster, a superintendent, or a contractor under subsection (e) of this section shall be accompanied by a written notice of the person's rights under subsection (g) of this section, a description of the policy regarding maintenance and destruction of records, and the person's right to request that the notice of no record or record be maintained for purposes of using it to comply with future criminal record check requests pursuant to section 256 of this title.

(g)(1) Following notice that a headmaster was notified that a criminal record that is located in either another state repository or FBI records exists, a person may:

(A) sign a form authorizing the Vermont Crime Information Center to release a detailed copy of the criminal record to the person; or

(B) decline or resign employment.

(2) Any person subject to a criminal record check pursuant to this section may challenge the accuracy of the record by appealing to the Vermont Crime Information Center pursuant to rules adopted by the Commissioner of Public Safety.

(h) A superintendent or headmaster shall request and obtain information from the Child Protection Registry maintained by the Department for Children and Families and from the Vulnerable Adult Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Registry maintained by the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living (collectively, the Registries) for any person for whom a criminal record check is required under subsection (a) of this section. The Department for Children and Families and the Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living shall adopt rules governing the process for obtaining information from the Registries and for disseminating and maintaining records of that information under this subsection.

(i) A person convicted of a sex offense that requires registration pursuant to 13 V.S.A. chapter 167, subchapter 3 shall not be eligible for employment under this section.

(j) The board of trustees of a recognized or approved independent school shall request a criminal record check and a check of the Registries pursuant to the provisions of this section prior to offering employment to a headmaster.

(k) The requirements of this section shall not apply to superintendents and headmasters with respect to persons operating or employed by a child care facility, as defined under 33 V.S.A. § 3511, that provides prekindergarten education pursuant to section 829 of this title and that is required to be licensed by the Department for Children and Families pursuant to 33 V.S.A. § 3502. Superintendents and headmasters are not prohibited from conducting a criminal record check as a condition of hiring an employee to work in a child care facility that provides prekindergarten education operated by the school.

(l) The requirements of this section shall not apply with respect to a school district's partners in any program authorized or student placement created by chapter 23, subchapter 2 of this title; provided, however, that superintendents are not prohibited from requiring a fingerprint-supported record check pursuant to district policy with respect to its partners in such programs.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 23.02 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 23 / Section 23.02
App. § 23-2. Trustees
Status: in_force

Instead of the prudential committee required by law to be elected, the Winooski School District shall be governed by a Board of five Trustees, to be elected at large, and that three of the positions will hold office for a term of three years each and that two of the positions will hold office for a term of two years each, commencing on the day elected. All vacancies caused by resignation, death, or otherwise shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term, if any, at an annual or special meeting, duly warned for that purpose, but the Board of School Trustees by a majority vote of all its remaining members may appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy until the person elected to serve the remainder of the unexpired term takes office. The Trustees shall have the powers and perform all the duties of a prudential committee, shall choose one of their members to be President, and shall appoint a Secretary of the Board of Trustees who shall hold office for the term of one year and until their successors are chosen and appointed.
16 V.S.A. § 2177 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 72 / Section 2177
§ 2177. Controls and audits; financial reports; other reports
Status: repealed

(a) Control of funds appropriated and of the work carried on shall be vested in the Board of Trustees.

(b) The financial statements of the Corporation shall be audited annually as of June 30 by an independent public accounting firm registered in Vermont in accordance with government auditing standards issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office.

(c), (d) [Repealed.]

(e) With the approval of the Governor, the Secretary of Administration, through the Deputy Secretary of Administration or any departments of the Agency of Administration that the Secretary may designate, shall have:

(1) the authority to allot to the Corporation the appropriation made by the General Assembly for the Corporation, which may be on a monthly basis or as the work of the Corporation may progress;

(2) the keeping of such controlling accounts as may be necessary in order to determine the accuracy and limit of the expenditures made under the allotments; and

(3) access to and the right to copy any records of the Corporation under such regulations as the Governor may prescribe.

(f) The Corporation shall be governed by the allotments made pursuant to this section and shall not at any time exceed the sums allotted; provided, however, that nothing in this section authorizes the Secretary of Administration, the Deputy Secretary, or any department designated pursuant to subsection (e) of this section to decrease any appropriation, except to the extent that actual annual receipts are less than estimated receipts.
16 V.S.A. § 251 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 5 / Section 251
§ 251. Policy
Status: in_force

It is the policy of the State of Vermont to use criminal record checks to deter abuse and exploitation of school children and to do so in a manner that protects, as much as is practicable, the privacy of those subject to such checks.
16 V.S.A. § 3455a — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 123 / Section 3455a
§ 3455a. Computer aided design
Status: in_force

Whenever a school district or independent school makes final application for construction aid pursuant to subdivision 3448(a)(5) of this title, the district or school shall submit to the Secretary copies of site plans and building plans either in computer-aided design (CAD) format, if used, or, if not, in the form submitted by the architect or engineer to the school board or board of trustees.
16 V.S.A. § 571 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 9 / Section 571
§ 571. Contracts to construct and operate joint schools
Status: in_force

By a majority vote of the voters present and voting at a meeting, duly warned for that purpose, a town school district or incorporated school district may authorize its school directors to enter into a contract or contracts with other towns and parties for the financing, construction, maintenance, and operation of a competent school or schools to provide means and facilities for the convenient and adequate development, education, and training of the youths of such town. (2021, No. 176 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. June 7, 2022.)
16 V.S.A. § 561 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 9 / Section 561
§ 561. Election of school board members; oath; chair; clerk
Status: in_force

(a) School board members shall be sworn before entering upon the duties of their office. At the meeting next following the election of a school board member, the school board shall elect one of its number to serve as the chair and one other of its number to serve as the clerk. The clerk may be paid upon order of the school board. The clerk shall keep a permanent record of the proceedings of the school board. In the clerk's absence, another member of the school board shall assume the clerk's duties.

(b) At least annually, the chairs of each school board within a supervisory union, the chair of the supervisory union board, and the superintendent shall jointly participate in at least eight hours of professional training that, at a minimum, addresses:

(1) educational leadership;

(2) the relative roles and responsibilities of the supervisory union board, the school district boards, and the superintendent;

(3) the Vermont Open Meeting Law, 1 V.S.A. §§ 310-314;

(4) Vermont law regarding access to public records, 1 V.S.A. §§ 315-320;

(5) collective bargaining; and

(6) education funding and school finance laws.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 19.06 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 19 / Section 19.06
App. § 19-6. Transfer of property
Status: in_force

The Trustees of Bell Institute are hereby authorized, by a vote at a meeting duly warned for that purpose, to transfer by deed or lease the academy building of the institution and all the property appertaining thereto, to the Graded School District, provided the Graded School District, at a school meeting lawfully warned for that purpose, shall vote to accept the property for school purposes.
16 V.S.A. § 1572 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 37 / Section 1572
§ 1572. Formation of a planning committee
Status: repealed

(a) Any two or more of the following may establish a committee to plan the formation of a regional CTE school district with an alternative governance structure for governance of the regional CTE center: either the school board of a school district that operates a regional CTE center or all the school boards that operate a comprehensive high school that have been designated as the regional CTE center; the majority of the school boards of the other school districts in the CTE center region; or an entity that performs workforce development activities pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 542 in a CTE center region. The planning committee shall consist of representatives of the school district that operates a regional CTE center, the school districts that send students to the regional CTE center, regional employers, and residents of the CTE center region.

(b) The planning committee may determine that no change to the governance structure is needed, or it may prepare a report in the form of an agreement between the school districts that are located in the CTE center region. The report shall describe:

(1) The makeup of the governing board. At least 60 percent of the board members shall be elected by direct vote of the voters or chosen from member school district boards by the member school district boards, or a combination of the two. If the board is to have additional members, who may constitute up to 40 percent of the board, the additional members shall be appointed by the elected and chosen members from member school district boards for the purpose of acquiring expertise in areas they consider desirable. The appointed members may be selected from nominations submitted by the entity that performs workforce development activities pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § 542 or other workforce organizations, or may be chosen without nomination by an organization. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a resident of an unorganized town, grant, or gore that sits within the regional CTE center school district who is otherwise eligible to vote under 17 V.S.A. § 2121 may vote for the board members and may be elected to or appointed as a member of the governing board.

(2) [Repealed.]

(3) Proposed bylaws.

(4) A plan for transition from the existing governance structure.

(5) The disposition of the existing CTE center land and facilities.

(6) How existing collective bargaining agreements and employee contracts will be addressed.

(7) Transportation to be provided.

(8) The term of office of the board members and other officers, how other officers are selected, and how board members will be replaced when a vacancy occurs.

(9) The date on which the proposal will be submitted to the voters and whether the votes will be commingled.

(10) A process for amending or dissolving the governance structure.

(11) Any other matter that the committee considers pertinent.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 23.05 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 23 / Section 23.05
App. § 23-5. Bylaws, rules, and regulations
Status: in_force

The School District may make such 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 such branches of knowledge as it may deem expedient.
16 V.S.A. § 2869 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 87 / Section 2869
§ 2869. Loan cancellation; mathematics, science, and computer science teachers
Status: in_force

(a) Loans obtained under this subchapter may be partially or completely cancelled and forgiven for a borrower who is employed for a complete academic school year as a full-time licensed teacher:

(1) in a Vermont elementary or secondary school that is approved by the State Board; and

(2) in the subject area of mathematics, science, or computer science during a year when there is a critical shortage of licensed teachers in that area.

(b) Annually, the Board of the Corporation shall determine, after consultation with the Secretary, whether a critical shortage of licensed teachers exists in each of the subject areas of mathematics, science, and computer science.

(c) The Board shall determine the amount of loan to be cancelled for each complete academic year of teaching service. The amount cancelled for each year shall not exceed 25 percent of the original principal amount plus any accrued interest.

(d) This section is subject to the availability of funds specifically appropriated for loan cancellations under this section.
16 V.S.A. § 1129 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 25 / Section 1129
§ 1129. Jurisdiction of nonresidents
Status: in_force

The superintendent of a school in which a nonresident pupil is enrolled and a truant officer having jurisdiction of the pupils in such school shall have the same authority and jurisdiction over such nonresident pupil and the person having the control of such pupil as they have over resident pupils and the persons having control of such pupils.
16 V.S.A. § 1046 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 23 / Section 1046
§ 1046. Arrangement
Status: in_force

Subject to the approval of the Secretary, each superintendent shall arrange for the establishment of a driver education and training course for all public and approved independent schools located within his or her jurisdiction that so request.
16 V.S.A. § 496 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 9 / Section 496
§ 496. Books and papers to be turned over to successor
Status: in_force

When a district office becomes vacant by expiration of the term of office of the incumbent or otherwise, and a successor is elected or appointed, the successor shall, on demand, be entitled to receive the books and papers of the office from the last incumbent or anyone having the books and papers in his or her possession. A person having books or papers in his or her possession who refuses for ten days, after demand, to surrender them to the successor shall be fined $10.00.
16 V.S.A. § 475 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 9 / Section 475
§ 475. Statistical information
Status: in_force

Annually, on or before August 15, the prudential committee shall return to the Secretary answers to the statistical inquiries that he or she may address to them.
16 V.S.A. § 1579 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 37 / Section 1579
§ 1579. Incurring debt
Status: in_force

(a) If authorized by a majority of the qualified voters voting on the question in accordance with this section, a regional career technical center school district may incur indebtedness for improvements or the acquisition of capital assets for the purposes for which the district is established as provided in this chapter.

(b) Each town school district, incorporated school district, unified union school district, and city school district within the regional career technical center school district shall vote on a decision to incur indebtedness for improvements as provided by 24 V.S.A. chapter 53, subchapter 1. The vote shall be determined by Australian ballot or voting machine on the same day and during the same hours at each regular polling place in each town school district, incorporated school district, unified union school district, and city school district within the regional career technical center school district. Absentee voting in accordance with 17 V.S.A. chapter 51, subchapter 6 shall be permitted. The Board of Civil Authority of each town within the regional career technical center school district shall be responsible for determining the eligibility of persons to vote, the supervision of the election, and the transportation of ballots in its district to a central point designated by the governing board of the regional career technical center school district. The ballots shall be commingled. Counting of ballots by representatives of the Boards of Civil Authority of the towns in the regional career technical center school district shall be supervised by the regional career technical center school district clerk or his or her designee.

(c) Obligations incurred under 24 V.S.A. chapter 53, subchapter 1 shall be the joint and several obligations of the regional career technical center school district and of each of the town school districts, incorporated school districts, the member towns of unified union school districts, and city school districts within the career technical center region. Any joint or several liability incurred by a town school district, incorporated school district, the member towns of a unified union school district, or city school district within the career technical center region under the provisions of this subchapter shall not be considered in determining its debt limit for its own separate purposes.
16 V.S.A. § 783 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 15 / Section 783
§ 783. Miscellaneous provisions-Article XIII
Status: in_force

A. Studies. Insofar as practicable, the studies required by the laws of both states shall be offered in an interstate school district.

B. Textbooks. Textbooks and scholar's supplies shall be provided at the expense of the interstate district for pupils attending its schools.

C. Transportation. The allocation of the cost of transportation in an interstate school district, as between the interstate district and the member districts, shall be determined by the articles of agreement.

D. Location of Schoolhouses. In any case where a new schoolhouse or other school facility is to be constructed or acquired, the interstate board shall first determine whether it shall be located in New Hampshire or in Vermont. If it is to be located in New Hampshire, RSA 199, relating to schoolhouses, shall apply. If it is to be located in Vermont, the Vermont law relating to schoolhouses shall apply.

E. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of each interstate district shall begin on July first of each year and end on June thirtieth of the following year.

F. Immunity from Tort Liability. Notwithstanding the fact that an interstate district may derive income from operating profit, fees, rentals, and other services, it shall be immune from suit and from liability for injury to persons or property and for other torts caused by it or its agents, servants or independent contractors, except insofar as it may have undertaken such liability under RSA 281:7 relating to workers' compensation, or RSA 412:3 relating to the procurement of liability insurance by a governmental agency and except insofar as it may have undertaken such liability under 21 V.S.A. § 621 relating to workers' compensation or 29 V.S.A. § 1403 relating to the procurement of liability insurance by a governmental agency.

G. Administrative Agreement Between Commissioners of Education. The commissioners of education of New Hampshire and Vermont may enter into one or more administrative agreements prescribing the relationship between the interstate districts, member districts, and each of the two state departments of education, in which any conflicts between the two states in procedure, regulations, and administrative practices may be resolved.

H. Amendments. Neither state shall amend its legislation or any agreement authorized thereby without the consent of the other in such manner as to substantially adversely affect the rights of the other state or its people hereunder, or as to substantially impair the rights of the holders of any bonds or notes or other evidences of indebtedness then outstanding or the rights of an interstate school district to procure the means for payment thereof. Subject to the foregoing, any reference herein to other statutes of either state shall refer to such statute as it may be amended or revised from time to time.

I. Separability. If any of the provisions of this compact, or legislation enabling the same, shall be held invalid or unconstitutional in relation to any of the applications thereof, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect other applications thereof or other provisions thereof; and to this end the provisions of this compact are declared to be severable.

J. Inconsistency of Language. The validity of this compact shall not be affected by any insubstantial differences in its form or language as adopted by the two states.
16 V.S.A. § 1691a — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 51 / Section 1691a
§ 1691a. Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter:

(1) “Administrator” means an individual licensed under this chapter the majority of whose employed time in a public school, school district, supervisory union, or board of cooperative education services is assigned to developing and managing school curriculum, evaluating and disciplining personnel, or supervising and managing a public school system or public school program.

(2) “Applicant” means an individual applying for a license.

(3) “Educator” means any teacher or administrator requiring a license under this chapter.

(4) “Endorsement” means the grade level and field in which an educator is authorized to serve. A license shall bear one or more endorsements.

(5) “Hearing panel” means the persons assigned in individual cases to find facts, reach conclusions of law, and make decisions regarding compliance with standards for obtaining, retaining, and renewing licenses.

(6) “License” means a license to engage in teaching or school administration, as the context requires, in the State and includes, unless the context requires otherwise, the endorsements the licensee has applied for or possesses. “Licensee” means an individual licensed under this chapter.

(7) “Licensing action” means action that suspends, revokes, limits, or conditions licensure or certification in any way and includes warnings, reprimands, probation, and administrative penalties.

(8) “Office” means the office within the Agency responsible for professional standards and educator licensing.

(9) “Standards Board” means the Vermont Standards Board for Professional Educators established under section 1693 of this title.

(10) “Teacher” means an individual licensed under this chapter the majority of whose employed time in a public school distric, supervisory union, or board of cooperative education services is assigned to furnish to students direct instructional or other educational services, as defined by rule of the Standards Board, or who is otherwise subject to licensing as determined by the Standards Board.
16 V.S.A. § 1992 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 57 / Section 1992
§ 1992. Referendum procedure for representation
Status: in_force

(a)(1) An organization purporting to represent a majority of all of the teachers or administrators employed by the school board may be recognized by the school board without the necessity of a referendum upon the submission of a petition bearing the valid signatures of a majority of the teachers or administrators employed by that school board. The school board and the organization purporting to represent a majority of the teachers or administrators shall, within 10 business days after the petition is submitted, agree on an impartial third party to examine the petition and determine whether a majority of the teachers or administrators support the organization. If the parties fail to agree on an impartial third party within 10 business days, the Vermont Labor Relations Board shall examine the petition and determine whether a majority of the teachers or administrators support the organization. If the impartial party or the Board determines that a majority of the teachers or administrators support the organization, it shall certify the organization as the exclusive representative of the teachers or administrators.

(2)(A)(i) An organization seeking to represent the teachers or administrators employed by a school board may petition the school board for a list of the teachers or administrators in the proposed bargaining unit.

(ii) An organization or group of teachers or administrators, or any person purporting to act on their behalf, that is seeking to demonstrate that the current exclusive representative of the teachers or administrators is no longer supported by a majority of the teachers or administrators employed by that school board shall not be entitled to obtain a list of the employees in the bargaining unit pursuant to this subdivision (a)(2).

(B) Unless the parties agree to a longer period, within five business days after receiving the petition, the school board shall file with the organization a list of the names and job titles of the teachers or administrators in the proposed bargaining unit. To the extent possible, the list of employees shall be in alphabetical order by last name and provided in electronic format.

(b) Certification of a negotiating unit as exclusive representative shall be valid and not subject to challenge by referendum petition or otherwise for the remainder of the fiscal year in which the certification occurs and for an additional period of 12 months after final adoption of the budget for the succeeding fiscal year and shall continue thereafter until a new referendum is called for.

(c)(1)(A) A secret ballot referendum shall be held not more than 21 calendar days after 20 percent of the teachers or administrators employed by the school board present a petition requesting a referendum on the matter of representation, except during a period of prior certification, as provided pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.

(B) The parties may mutually agree to extend the time to hold the election set forth in subdivision (A) of this subdivision (1).

(C) Any organization interested in representing teachers or administrators in the school district shall have the right to appear on the ballot by submitting a petition supported by ten percent or more of the teachers or administrators in the school district.

(2)(A) Unless the school board and the organization agree to a longer period, within two business days after the petition is presented, the school board shall file with the organization that will be named on the ballot a list of the teachers or administrators in the bargaining unit.

(B) The list shall include, as appropriate, each teacher's or administrator's name, work location, job classification, and contact information. As used in this subdivision (2), “contact information” includes a teacher's or administrator's home address, personal email address, and home and personal cellular telephone numbers to the extent that the school board is in possession of such information.

(C) To the extent possible, the list of teachers or administrators shall be in alphabetical order by last name and provided in electronic format.

(D) The list shall be kept confidential by the school board and the organization and shall be exempt from copying and inspection under the Public Records Act.

(E) Failure to file the list within the time required pursuant to subdivision (A) of this subdivision (2) shall be an unfair labor practice and may be grounds for the Vermont Labor Relations Board to set aside the results of the referendum if an unfair labor practice charge is filed not more than 10 business days after the referendum.

(d) In the interest of expediting the referendum and minimizing the cost thereof, the petitioning party or parties and the school board may agree together to conduct cooperatively the referendum themselves. Alternatively, the parties may select an impartial person or agency to conduct or aid in the conducting of the referendum. Failing agreement among all interested parties on the conduct of the referendum, any of the petitioning parties or the school board may request that the referendum be conducted with the aid and assistance of the American Arbitration Association or its designee. The American Arbitration Association or its designee shall have the responsibility for making decisions on any and all matters in dispute regarding the mechanics of the referendum, eligibility, and other necessary decisions relating to the conduct of the referendum.

(e) All costs incurred in conducting the referendum shall be borne jointly by the school board and the petitioners.

(f) The ballot used in any referendum shall include “no representation” among the choices. The organization designated by the majority of the votes cast shall be the negotiating representative. If the majority is “no representation,” then the school board may not recognize any representative for at least 12 months thereafter. If no choice receives a majority vote, then a run-off referendum shall be conducted among the two choices receiving the greatest number of votes.
16 V.S.A. § 131 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 1 / Section 131
§ 131. Definition
Status: in_force

As used in this title, “comprehensive health education” means a systematic and extensive elementary and secondary educational program designed to provide a variety of learning experiences based upon knowledge of the human organism as it functions within its environment. The term includes the study of:

(1) Body structure and function, including the physical, psychosocial, and psychological basis of human development, sexuality, and reproduction.

(2) Community health to include environmental health, pollution, public health, and world health.

(3) Safety, including:

(A) first aid, disaster prevention, and accident prevention; and

(B) information regarding and practice of compression-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of automated external defibrillators.

(4) Disease, such as HIV infection, other sexually transmitted diseases, as well as other communicable diseases, and the prevention of disease.

(5) Family health and mental health, including instruction that promotes the development of responsible personal behavior involving decision making about sexual activity, including abstinence; skills that strengthen existing family ties involving communication, cooperation, and interaction between parents and students; and instruction to aid in the establishment of strong family life in the future, thereby contributing to the enrichment of the community; and that promotes an understanding of depression and the signs of suicide risk in a family member or fellow student that includes how to respond appropriately and seek help and provides an awareness of the available school and community resources such as the local suicide crisis hotline.

(6) Personal health habits, including dental health.

(7) Consumer health, including health careers, health costs, and utilizing health services.

(8) Human growth and development, including understanding the physical, emotional, and social elements of individual development and interpersonal relationships, including instruction in parenting methods and styles. This shall include information regarding the possible outcomes of premature sexual activity, contraceptives, adolescent pregnancy, childbirth, adoption, and abortion.

(9) Drugs, including education about alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, and prescribed drugs.

(10) Nutrition.

(11) How to recognize and prevent sexual abuse and sexual violence, including developmentally appropriate instruction about promoting healthy and respectful relationships, developing and maintaining effective communication with trusted adults, recognizing sexually offending behaviors, and gaining awareness of available school and community resources. An employee of the school shall be in the room during the provision of all instruction or information presented under this subdivision.
16 V.S.A. § 2539 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 79 / Section 2539
§ 2539. Application, award, renewal
Status: in_force

(a) Applications for Armed Services Scholarships shall be processed as follows:

(1) for a child or spouse of a member of the Vermont National Guard or of the active Reserve Forces of the United States, by the Vermont Adjutant General who shall verify the eligibility of the applicant as provided in section 2537 of this title; and

(2) for a child or spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, by the Office of Veterans' Affairs who shall verify the eligibility of the applicant as provided in section 2537 of this title.

(b) On being notified of an eligible applicant's matriculation at an institution as specified in subsection 2538(a) of this title, the Adjutant and Inspector General or the Office of Veterans' Affairs shall provide funds from the special fund established in section 2541 of this title to the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, which, upon verifying enrollment, shall disburse the scholarship award to the institution.

(c) Application for renewal of an Armed Services Scholarship shall be made annually with written endorsement by the proper officer of the institution attended that the holder of the scholarship has maintained satisfactory scholastic standing. On receipt of this certification, the Adjutant and Inspector General or the Office of Veterans' Affairs shall provide funds from the special fund established in section 2541 of this title to the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, which, upon verifying enrollment, shall disburse the scholarship award to the institution.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 1.03 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 1 / Section 1.03
App. § 1-3. Conferral of degrees; election of officers; governance
Status: in_force

The Board of Trustees, a majority of whom may constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, may confer such honors and degrees as are usually given in colleges and universities and any other appropriate degrees, and may, from time to time, as occasion may require, elect a President, also a Secretary, Treasurer, Librarian, professors, instructors, and any other necessary officers, and prescribe their duties, salaries, and term of office, and may make all necessary bylaws and regulations for the government of themselves and others connected with the institution, not inconsistent with the provisions of this charter, and therein prescribe the terms of admission, rates of tuition, modes of study, and course of instruction, including any proper regulations for uniform, discipline, and military drill, as well as for experimental and practical instruction in the different branches of agricultural labor.
16 V.S.A. § 2866 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 87 / Section 2866
§ 2866. Rights of minors
Status: in_force

A person under 18 years of age shall not be disqualified or lack capacity by reason of the person's minority, but shall have the rights, powers, privileges, and obligations of a person of full age with respect to executing instruments under this subchapter. (1965, No. 198, § 7(f); amended 2003, No. 86 (Adj. Sess.), § 28.)
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 19.01 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 19 / Section 19.01
App. § 19-1. Incorporation of district
Status: in_force

School Districts Number 2 of Jericho and Number 3 of Underhill are hereby incorporated as a graded school district, by the name of the Underhill Graded School District, and shall have all the powers, duties, and privileges granted by law to graded school districts.
16 V.S.A. § 763 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 11 / Section 763
§ 763. Ratification; articles of agreement; application of chapter
Status: in_force

(a) Each union school district in existence on July 1, 2022, is ratified and subject to the provisions of this chapter 11, regardless of whether the district was formed by an affirmative vote of the electorate or by the State Board as part of its “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) References in this chapter 11 to articles of agreement initially adopted by the voters shall also mean articles of agreement as issued by the State Board as part of the Order.

(c) Articles of agreement in effect on June 30, 2022, as initially adopted by the voters or subsequently amended, shall govern the district unless and until amended; provided, however, and notwithstanding the provisions of 1 V.S.A. § 214 or other laws to the contrary, the provisions of this chapter 11 shall govern in all matters not addressed in the articles of agreement and shall take precedence in the event of conflict with any article.
16 V.S.A. § 325 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 7 / Section 325
§ 325. Removal from office
Status: in_force

A supervisory union treasurer may be removed from office for cause by a majority vote of the members of the supervisory union board present and eligible to vote at a meeting called for that purpose.
16 V.S.A. § 1076 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 25 / Section 1076
§ 1076. Penalties
Status: in_force

(a) A superintendent or truant officer who fails to perform the duties imposed on him or her by this chapter shall be fined not more than $100.00.

(b) A teacher who violates a provision of this chapter shall be fined not more than $25.00 nor less than $5.00.
16 V.S.A. § 2041 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 59 / Section 2041
§ 2041. Purpose, findings, and policy-Article I
Status: in_force

1. To improve their respective school systems by utilizing the teacher or other professional educational person wherever educated, declare that it is the policy of each of them, on the basis of cooperation with one another, to take advantage of the preparation and experience of such persons wherever gained, thereby serving the best interests of society, of education, and of the teaching profession. It is the purpose of this Agreement to provide for the development and execution of such programs of cooperation as will facilitate the movement of teachers and other professional educational personnel among the States party to it and to authorize specific interstate educational personnel contracts to achieve that end.

2. The party States find that included in the large movement of population among all sections of the nation are many qualified educational personnel who move for family and other personal reasons but who are hindered in using their professional skill and experience in their new locations. Variations from State to State in requirements for qualifying educational personnel discourage such personnel from taking the steps necessary to qualify in other States. As a consequence, a significant number of professionally prepared and experienced educators is lost to our school systems. Facilitating the employment of qualified educational personnel, without reference to their States of origin, can increase the available educational resources. Participation in this Compact can increase the availability of educational manpower.
16 V.S.A. § 2887 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 90 / Section 2887
§ 2887. The Next Generation Initiative Fund
Status: repealed

(a) A Next Generation Initiative Fund is established in the Office of the State Treasurer to comprise appropriations made by the General Assembly and grants, donations, or contributions from any other sources. The Fund shall be administered pursuant to 32 V.S.A. chapter 7, subchapter 5, except that interest earned on the Fund and any remaining balance shall be retained in the Fund.

(b) Annually, the General Assembly shall appropriate monies in the Next Generation Initiative Fund for programs that encourage Vermonters to live and work in Vermont.

(c) [Repealed.]
16 V.S.A. § 170 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 3 / Section 170
§ 170. Control by federal agencies prohibited
Status: in_force

No department, agency, officer, or employee of the United States shall, because of any provision of this title, direct, supervise, control, or prescribe in any manner, the administration, personnel, curriculum, or instruction in the public schools of Vermont.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 13.09 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 13 / Section 13.09
App. § 13-9. General provisions
Status: in_force

The general provisions of law pertaining to schools not inconsistent with the provisions of law pertaining to this charter and with the rights heretofore granted School District No. 4 by special legislation shall apply to school District No. 4 when the merger occurs.
16 V.S.A. § 2043 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 59 / Section 2043
§ 2043. Interstate educational personnel contracts-Article III
Status: in_force

1. The designated State official of a party State may make one or more contracts on behalf of his or her State with one or more other party States providing for the acceptance of educational personnel. Any such contract for the period of its duration shall be applicable to and binding on the States whose designated state officials enter into it, and the subdivisions of those States, with the same force and effect as if incorporated in this Agreement. A designated state official may enter into a contract pursuant to this Article only with States in which he or she finds that there are programs of education, licensing standards, or other acceptable qualifications that assure preparation or qualification of educational personnel on a basis sufficiently comparable, even though not identical to that prevailing in his or her own State.

2. Any such contract shall provide for:

(a) Its duration.

(b) The criteria to be applied by an originating State in qualifying educational personnel for acceptance by a receiving State.

(c) Such waivers, substitutions, and conditional acceptances as shall aid the practical effectuation of the contract without sacrifice of basic educational standards.

(d) Any other necessary matters.

3. No contract made pursuant to this Agreement shall be for a term longer than five years but any such contract may be renewed for like or lesser periods.

4. Any contract dealing with acceptance of educational personnel on the basis of their having completed an educational program shall specify the earliest date or dates on which originating state approval of the program or programs involved can have occurred. No contract made pursuant to this Agreement shall require acceptance by a receiving State of any persons qualified because of successful completion of a program prior to January 1, 1954.

5. The license or other acceptance of a person who has been accepted pursuant to the terms of a contract shall not be revoked or otherwise impaired because the contract has expired or been terminated. However, any license or other qualifying document may be revoked or suspended on any ground which would be sufficient for revocation or suspension of a license or other qualifying document initially granted or approved in the receiving State.

6. A contract committee composed of the designated state officials of the contracting States or their representatives shall keep the contract under continuous review, study means of improving its administration, and report no less frequently than once a year to the heads of the appropriate education agencies of the contracting States.
16 V.S.A. § 1703 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 51 / Section 1703
§ 1703. Time and notice of hearing
Status: in_force

The chair of the panel shall fix the time of hearing, which shall be between 30 and 60 days after, as applicable, filing of the license application appeal or service of the charge on the licensee. The chair shall provide the applicant or licensee notice of the hearing, in it stating the following: the time and place of the hearing; the right of the applicant or licensee charged to file with the chair a written response within 20 days of the date of service; the fact that a record of the proceeding will be kept; the rights of the applicant or licensee charged at the hearing to appear personally, to be represented by counsel, to produce witnesses and evidence, to cross-examine witnesses, and to examine such documentary evidence as may be produced; and, in the case of formal charges against the licensee, the range of licensing actions to which the licensee charged may be subject if the formal charges are substantiated.
16 V.S.A. § 3861 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 131 / Section 3861
§ 3861. Compensation of members and employees of Agency
Status: in_force

No officer, member, or employee of the Agency may receive, or be lawfully entitled to receive, any pecuniary profit from the operation of the Agency except reasonable compensation for services in effecting one or more of its purposes set forth under law.
16 V.S.A. § 806g — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 19 / Section 806g
§ 806g. State coordination - Article VIII
Status: in_force

A. Each member state shall, through the creation of a State Council or use of an existing body or board, provide for the coordination among its agencies of government, local education agencies, and military installations concerning the state's participation in, and compliance with, this compact and Interstate Commission activities. While each member state may determine the membership of its own State Council, its membership must include at least: the state superintendent of education, superintendent of a school district with a high concentration of military children, representative from a military installation, one representative each from the legislative and executive branches of government, and other offices and stakeholder groups the State Council deems appropriate. A member state that does not have a school district deemed to contain a high concentration of military children may appoint a superintendent from another school district to represent local education agencies on the State Council.

B. The State Council of each member state shall appoint or designate a military family education liaison to assist military families and the state in facilitating the implementation of this compact.

C. The compact commissioner responsible for the administration and management of the state's participation in the compact shall be appointed by the Governor or as otherwise determined by each member state.

D. The compact commissioner and the military family education liaison designated herein shall be ex-officio members of the State Council, unless either is already a full voting member of the State Council.
16 V.S.A. § 806o — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 19 / Section 806o
§ 806o. Withdrawal and dissolution - Article XVI
Status: in_force

A. Withdrawal.

1. Once effective, the compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon each and every member state; provided that a member state may withdraw immediately from the compact by specifically repealing the statute which enacted the compact into law.

2. Withdrawal from this compact shall be by the enactment of a statute repealing the same.

3. The withdrawing state shall immediately notify the chairperson of the Interstate Commission in writing upon the introduction of legislation repealing this compact in the withdrawing state. The Interstate Commission shall notify the other member states of the withdrawing state's intent to withdraw within sixty (60) days of its receipt thereof.

4. The withdrawing state is responsible for all assessments, obligations, and liabilities incurred through the effective date of withdrawal, not to exceed $100 per year as provided in Article XIV, Section E, of this compact for each year that the State of Vermont is a member of the compact.

5. Reinstatement following withdrawal of a member state shall occur upon the withdrawing state reenacting the compact or upon such later date as determined by the Interstate Commission.

B. Dissolution of Compact.

1. This compact shall dissolve effective upon the date of the withdrawal or default of the member state which reduces the membership in the compact to one (1) member state.

2. Upon the dissolution of this compact, the compact becomes null and void and shall be of no further force or effect, and the business and affairs of the Interstate Commission shall be concluded and surplus funds shall be distributed in accordance with the bylaws.
16 V.S.A. § 803 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 17 / Section 803
§ 803. Effective Date-Article XIII
Status: in_force

This compact shall become effective when passed by the Vermont General Assembly, signed by the Governor and approved by the United States Congress.
16 V.S.A. § 2879a — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 87 / Section 2879a
§ 2879a. Cancellation of participation agreements
Status: in_force

(a) Any participant may cancel a participation agreement at will, and any return of funds from the participant's account shall be subject to terms and conditions established by the Corporation, provided that any penalties levied as a result comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or Title 32 relating to Investment Plans.

(b) The Corporation may provide by rule that no termination penalty shall apply in certain circumstances.
16 V.S.A. § 1708 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 51 / Section 1708
§ 1708. Accessibility and confidentiality of licensing matters
Status: in_force

(a) It is the purpose of this section both to protect the reputation of licensees from public disclosure of unwarranted complaints and to fulfill the public's right to know of any action taken against an applicant or a licensee when that action is based on a determination of unprofessional conduct or incompetence.

(b) All meetings and hearings of the Standards Board and hearing panels shall be held in accordance with 1 V.S.A. chapter 5.

(c) The Secretary shall prepare and maintain a register of all complaints, which shall be a public record and which shall show:

(1) with respect to all complaints for which a formal investigation is initiated under subsection 1700(c) of this title, the following information:

(A) the date and the nature of the complaint, but not the identity of the licensee or information that could be used to identify the licensee; and

(B) a summary of the completed investigation; and

(2) only with respect to complaints resulting in the filing of a formal charge under subsection 1701(b) of this title, the following additional information:

(A) the name and business addresses of the licensee and the name of the complainant if disclosure is permitted under federal or State law and does not provide personally identifying information about a student;

(B) formal charges, provided they have been served or a reasonable effort to serve them has been made;

(C) except as provided under 1 V.S.A. chapter 5, the findings, conclusions, and order of the hearing panel; and

(D) final disposition of the matter.

(d) The hearing panel and the Secretary shall not disclose to anyone but the applicant or the licensee charged any information regarding a complaint, proceeding, or record, except the information required to be released under this section.

(e) A licensee or applicant shall have the right to inspect and copy all information in the possession of the Agency pertaining to the licensee or applicant except investigatory files not resulting in formal charges and attorney work product.

(f) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the disclosure of information:

(1) Regarding complaints to State or federal law enforcement agencies in the course of an investigation, provided the State or federal law enforcement agency agrees to maintain the confidentiality and privileged status of the information as provided in subsection (d) of this section.

(2) Regarding denials of licensure for cause, and license suspensions or revocations, and including reinstatements of licenses, to the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification, consistent with the member agreement executed between it and the State of Vermont. For the purposes of this subdivision, “cause” includes any circumstance or activity also deemed to be a revocable offense.

(3) As is necessary in investigating a complaint, to the superintendent of a school district in which the licensee is employed or, if the licensee is employed as a superintendent, to the chair of the board that employs the superintendent, provided the superintendent or chair agrees to maintain the confidentiality and privileged status of the information as provided in subsection (d) of this section. Where, in the judgment of the Secretary, the alleged unprofessional conduct or incompetence places the students in immediate physical or emotional jeopardy, the office shall inform the superintendent of the school district in which the licensee is employed. The superintendent may take only such action as is both necessary to protect students and consistent with the rights of the licensee. The superintendent shall not do anything that compromises the integrity of the investigation.
16 V.S.A. § 570i — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 9 / Section 570i
§ 570i. Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this subchapter:

(1) “Educational institution” means a Vermont public or independent school or a postsecondary school that offers or operates a program of college or professional education for credit or a degree in Vermont.

(2) “Organization” means a fraternity, sorority, athletic team, association, corporation, order, society, corps, cooperative, club, or other similar group, whose members primarily are students at an educational institution, and that is affiliated with the educational institution.

(3) “Pledging” means any action or activity related to becoming a member of an organization.

(4) “Student” means any person who:

(A) is registered in or in attendance at an educational institution;

(B) has been accepted for admission at the educational institution where the hazing incident occurs; or

(C) intends to attend an educational institution during any of its regular sessions after an official academic break.
16 V.S.A. § 2101 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 61 / Section 2101
§ 2101. Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter:

(1) “Participating employee” means a school employee who is eligible for and has elected to receive health benefit coverage through a school employer.

(2) “School employee”:

(A) includes the following individuals:

(i) an individual employed by a school employer as a teacher or administrator as defined in section 1981 of this title;

(ii) a municipal school employee as defined in 21 V.S.A. § 1722;

(iii) an individual employed as a supervisor as defined in 21 V.S.A. § 1502;

(iv) a confidential employee as defined in 21 V.S.A. § 1722;

(v) a certified employee of a school employer; and

(vi) any other permanent employee of a school employer not covered by subdivisions (i)-(v) of this subdivision (2); and

(B) notwithstanding subdivision (A) of this subdivision (2), excludes individuals who serve in the role of superintendent.

(3) “School employer” means a supervisory union or school district as those terms are defined in section 11 of this title, or a board of cooperative education services formed pursuant to chapter 10 of this title.
16 V.S.A. § 2108 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 61 / Section 2108
§ 2108. Duties of school employers
Status: in_force

Each school employer shall:

(1) deduct from the gross wages of each participating employee a sum equal to the percentage of the premium determined by the Commission to be the employee's responsibility for the applicable tier of coverage;

(2) remit to the administrator of the health benefit plan the amount determined by the Commission to be the employers' premium responsibility for each participating employee, along with the amount deducted from the employee's wages for the employee's premium share;

(3) contribute toward the out-of-pocket expenses of each participating employee in the amounts and manner determined by the Commission to be the employer's responsibility; and

(4) participate in any health reimbursement arrangement or health savings account, or both, in the amounts and to the extent determined by the Commission.
16 V.S.A. § 1601 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 39 / Section 1601
§ 1601. Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter:

(1) “Articulation agreement” means a written agreement between a secondary school and a postsecondary institution or registered apprenticeship program specifying the responsibilities for each party to the agreement with respect to student apprentices working towards completion of a registered apprenticeship program or a postsecondary degree. The agreement may include acceptance of a student apprentice into a registered apprenticeship program or postsecondary school pending completion of a student apprenticeship program.

(2) “Industry competency standards” mean performance criteria developed jointly by educators and business representatives and adopted by the State Board that define skills and knowledge that are needed in the workplace.

(3) “Registered apprenticeship” means an apprenticeship or on the job training program registered by the State Apprenticeship Council under 21 V.S.A. § 1102 in which a person enters into a contract to receive instruction and occupational preparation in a trade, craft, or business from an employer and is provided wages in consideration for services.

(4) “Student apprentice” means an individual, enrolled in a school, who is participating in a student apprenticeship program approved by the regional advisory board and who is employed in accordance with the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

(5) “Student apprentice coordinator” means a licensed professional educator whom the State Board of Education finds qualified to plan, implement and evaluate a student apprenticeship program.

(6) “Student apprenticeship program” means a skill-based education program that coordinates and integrates classroom instruction with a structured, work-based learning experience. An individual participating in a student apprenticeship program receives academic instruction and training in a skilled occupation that prepares him or her for postsecondary education, advanced training, or direct employment in a position higher than entry level.

(7) “Worksite mentors” mean individuals employed by business and industry who have demonstrated mastery of their craft or profession, who have been prepared to carry out the role of student advisor, and who provide worksite learning experiences to student apprentices.

(8) “Worksite training” means the part of the apprenticeship program conducted at the place of business or industry.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 23.04 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 23 / Section 23.04
App. § 23-4. Nominations for Trustee
Status: in_force

Nominations for the office of Trustee shall be made by petitions to be filed with the Clerk of the City of Winooski and shall meet the requirements of section 7 of the charter of the City of Winooski (Appendix B) as now and hereinafter amended, and voting shall be upon a separate ballot. The City of Winooski voter checklist shall be used (Appendix C).
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 23.15 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 23 / Section 23.15
App. § 23-15. Sale of real or personal property
Status: in_force

The Board of School Trustees may authorize the sale of real or personal estate belonging to the District in the same manner as the Winooski City Council is authorized under the provisions of section 5.12 of the Winooski City Charter (Appendix E).
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 7.11 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 7 / Section 7.11
App. § 7-11. Public acts; first meeting
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be under the control of future legislatures to alter or amend as the public good may require, and shall take effect on March 1 next. The first annual meeting of the Bradford Academy and Graded School District shall be held at the Bradford Academy and shall be warned by the Clerk of the School District Number 12 by posting a notice in due form of law on the outside door of the Academy at least seven days before the time for holding the meeting.
16 V.S.A. § 601 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 10 / Section 601
§ 601. Policy
Status: in_force

It is the policy of the State to allow and encourage supervisory unions to create boards of cooperative education services to provide shared programs and services on a regional and statewide level. Formation of a board of cooperative education services shall be designed to build upon the geographically focused cooperative regions used by Vermont superintendents as of July 1, 2024; maximize the impact of available dollars through collaborative funding; reduce duplication of programs, personnel, and services; and contribute to equalizing educational opportunities for all pupils.
16 V.S.A. § 1544 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 37 / Section 1544
§ 1544. Career technical courses in other schools
Status: in_force

Subject to any direction as to courses, teachers, or equipment that the State Board may prescribe by rule, high schools may include within their courses of study pretechnical or career technical courses, or both. Before establishing such a program, a high school shall consult with the regional advisory board for its CTE service region.
16 V.S.A. § 2959b — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 101 / Section 2959b
§ 2959b. Individualized education programs
Status: in_force

A school district or supervisory union responsible for developing an individualized education program for a child with a disability may consider the cost of the provision of special education or related services to the child if:

(1) the district or supervisory union has developed the individualized education program in accordance with federal law through an individualized program team that included the parents;

(2) the individualized education program team has determined that the child's placement contained in the program is appropriate for the child as that term is defined in federal law; and

(3) all the options under consideration by the district or supervisory union for fulfilling the requirements of the child's individualized education program would constitute a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment for the child, as those terms are defined in federal law.
16 V.S.A. § 584 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 9 / Section 584
§ 584. Use of social media platforms in education
Status: in_force

Schools, school districts, and supervisory unions shall be prohibited from:

(1) utilizing social media for communication with students directly unless the program or platform is approved for such communication by the school district or independent school; provided, however, that any approved communication program or platform shall allow school officials to archive all communications and prevent all communications from being edited or deleted once a communication has been sent; and

(2) requiring students to use social media for out-of-school academic work, school sports, extracurricular clubs, or any other out-of-school school-sponsored activities.
16 V.S.A. § 1932 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 55 / Section 1932
§ 1932. Date of establishment; power and privileges; name
Status: in_force

A retirement system is hereby established and placed under the management of the Board of Trustees of the System for the purpose of providing retirement allowances and other benefits under the provisions of this chapter for teachers of the State of Vermont. The System shall begin operation and be established as of July 1, 1947. It shall have the power and privileges of a corporation and shall be known as the “State Teachers' Retirement System of Vermont,” and by such name all of its business shall be transacted, all of its assets invested, and all of its cash and securities and other property held in trust for the purpose for which received.
16 V.S.A. § 1951 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 55 / Section 1951
§ 1951. Group A members; limit on contributions
Status: in_force

Contributions in the form of a deduction from compensation under section 1944 of this title shall cease for any Group A member who attains 25 years of creditable service and the member shall continue to accrue creditable service, without such a contribution, at the rate of one and two-thirds percent until the member retires.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 2.01 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 2 / Section 2.01
App. § 2-1. Meetings and elections
Status: in_force

(a) The first Tuesday in March shall be the date for the annual election of School District officers and for voting upon all questions to be decided by Australian ballot. Polls shall be open no less than nine consecutive hours. The School Board may designate one or more polling places within the District for voting and may provide for the use of any mechanical or computer type devices for voting or counting votes, consistent with the requirements of law. However, the voters at any annual election may designate a different date, time, or place for subsequent annual elections.

(b)(1) Special School District meetings or elections:

(A) may be called by a majority of the School Board; or

(B) shall be called by the School District Clerk upon receipt by him or her of a petition signed by at least ten percent of the voters, specifying the business to be transacted at such meeting.

(2) The meeting shall be held within 60 days from the date the petition is filed with the Clerk.

(c) Budget preparation process:

(1) At such time as may be prescribed by the School Board, the School Superintendent shall submit a line itemized estimate of the income and expenditures required for the operation of the School District for the next ensuing fiscal year.

(2) The School Board, with a committee of not less than five voters appointed by them, shall review the proposed school budget publicly and prepare it for presentation to the voters at the annual School District election. Sufficient copies shall be available to the voters not less than ten days prior to the election, at the five public places required by subsection 2(a) of this chapter and the warning shall state the availability of the proposed budget.

(d) Budget adoption process: The budget proposal shall be submitted to the electorate at the annual election. If this proposal fails, the School Board shall warn another election at which a revised budget shall be submitted to the voters and decided by Australian ballot. If the School Board's second or subsequent budget proposals fail, the Board shall continue to warn special elections and submit revised budget proposals to the voters until a budget is adopted by the voters by Australian ballot.
16 V.S.A. § 715 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 11 / Section 715
§ 715. Organizational meeting; notice; business to be transacted
Status: in_force

(a) Meeting. The union school district shall hold an organizational meeting within 60 days after the Secretary of State files the certified copy of the recorded certification with each clerk pursuant to subsection 713(e) of this chapter.

(b) Notice.

(1) The Secretary of Education shall prepare and execute a warning for the organizational meeting. The warning shall give notice of the day, hour, and location of the meeting and shall itemize the business to be transacted.

(2) The Secretary of Education shall transmit the signed warning to the superintendent, who shall post the warning in at least one public place in each town within the union school district and shall cause the warning to be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the towns within the union school district. Posting and publication shall be made not more than 40 days nor less than 30 days before the date of the meeting.

(3) The union school district shall bear the cost of posting and publishing the warning.

(c) Business to be transacted.

(1) The Secretary or a person designated by the Secretary shall call the organizational meeting to order and the registered voters shall consider the following items of business:

(A) Elect a temporary presiding officer and a temporary clerk of the union school district from among the voters present at the organizational meeting.

(B) Adopt Robert's or other rules of order, which shall govern the parliamentary procedures of the organizational meeting and all subsequent meetings of the union school district.

(C) Elect a moderator of the union school district from among the voters.

(D) Elect a clerk of the union school district from among the voters or vote to authorize the school board to appoint a clerk of the union school district from among the voters.

(E) Elect a treasurer of the union school district or vote to authorize the school board to appoint a treasurer of the union school district. The treasurer may also be the supervisory union treasurer and need not be a resident of the union school district.

(F) Determine the date and location of the union school district's annual meeting, which shall be not earlier than February 1 nor later than June 1, if not previously determined by the voter-approved articles of agreement.

(G) Determine whether compensation shall be paid to the moderator, clerk, and treasurer of the union school district elected at the organizational meeting and at subsequent annual meetings of the union school district and, if so, the amount to be paid to them.

(H) Determine whether compensation shall be paid to members of the union school district board and, if so, the amount to be paid to them.

(I) Establish provisions for payment by the union school district of any expense incurred or to be incurred by or on behalf of the district for the period between the date on which the voters approved formation of the union school district and the first annual meeting of the union district.

(J) Determine whether to authorize the initial board of the union school district to borrow money pending receipt of payments from the Education Fund by the issuance of its note payable not later than one year from the date of the note. Regardless of whether the voters provide this authorization, the initial board is authorized to borrow sufficient funds to meet pending obligations until the voters approve a budget for the initial year of operation pursuant to subdivision 716(b)(3) of this chapter.

(K) Transact any other business, the subject matter of which has been included in the warning, that the voters have power to transact at any annual or special meeting and transact any nonbinding business that may legally come before the voters.

(2) When there is only one nominee for temporary presiding officer, temporary clerk, moderator, district clerk, or district treasurer, the voters may, by acclamation, instruct an officer to elect the nominee by casting one ballot, and upon the ballot being cast, the nominee shall be legally elected and shall thereupon be sworn.

(3) The elected officers listed in subdivisions (1)(A) (temporary presiding officer and temporary clerk), (C) (moderator of the union school district), (D) (clerk of the union school district), and (E) (treasurer of the union school district) of this subsection shall be sworn in before entering upon the duties of their offices and a record made by the district clerk. They shall assume office upon being sworn in. The officers listed in subdivisions (1)(C), (D), and (E) of this subsection shall serve terms as set forth in section 735 (unified union school districts; officers) or 753 (union elementary and union high school district; officers) of this chapter unless the voters extend the term length up to three years.

(4) Any member of the union school district board not sworn in before the organizational meeting pursuant to section 714 of this chapter may be sworn in at or after the organizational meeting.
16 V.S.A. § 2833 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 87 / Section 2833
§ 2833. Meetings; quorum
Status: in_force

The Board shall hold regular meetings and such special meetings as it deems necessary. A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business unless the bylaws of the Corporation require a larger number.
16 V.S.A. § 4027 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 133 / Section 4027
§ 4027. Education Fund transfer amounts
Status: repealed

(a) [Repealed.]

(b) Annually, on or before June 1, each superintendent shall report to the Agency, on a form prescribed by the Secretary, each education budget that was adopted by May 1 for the following fiscal year by the member districts of the supervisory union and for which no petition for reconsideration has been filed. A superintendent shall report a budget adopted following May 1, to the Agency, between 30 to 40 days following adoption or, if a petition for reconsideration has been filed, within 10 days of final adoption of the budget.
16 V.S.A. § 570c — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 9 / Section 570c
§ 570c. Bullying
Status: in_force

The bullying prevention policy required by section 570 of this title and its plan for implementation shall include:

(1) a statement that bullying, as defined in subdivision 11(a)(32) of this title, is prohibited;

(2) a procedure that directs students, staff, parents, and guardians how to report violations and file complaints;

(3) a procedure for investigating reports of violations and complaints;

(4) a description of the circumstances under which bullying may be reported to a law enforcement agency;

(5) consequences and appropriate remedial action for students who commit bullying;

(6) a description of how the school board will ensure that teachers and other staff members receive training in preventing, recognizing, and responding to bullying; and

(7) annual designation of two or more people at each school campus to receive complaints and a procedure both for publicizing the availability of those people and clarifying that their designation does not preclude a student from bringing a complaint to any adult in the building.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 19.05 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 19 / Section 19.05
App. § 19-5. Adoption of rules and bylaws; acceptance of scholars
Status: in_force

The Prudential Committee of the Graded School District, may make such bylaws, rules, and regulations as may be deemed expedient, not inconsistent with the laws of this State, and may establish the grade for the admission of all scholars.
16 V.S.A. § 2903 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 99 / Section 2903
§ 2903. Foundation for literacy
Status: in_force

(a) Statement of policy. The ability to read is critical to success in learning. Children who fail to read by the end of the first grade will likely fall further behind in school. The personal and economic costs of reading failure are enormous both while the student remains in school and long afterward. All students need to receive systematic and explicit evidence-based reading instruction in the early grades from a teacher who is skilled in teaching the foundational components of reading, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Students who require intensive supplemental instruction tailored to the unique difficulties encountered shall be provided those additional supports by an appropriately trained education professional.

(b) Foundation for literacy.

(1) The Agency of Education, in collaboration with the State Board of Education, the Agency of Human Services, higher education, literacy organizations, and others, shall develop a plan for establishing a comprehensive system of services for early education in public schools that offer instruction in grades kindergarten through grade three to ensure that all students learn to read by the end of the third grade. The plan shall be updated at least once every five years following its initial submission in 1998.

(2) Approved independent schools that are eligible to receive public tuition shall develop a grade-level appropriate school literacy plan that is informed by student needs and assessment data. The plan may include identification of a literacy vision, goals, and priorities and shall address the following topics:

(A) measures and indicators;

(B) screening, assessment, instruction and intervention, and progress monitoring, consistent with section 2907 of this title; and

(C) professional learning activities consistent with section 1710 of this title.

(c) Reading instruction. A public school or approved independent school that is eligible to receive public tuition that offers instruction in grades kindergarten, one, two, or three shall provide systematic and explicit evidence-based reading instruction to all students. In addition, for students in grades kindergarten through 12, public schools and approved independent schools that are eligible to receive public tuition shall provide supplemental reading instruction to any enrolled student whose reading proficiency falls significantly below proficiency standards for the student's grade level or whose reading proficiency prevents progress in school. Schools shall provide support and information to parents and legal guardians.
16 V.S.A. § 1801 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 53 / Section 1801
§ 1801. Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this subchapter:

(1) “New District” means a district created by the realignment or merger of two or more current districts into a new supervisory district, union school district, or any other form of merged or realigned district authorized by law, including by chapter 11, subchapter 1, of this title, regardless of whether one or more of the districts creating the New District (a Realigning District) is a town school district, a city school district, an incorporated school district, a union school district, a unified union school district, or a supervisory district.

(2) “New SU” means a supervisory union created from the merger or realignment of two or more current supervisory unions or of all or some of the districts in one or more current supervisory unions (a Realigning SU). “New SU” also means a supervisory union created by the State Board's adjustment of the borders of one or more current supervisory unions or parts of supervisory unions pursuant to section 261 of this title or otherwise, regardless of whether the New SU is known by the name of one of the current supervisory unions or the adjustment is otherwise structured or considered to be one in which one current supervisory union (the Absorbing SU) is absorbing one or more other supervisory unions or parts of supervisory unions into the Absorbing SU.

(3) “Employees of a Realigning Entity” means the licensed and nonlicensed employees of a Realigning District or Realigning SU, or both, that create the New District or New SU, and includes employees of an Absorbing SU and employees of a Realigning SU whose functions will be performed by employees of a New District that is a supervisory district.

(4) “System” shall mean the Vermont Municipal Employees' Retirement System created pursuant to 24 V.S.A. chapter 125.

(5) “Transitional Board” means the board created prior to the first day of a New District's or a New SU's existence in order to transition to the new structure by negotiating and entering into contracts, preparing an initial proposed budget, adopting policies, and otherwise planning for implementation of the New District or New SU, and includes the board of an Absorbing District to which members from the other Realigning SU or SUs have been added in order to perform transitional responsibilities.
16 V.S.A. § 1944d — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 55 / Section 1944d
§ 1944d. Employer annual charge for teacher health care
Status: in_force

(a) Beginning on July 1, 2018, the employer of teachers who become members of the State Teachers' Retirement System of Vermont on or after July 1, 2015 shall pay an annual assessment of $1,275.00 for each such teacher to the Benefits Fund.

(b) Beginning on July 1, 2019, and each year thereafter, the annual assessment shall be adjusted to account for inflation, as approved annually by the Board of Trustees.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 2.02 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 2 / Section 2.02
App. § 2-2. Warnings
Status: in_force

(a) Public notice of every annual or special School District meeting or election shall be given by a warning posted in at least five public places in the District at least 12 days prior to the meeting; and published two times, on the same day of the week for two consecutive weeks, in a newspaper having general circulation in the district. The first such publication shall be at least ten days prior to the date of the meeting.

(b) The warning shall:

(1) state the date, time, and place of the annual meeting as well as the date, time, and place of any informational hearing required to be held by virtue of the use of the Australian ballot system of voting;

(2) be signed by a majority of the School Board;

(3) specifically indicate by separate articles what business is to be transacted at the meeting;

(4) contain any article approved by the School Board;

(5) contain any article requested by petition signed by at least ten percent of the voters and filed with the School District Clerk at least 45 days prior to the day of the meeting; and

(6) state that copies of the School Board's proposed budget shall be available as required by subsection 1(d) of this chapter.
16 V.S.A. § 1982 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 57 / Section 1982
§ 1982. Rights
Status: in_force

(a) Teachers shall have the right to or not to join, assist, or participate in any teachers' organization of their choosing. However, teachers who choose not to join the teachers' organization, recognized as the exclusive representative pursuant to section 1992 of this chapter, shall pay the agency fee in the same manner as teachers who choose to join the teachers' organization pay membership fees. The teachers' organization shall indemnify and hold the school board harmless from any and all claims stemming from the implementation or administration of the agency fee.

(b) Principals, assistant principals, and administrators other than superintendents and assistant superintendents shall have the right to or not to join, assist, or participate in any administrators' organization or as a separate unit of any teachers' organization of their choosing. However, subject to the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, administrators other than the superintendents and assistant superintendents who choose not to join the administrators' organization, recognized as the exclusive representative pursuant to section 1992 of this chapter, shall pay the agency fee in the same manner as administrators who choose to join the administrators' organization pay membership fees. The administrators' organization agrees to indemnify and hold the school harmless from any and all claims stemming from the implementation or administration of the agency fee.

(c) The school board or any employee of the school board serving in any capacity or any other person or organization shall not interfere with, restrain, coerce, or discriminate in any way against or for any teacher or administrator engaged in activities protected by this legislation.

(d) A teachers' or administrators' organization shall not charge the agency fee unless it has established and maintained a procedure to provide nonmembers with:

(1) An audited financial statement that identifies the major categories of expenses and divides them into chargeable and nonchargeable expenses.

(2) An opportunity to object to the amount of the agency fee sought, and to place in escrow any amount reasonably in dispute.

(3) Prompt arbitration by an arbitrator selected jointly by the objecting fee payer and the teachers' or administrators' organization or pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration Association to resolve any objection over the amount of the agency fee. The costs of arbitration shall be paid by the teachers' or administrators' organization.

(e) Nothing in this section shall require an employer to discharge an employee who does not pay the agency fee.

(f) A teacher or administrator who is a member of the teachers' or administrators' organization shall have the right to automatic membership dues deductions. Upon receipt of a signed authorization to commence automatic membership dues deductions from a teacher or administrator, the school board shall, as soon as practicable and in any event, not later than 30 calendar days after receiving the authorization, commence withholding from the teacher's or administrator's wages the amount of membership dues certified by the teachers' or administrators' organization. The school board shall transmit the amount withheld to the teachers' or administrators' organization on the same day as the teacher or administrator is paid. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require a member of a teachers' or administrators' organization to participate in automatic dues deduction.
16 V.S.A. § 4002 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 133 / Section 4002
§ 4002. Payment; allocation
Status: in_force

(a) State and federal funds appropriated for services delivered by the supervisory union and payable through the Agency shall be paid to the order of the supervisory union and administered in accordance with the plan adopted under subdivision 261a(4) of this title. Funding for special education services under section 2969 of this title shall be paid to the supervisory unions in accordance with that section.

(b) The Secretary shall notify the superintendent or chief executive officer of each supervisory union in writing of federal or State funds disbursed to member school districts.
16 V.S.A. § 743 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 11 / Section 743
§ 743. Bond issues; debt limit
Status: in_force

(a) A unified union school district may make improvements, as defined by 24 V.S.A. § 1751 (municipal and county government; indebtedness definitions), and may incur indebtedness for improvements as provided in 24 V.S.A. chapter 53, subchapter 1 (municipal and county government; indebtedness generally).

(b) The debt limit of the unified union school district shall be 10 times the total of the education grand lists of the towns within the unified union school district. The existing indebtedness of a unified union school district incurred to finance any project approved under sections 3447 to 3456 (State aid for capital construction costs) of this title shall not be considered a part of the indebtedness of the unified union school district for purposes of determining its debt limit for a new proposed bond issue.

(c) Bond issues under this section shall be determined by Australian ballot and shall proceed pursuant to sections 737 (warnings of unified union school district meetings) and 739–742 (vote by Australian ballot) of this subchapter. The ballots shall be commingled before counting.
16 V.S.A. § 1264 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 27 / Section 1264
§ 1264. Food program
Status: repealed

(a)(1)(A) Each school board operating a public school shall cause to operate within each school in the school district a food program that makes available a school lunch, as provided in the National School Lunch Act, as amended, and a school breakfast, as provided in the Child Nutrition Act, as amended, to each attending student who qualifies for those meals under these acts every school day.

(B) In addition, each school board operating a public school shall cause to operate within each school in the school district the same school breakfast and school lunch program made available to students who qualify for those meals under the Child Nutrition Act and the National School Lunch Act, each as amended, for each attending student every school day at no charge. An approved independent school operating a school lunch and school breakfast program made available to students who qualify for those meals under the Child Nutrition Act and the National School Lunch Act, each as amended, shall offer the same to each attending student every school day at no charge in order to qualify for the universal meals supplement.

(C) In operating its school breakfast and lunch program, a school district and an approved independent school shall seek to achieve the highest level of student participation, which may include any or all of the following:

(i) providing breakfast meals that can be picked up by students;

(ii) making breakfast available to students in classrooms after the start of the school day; and

(iii) for school districts, collaborating with the school's wellness community advisory council, as established under subsection 136(e) of this title, in planning school meals.

(D) A school district and an approved independent school shall count time spent by students consuming school meals during class as instructional time.

(2) Each school board operating a public school shall offer a summer snack or meals program funded by the Summer Food Service program or the National School Lunch Program for participants in a summer educational or recreational program or camp if:

(A) at least 50 percent of the students in a school in the district were eligible for free or reduced-price meals under subdivision (1) of this subsection for at least one month in the preceding academic year;

(B) the district operates or funds the summer educational or recreational program or camp; and

(C) the summer educational or recreational program or camp is offered 15 or more hours per week.

(b) In the event of an emergency, the school board may apply to the Secretary for a temporary waiver of the requirements in subsection (a) of this section. The Secretary shall grant the requested waiver if he or she finds that it is unduly difficult for the school district to provide a school lunch, breakfast, or summer meals program, or any combination of the three, and if he or she finds that the school district and supervisory union have exercised due diligence to avoid the emergency situation that gives rise to the need for the requested waiver. In no event shall the waiver extend for a period to exceed 20 school days or, in the case of a summer meals program, the remainder of the summer vacation.

(c) The State shall be responsible for the student share of the cost of breakfasts provided to all students eligible for a reduced-price breakfast under the federal school breakfast program and for the student share of the cost of lunches provided to all students eligible for a reduced-price lunch under the federal school lunch program.

(d), (e) [Repealed.]
16 V.S.A. § 44 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 1 / Section 44
§ 44. Federal funds; school food programs
Status: in_force

The Agency is authorized to accept and use federal funds made available to the State for school food programs under the National School Lunch Act, the Child Nutrition Act, and any amendments to those laws.
16 V.S.A. § 186 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 3 / Section 186
§ 186. Annual awareness programming and training
Status: in_force

(a) A postsecondary school shall offer annual trauma-informed, inclusive, and culturally relevant sexual misconduct primary prevention and awareness programming to all students, staff, and faculty of the school. Primary prevention and awareness programming shall address, in a manner appropriate for the audience:

(1) an explanation of consent as it applies to sexual activity and sexual relationships;

(2) the role drugs and alcohol play in an individual's ability to consent;

(3) information about on and off-campus options for reporting of an incident of sexual misconduct, including confidential and anonymous disclosure mechanisms, and the effects of each option;

(4) information on the school's procedures for resolving sexual misconduct complaints and the range of sanctions the school may impose on those found responsible for a violation;

(5) the name and contact information of school officials responsible for coordination of supportive measures and an overview of the types of supportive measures available;

(6) the name, contact information, and services of confidential resources, on and off campus;

(7) strategies for bystander intervention and risk reduction;

(8) how to directly access health services, mental health services, and confidential resources both on and off-campus;

(9) opportunities for ongoing sexual misconduct prevention and awareness training and programming; and

(10) best practices for responding to disclosures of sexual misconduct.

(b) Information on the training topics contained in subsection (a) of this section, including on and off-campus supportive measures for reporting parties, shall be available in a centrally located place on the schools' website.

(c) Schools shall endeavor to collaborate with community partners, such as local and statewide law enforcement, local and statewide prosecution offices, health care service providers, confidential service providers, and other relevant stakeholders, regarding the inclusion of appropriate information about the relevant stakeholders' respective roles and offerings in primary prevention and awareness programming.
16 V.S.A. § 1605 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 39 / Section 1605
§ 1605. Regional advisory board responsibilities
Status: in_force

Each regional advisory board shall:

(1) Based on standards of operation established by the State Board of Education, approve or disapprove an application from a school board to establish and operate a student apprenticeship program. The Board may rescind approval if the program is not meeting the standards.

(2) Based on standards and processes established by the State Board, determine which applicants shall be accepted into the student apprenticeship programs in its region and determine whether a student should be terminated from a program. Decisions regarding acceptance into a program shall, in part, be based on submission of an acceptable career preparation plan developed by the applicant with the help of a guidance counselor. Decisions regarding termination shall be made with the advice of the student apprenticeship coordinator.

(3) Approve or disapprove proposed worksites and worksite mentors for student apprenticeship programs in its region.

(4) At least quarterly, request information about each student from each student apprenticeship coordinator. The coordinator shall provide information concerning student performance, basic and advanced skill attainment, suitability of the worksite, and worksite mentor effectiveness.

(5) At least annually, request program information from each student apprenticeship coordinator that will enable the Board to judge the overall effectiveness of each student apprenticeship program in its region. The coordinator shall provide information concerning program participation, program completion by students, business and industry participation, quality of instruction, success at combining classroom and worksite instruction, career placement, and employer satisfaction.
16 V.S.A. § 4014 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 133 / Section 4014
§ 4014. Early education
Status: in_force

(a) The Secretary may grant funds for voluntary early education programs. The funds may be used for personnel costs, training of parents and staff, materials and educational equipment, and other costs related to early education programs.

(b) The Secretary shall solicit proposals for early education programs from community organizations serving young children. Community organizations include school districts; other public agencies, including Head Start programs; and private agencies, including child care programs and parent-child centers.

(c) The Secretary also shall investigate to determine those areas that are not served by early education programs and whose children are in greatest need of such services. In those areas, the Secretary shall provide assistance in preparing proposals for grants. In conducting the investigation, the Secretary shall collect and analyze demographic factors that are likely to predict unusual community needs for early education services. The Secretary shall distribute the results of the analysis to all interested persons.

(d) The Secretary shall evaluate proposals based on the following criteria:

(1) The program will serve additional children with special needs, such as those who are economically disadvantaged, those who have limited English language skills, those who have a disability, or those who have experienced or are at risk of abuse or neglect.

(2) The program will rely on early screening of children's development to determine need.

(3) The program will provide experiential learning activities that are developmentally appropriate for three- and four-year old children. Such activities may be provided in home or group settings or a combination of the two.

(4) The program will include active parental involvement in program design and in making decisions about services.

(5) The program has been cooperatively developed by community and school organizations that serve young children in a town or group of towns.

(6) There is a demonstrated need for the program.

(7) The program considers the transportation needs of children and parents.

(8) The program enables children with disabilities to be served in settings with peers who do not have a disability.

(9) The program includes voluntary training for parents.

(e) The Secretary shall give preference to programs to be offered in parts of the State that do not have early education services at the time of the application.

(f) Grant proposals shall be submitted to the Secretary. Grants shall be for one year but may be renewed. No grant may exceed $30,000.00. The Secretary may, in his or her discretion, set other terms of the grant.
16 V.S.A. § 2538 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 79 / Section 2538
§ 2538. Amount, duration
Status: in_force

(a) Subject to subsection (c) of this section, an Armed Services Scholarship shall pay tuition for academic credit at a Vermont postsecondary institution eligible for student assistance funds under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 and leading to an undergraduate certificate or degree as follows:

(1) If the person attends the University of Vermont, the scholarship shall pay an amount equal to the actual tuition charged by the University to the person.

(2) If the person attends a Vermont State College, the scholarship shall pay an amount equal to the actual tuition charged by the institution to the person.

(3) If the person attends any other postsecondary institution located in Vermont, the scholarship shall pay an amount equal to the actual tuition charged by the institution to the person, or an amount equal to that which the scholarship would have paid if the person attended the University of Vermont pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, whichever is less.

(b) An Armed Services Scholarship may be used for a maximum of 130 academic credits for an undergraduate certificate or degree.

(c) A person eligible and applying for an Armed Forces Scholarship shall apply for a federal Pell Grant. The amount of the Armed Services Scholarship awarded shall be the remaining tuition to be paid pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, following receipt of a Pell Grant.

(d) A person who has obtained a bachelor's degree is not eligible for an Armed Services Scholarship.
16 V.S.A. § 755 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 11 / Section 755
§ 755. Warnings of union elementary and union high school district meetings
Status: in_force

(a) The board of a union elementary or union high school district shall have the same authority and obligation to warn or call meetings of the district as a town school board has to warn or call town school district meetings.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, not less than 30 nor more than 40 days before the meeting, the union district clerk shall warn a union elementary or union high school district meeting by posting a warning and notice to voters, signed by the chair of the union district board or the chair's designee, specifying the date, time, location, and business of the meeting, in the district clerk's office and at least one public place in each town within the union elementary or union high school district, and causing the same to be published once in a newspaper circulating in the union district at least five days before the meeting. In the district clerk's absence, the chair of the board or the chair's designee shall warn the meeting pursuant to the provisions of this section.

(c) The warning shall, by separate articles, specifically indicate the business to be transacted, including the offices and the questions upon which the electorate shall vote. The warning shall also contain any article or articles requested by a petition signed by at least five percent of the voters of the district and filed with the district clerk pursuant to 17 V.S.A. § 2642 (town meetings and local elections; warning and notice contents).

(d) The posted notice that accompanies the warning shall include information on voter registration, early and absentee voting, the time and location at which the ballots will be counted, and other applicable information.

(e) The warning shall be recorded in the office of the district clerk and shall be provided to the town clerk of each town in the unified elementary or union high school district before being posted.

(f) This subsection shall apply if a union elementary or union high school district elects school board members under the “proportional to town population” model and if it elects those members by a floor vote rather than by Australian ballot.

(1) The election shall be warned as follows:

(A) The district clerk shall transmit the signed warning to each town clerk.

(B) The district clerk shall assist each town clerk to incorporate the warning into the warning for the annual or special meeting of each member district.

(C) Each town clerk, rather than the union district clerk, shall post and publish the warning pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section.

(2) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, if any member district elects its own board members by Australian ballot, then the warning, nomination, ballot preparation, and election of union school district board members shall proceed pursuant to the same laws that govern the member district.

(3) If an annual meeting of a member district at which the union district board members are elected under this subsection is more than 30 days prior to the annual meeting of the union school district, then notwithstanding subsection 747(a) (board members of union elementary and union high school districts) of this chapter, the newly elected board members shall assume office at the conclusion of the union school district's annual meeting.

(g) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, a union elementary or union high school district:

(1) shall warn a meeting called for the purpose of considering a bond issue in accordance with the provisions of 24 V.S.A. § 1755; and

(2) shall warn a meeting to consider a revised proposed budget pursuant to the provisions of subsection 750(b) (union elementary or union high school district revised proposed budget) of this chapter.
16 V.S.A. § 2948 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 101 / Section 2948
§ 2948. State aid
Status: repealed

(a) For the payment of general State aid, children with disabilities shall be counted in the same manner as children who do not have disabilities.

(b) [Repealed.]

(c) Each supervisory union shall receive an essential early education grant each school year. Grants shall be distributed according to the estimated number of children from three through five years of age. The State Board by rule shall encourage coordination of services and may set other terms of the grant. Each supervisory union shall be responsible for the remainder of the costs of providing necessary services under section 2956 of this title. Annually, for each following fiscal year, the essential early education grant shall be increased by the most recent cumulative price index, as of November 15, for State and local government purchases of goods and services from fiscal year 2002 through that following fiscal year, as provided through the State's participation in the New England Economic Project.

(d), (e) [Repealed.]

(f) If a student is being provided education or special education or both in a school operated by the Department of Corrections, the Department of Corrections shall serve the student as if the Department were the school district of residence of the student.

(g) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a child with a disability who is residing in a State school, hospital, or community residential facility or in a State-approved private residential facility shall be provided special education in accordance with this chapter by the supervisory union in which the facility is located; provided, however, that this special education may be directly provided by the facility in which the child resides when the child's individualized education program and treatment plans indicate that the facility is the most appropriate educational placement for the child. Programs of special education provided by a facility described in this subsection shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary.

(h)-(j) [Repealed.]

(k) For the costs of students in the custody of the Department of Corrections, the Secretary of Education shall pay for the costs of special education in accordance with the provisions of 28 V.S.A. § 120.

(l) [Repealed.]

(m) All other State aid to supervisory unions shall be set forth in subchapter 2 of this chapter.

(n) If a student is being provided education or special education, or both, in a school operated by the Department for Children and Families, the funding and provision of services shall be the responsibility of the Department for Children and Families and special education procedural responsibility shall be the responsibility of the supervisory union for the school district of residence of the student's parent, parents, or guardian.
16 V.S.A. § 3454 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 123 / Section 3454
§ 3454. Deferred maintenance
Status: in_force

No State school construction aid shall be available under this title for any proposed project or construction if the Secretary finds the need for the project or construction has arisen in whole or in part from significant deferred maintenance. The State Board, by rule, shall define “significant deferred maintenance.”
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 7.09 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 7 / Section 7.09
App. § 7-9. Adoption of rules and bylaws; acceptance of scholars
Status: in_force

The Trustees of the Bradford Academy and Graded School District may make such bylaws, rules, and regulations for the graduation, 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 this 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 during each school year thereof 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 good of the school seems to require it. The Trustees shall, unless otherwise directed by vote of the District at an annual meeting thereof, allow scholars from outside the District to attend the Academy and Graded School with equal advantages of resident scholars, at rates for the same instruction in schools of like character in the State.
16 V.S.A. § 806c — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 19 / Section 806c
§ 806c. Educational records and enrollment - Article IV
Status: in_force

A. Unofficial or “hand-carried” education records — In the event that official education records cannot be released to the parents for the purpose of transfer, the custodian of the records in the sending state shall prepare and furnish to the parent a complete set of unofficial educational records containing uniform information as determined by the Interstate Commission. Upon receipt of the unofficial education records by a school in the receiving state, the school shall enroll and appropriately place the student based on the information provided in the unofficial records pending validation by the official records, as quickly as possible.

B. Official education records and transcripts — Simultaneous with the enrollment and conditional placement of the student, the school in the receiving state shall request the student's official education record from the school in the sending state. Upon receipt of this request, the school in the sending state will process and furnish the official education records to the school in the receiving state within ten (10) days or within such time as is reasonably determined under the rules promulgated by the Interstate Commission.

C. Immunizations — Compacting states shall give thirty (30) days from the date of enrollment or within such time as is reasonably determined under the rules promulgated by the Interstate Commission, for students to obtain any immunizations required by the receiving state. For a series of immunizations, initial vaccinations must be obtained within thirty (30) days or within such time as is reasonably determined under the rules promulgated by the Interstate Commission.

D. Kindergarten and first grade entrance age — Students shall be allowed to continue their enrollment at grade level in the receiving state commensurate with their grade level (including Kindergarten) from a local education agency in the sending state at the time of transition, regardless of age. A student that has satisfactorily completed the prerequisite grade level in the local education agency in the sending state shall be eligible for enrollment in the next highest grade level in the receiving state, regardless of age. A student transferring after the start of the school year in the receiving state shall enter the school in the receiving state on their validated level from an accredited school in the sending state.
16 V.S.A. § 1552 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 37 / Section 1552
§ 1552. Secondary student tuition
Status: in_force

(a) Each career technical center shall establish a tuition charge for secondary career technical education. The amount shall reflect the actual cost, as defined by rule of the State Board, of attendance in the career technical courses offered by the center. The tuition charge shall be reduced proportionally for students enrolled in a part-time program.

(b) Secondary students are eligible for tuition assistance in career technical education provided in another state when the State Board determines that such career technical education can properly serve the needs of Vermont students.

(c) For students from a school district within Vermont, funds received under subsection 1561(c) of this title shall be subtracted when calculating the tuition charge. For students who are not Vermont residents, funds received under subsections 1561(b) and (c) of this title shall not be subtracted when calculating the tuition charge.

(d) The tuition charged to a school district within Vermont shall be based on the average of the district's three prior years' full-time equivalent student enrollment in the career technical center.
16 V.S.A. § 2881 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 89 / Section 2881
§ 2881. Vermont Higher Education Council; designation
Status: in_force

The Vermont Higher Education Council is hereby designated as the Vermont state postsecondary review entity for the purpose of reviewing all institutions of higher education that are eligible or which desire to become eligible for funding under 42 U.S.C. Chapter 34, Subchapter I, Part C (work study programs) or 20 U.S.C. Chapter 28, Subchapter IV (student assistance).
16 V.S.A. § 1546 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 37 / Section 1546
§ 1546. Comprehensive high schools
Status: in_force

(a) In the sections referenced in this section, when applied to an independent comprehensive high school, the term “school board” or “school district” means “the school's board of trustees.”

(b) A comprehensive high school shall charge and receive tuition pursuant to section 824 of this title. A comprehensive high school shall be a career technical center for the purposes of receiving funding for grants per full-time equivalent student under section 1561 of this title, for tryout classes under section 1562 of this title, and for reporting requirements under section 1568 of this title. Funds received under this section shall be used for support of career technical education programs within the comprehensive high school.

(c) Two or more comprehensive high schools for which the State Board has designated a service region shall be a career technical center for the purposes of accountability to the State Board under subchapter 2 of this chapter, responsibilities of the career technical center under subchapter 3 of this chapter, and receiving State financial assistance under subchapter 5 of this chapter, excluding the general State support grant under subsection 1561(b) of this title. The regional advisory board shall determine how funds received under subchapter 5 shall be distributed. A comprehensive high school aggrieved by a decision of the regional advisory board may appeal to the Secretary who, after opportunity for hearing, may affirm or modify the decision.
16 V.S.A. § 799 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 17 / Section 799
§ 799. Amendments to Articles of Agreement-Article IX
Status: in_force

A. Amendments to the articles of agreement may be adopted in the same manner provided for the adoption of the original articles of agreement, except that:

a. Unless the amendment calls for the addition of a new member district, the functions of the planning committee shall be carried out by the interstate district board of directors.

b. If the amendment proposes the addition of a new member district, the planning committee shall consist of all of the members of the interstate board and all of the members of the school board of the proposed new member district or districts. In such case the amendment shall be submitted to the voters at an interstate district meeting, at which an affirmative vote of two-thirds of those present and voting shall be required. The articles of agreement together with the proposed amendment shall be submitted to the voters of the proposed new member district at a meeting thereof, at which a simple majority of those present and voting shall be required.

c. In all cases an amendment may be adopted on the part of an interstate district upon the affirmative vote of voters thereof at a meeting voting as one body. Except where the amendment proposes the admission of a new member district, a simple majority of those present and voting shall be required for adoption.

d. No amendment to the articles of agreement may impair the rights of bond or note holders or the power of the interstate district to procure the means for their payment.
16 V.S.A. § 2282a — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 75 / Section 2282a
§ 2282a. Determination of residency for tuition purposes
Status: in_force

(a) Enrollment at an institution for higher learning, or presence within the State for the purposes of attending an institution of higher learning, shall not by itself constitute residence for in-state tuition purposes or for the purpose of eligibility for assistance from the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation. 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 of Trustees 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) 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.

(d) 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. (1971, No. 184 (Adj. Sess.), § 30, eff. March 29, 1972; amended 2003, No. 127 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 2021, No. 140 (Adj. Sess.), § 6, eff. May 27, 2022; 2023, No. 136 (Adj. Sess.), § 5, eff. July 1, 2025.)
16 V.S.A. § 3453a — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 123 / Section 3453a
§ 3453a. Emergency operation centers and shelters
Status: in_force

Any school building that may be designated as a local, regional, or State emergency operation center or shelter shall be designed for use as an emergency operations center or shelter. For this purpose, the proposed project shall include the installation of a wiring harness capable of being connected to emergency electric power generation to provide for emergency heating, lighting, and communications. The wiring installation cost to upgrade emergency facilities shall be included in the budgets submitted to the General Assembly for capital funding pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 309. The State shall pay 100 percent of such costs, which shall at the Agency level be itemized and accounted for separately from those costs in which the State only shares in the project cost. The State shall not pay for the costs of purchasing the generator.
16 V.S.A. § 1531 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 37 / Section 1531
§ 1531. Responsibility of State Board
Status: in_force

(a) The State Board has overall responsibility for the effectiveness of career technical education. This requires the Board to collect suitable information and to take appropriate steps within its legal, financial, and personnel resources to ensure that:

(1) Career technical education is equally available to students and is of consistent quality in all parts of the State, including areas remote from career technical centers.

(2) The timing and content of career technical education is properly and flexibly coordinated with academic instruction.

(3) Career technical education is available to adult students, particularly in areas where unemployment is high or occupational retraining needs are great. This includes entering into contracts with postsecondary educational institutions or with any resource supplier to provide adult programs at career technical centers.

(4) Career technical education programs and courses of study are demonstrably useful to their graduates in obtaining employment or improving the quality of their employment.

(5) Career technical education programs are well coordinated with related State programs in education and training. This includes ensuring that career technical education graduates receive appropriate credit toward requirements in apprenticeship programs and professional licensing programs.

(b) In order to provide regional career technical education services efficiently, the State Board shall designate a service region for each career technical center. However, the Board may designate a service region for two or more comprehensive high schools if that region is not served by a career technical center.

(c) For a school district that is geographically isolated from a Vermont career technical center, the State Board may approve a career technical center in another state as the career technical center that district students may attend. In this case, the school district shall receive transportation assistance pursuant to section 1563 of this title and tuition assistance pursuant to subsection 1561(c) of this title. Any student who is a resident in the Windham Southwest Supervisory Union and who is enrolled at public expense in the Charles H. McCann Technical School or the Franklin County Technical School shall be considered to be attending an approved career technical center in another state pursuant to this subsection, and, if the student is from a school district eligible for a merger support grant pursuant to section 4015 of this title or a small school weight pursuant to section 4010 of this title, the student's full-time equivalency shall be computed according to time attending the school.
16 V.S.A. § 167a — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 3 / Section 167a
§ 167a. Contract for sale and distribution of historical textbook
Status: in_force

(a) The State Board may contract with the Vermont Historical Society or other organization or organizations that it deems responsible to permit the use of any rights and physical properties owned by the State of Vermont in the textbook, “Vermont, A History of the Green Mountain State” for reproduction of the textbook for sale and distribution to the general public.

(b) The contracts shall provide among other provisions:

(1) that libraries and public or private schools located within the State shall be allowed to purchase an adequate number of copies of the textbook for their own use at the actual cost of publication exclusive of promotional costs; and

(2) that sales of the textbook to purchasers other than schools and libraries in the State of Vermont shall include provision for payment of royalty approved by the State Board to Edmund Fuller, author, but not to exceed 15 percent of the total retail selling price, the royalty to be paid by the organization or organizations; and

(3) that there shall be paid into the State Treasury by the organization or organizations for the use of the State a percentage of the retail selling price of each textbook sold to the general public, the percentage to be agreed upon between the State Board and the organization or organizations.
16APPENDIX V.S.A. § 15.04 — VT Code / Title 16APPENDIX / Chapter 15 / Section 15.04
App. § 15-4. Distribution of public funds
Status: in_force

In the distribution of public moneys, that portion which may be divided among the several districts, irrespective of the number of scholars or their attendance at school, shall be so divided as to give the Graded School District the shares of the several original districts of which it is or shall be composed.
16 V.S.A. § 323 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 7 / Section 323
§ 323. Audit by public accountant
Status: in_force

Annually, the supervisory union board shall employ one or more public accountants to audit the financial statements of the supervisory union and its member districts. The audits shall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards, including the issuance of a report of internal controls over financial reporting to be provided to recipients of the financial statements. Any annual report of the supervisory union to member districts shall include notice that the audits have been performed and the time and place where the full report of the public accountant will be available for inspection and for copying at cost.
16 V.S.A. § 2835 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 87 / Section 2835
§ 2835. Controls, audits, and reports
Status: in_force

(a) Control of funds appropriated and all procedures incident to the carrying out of the purposes of this chapter shall be vested in the Board.

(b) The books of account of the Corporation shall be audited annually by an independent public accounting firm registered in the State of Vermont in accordance with government auditing standards issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the resulting audit report filed with the Secretary of Administration not later than November 1 each year.

(c) Biennially, the Board shall report to the General Assembly on its activities during the preceding biennium. The provisions of 2 V.S.A. § 20(d) (expiration of required reports) shall not apply to the report to be made under this subsection.
16 V.S.A. § 909 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 23 / Section 909
§ 909. Tobacco use, alcohol and drug abuse prevention education curriculum
Status: repealed

(a) The Secretary, in conjunction with the Division of Health Promotion, where appropriate, shall develop a sequential alcohol and drug abuse prevention education curriculum for elementary and secondary schools. The curriculum shall include teaching about the effects and legal consequences of the possession and use of tobacco products.

(b) The Secretary shall:

(1) Provide for pre-service and in-service training programs for school personnel on alcohol and drug abuse prevention and on the effects and legal consequences of the possession and use of tobacco products. At least one training program shall be made available in electronic format. Each superintendent shall determine the content, duration, and frequency of training on issues concerning alcohol and drug abuse for the districts in his or her supervisory union.

(2) Provide teaching materials that are appropriate to the age and learning ability of the students.

(3) Provide technical assistance to the local school districts for implementation of the curriculum.

(4) Encourage coordination of effort with existing community resources.

(c) [Repealed.]
16 V.S.A. § 821 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 21 / Section 821
§ 821. School district to maintain public elementary schools or pay tuition
Status: repealed

(a) Each school district shall maintain one or more approved schools within the district in which elementary education for its resident students in kindergarten through grade six is provided unless:

(1) the electorate authorizes the school board to provide for the elementary education of the students by paying tuition in accordance with law to one or more public elementary schools in one or more school districts;

(2) the school district is organized to provide only high school education for its students; or

(3) the General Assembly provides otherwise.

(b) [Repealed.]

(c) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, without previous authorization by the electorate, a school board in a district that operates an elementary school may pay tuition for elementary students who reside near a public elementary school in an adjacent district upon request of the student's parent or guardian, if in the board's judgment the student's education can be more conveniently furnished there due to geographic considerations. Within 30 days of the board's decision, a parent or guardian who is dissatisfied with the decision of the board under this subsection may request a determination by the Secretary, who shall have authority to direct the school board to pay all, some, or none of the student's tuition and whose decision shall be final.

(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a)(1) of this section, the electorate of a school district that does not maintain an elementary school may grant general authority to the school board to pay tuition for an elementary student at an approved independent elementary school or an independent school meeting education quality standards pursuant to sections 823 and 828 of this chapter upon notice given by the student's parent or legal guardian before April 15 for the next academic year.
16 V.S.A. § 2853 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 87 / Section 2853
§ 2853. Application
Status: in_force

A qualified student may be awarded an Honor Scholarship without affecting eligibility for an incentive grant. The Honor Scholarship amount shall not be considered in determining the calculation of the initial amount of the grant, unless the student's total grant and scholarship assistance from all sources exceeds the cost of attendance as defined under the Higher Education Act.
16 V.S.A. § 2024 — VT Code / Title 16 / Chapter 57 / Section 2024
§ 2024. Judicial appeal
Status: in_force

Upon application of a party, a Superior Court shall vacate an award on the same grounds as set forth in 21 V.S.A. § 1733(d) and according to the same procedures as set forth in 21 V.S.A. § 1733(e).