Signed by Governor Phil Scott

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report and pass a bill that amends and modifies provisions related to education governance, quality, and finance systems in Vermont, effective July 1, 2027.

Highlights:

• Amends and modifies provisions related to education governance, quality, and finance systems in Vermont, including (Sec. 1-36):

• Reducing the number of school districts and class-size minimums;

• Universal graduation requirements for high school students; and

• Shifting to a foundation formula for school funding, which allows the state, not local taxpayers, to determine how much it costs to educate each student.

• Authorizes average class size minimums of the following, including (Sec. 1-36):

• In kindergarten, the average class size minimum would be 12; 

• For grades 1 to 4, it would be 15; and

• In grades 5 to 12, it would be 18.

• Specifies that some classes would be exempt from the class size minimums, including (Sec. 1-36):

• Career and technical education;

• Advanced Placement courses;

• English Language Learners instruction; and 

• Special-education classes.

• Requires that to receive public funds, independent schools would have to abide by the class-size minimums, and Schools would be able to apply for a waiver from the State Board of Education if they can't comply with the prescribed class-size minimums (Sec. 1-36).

• Amends and reestablishes a program to provide state aid for school construction, which was suspended in 2008, but does not appropriate funding (Sec. 1-36).

• Repeals and ends the practice of sending public dollars to independent schools outside of Vermont and specifies that, to continue to be eligible to receive state dollars, independent schools in Vermont would have to show that at least 51% of their students were publicly funded as of July 1, 2025 (Sec. 1-36).

• Requires that school districts be able to raise additional funds of up to 10 percent of the budget produced by the foundation formula (Sec. 1-36).

• Amends and breaks non-homestead properties into 3 different classifications for tax purposes, apartments, residential, and nonresidential, and establishes 12 regional assessment districts for property reappraisals (Sec. 1-36).

• Establishes a 5-member subcommittee, made up of members with deep experience in public education in Vermont, that would meet this summer and fall and present 3 proposals for new school district boundaries to the legislature by December 1 (Sec. 1-36).

• Requires the state legislature to finalize school district boundaries during its 2026 session (Sec. 1-36).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall not take effect until July 1, 2027 (Sec. 37).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report and pass a bill that amends and modifies provisions related to education governance, quality, and finance systems in Vermont, effective July 1, 2027.

Highlights:

• Amends and modifies provisions related to education governance, quality, and finance systems in Vermont, including (Sec. 1-36):

• Reducing the number of school districts and class-size minimums;

• Universal graduation requirements for high school students; and

• Shifting to a foundation formula for school funding, which allows the state, not local taxpayers, to determine how much it costs to educate each student.

• Authorizes average class size minimums of the following, including (Sec. 1-36):

• In kindergarten, the average class size minimum would be 12; 

• For grades 1 to 4, it would be 15; and

• In grades 5 to 12, it would be 18.

• Specifies that some classes would be exempt from the class size minimums, including (Sec. 1-36):

• Career and technical education;

• Advanced Placement courses;

• English Language Learners instruction; and 

• Special-education classes.

• Requires that to receive public funds, independent schools would have to abide by the class-size minimums, and Schools would be able to apply for a waiver from the State Board of Education if they can't comply with the prescribed class-size minimums (Sec. 1-36).

• Amends and reestablishes a program to provide state aid for school construction, which was suspended in 2008, but does not appropriate funding (Sec. 1-36).

• Repeals and ends the practice of sending public dollars to independent schools outside of Vermont and specifies that, to continue to be eligible to receive state dollars, independent schools in Vermont would have to show that at least 51% of their students were publicly funded as of July 1, 2025 (Sec. 1-36).

• Requires that school districts be able to raise additional funds of up to 10 percent of the budget produced by the foundation formula (Sec. 1-36).

• Amends and breaks non-homestead properties into 3 different classifications for tax purposes, apartments, residential, and nonresidential, and establishes 12 regional assessment districts for property reappraisals (Sec. 1-36).

• Establishes a 5-member subcommittee, made up of members with deep experience in public education in Vermont, that would meet this summer and fall and present 3 proposals for new school district boundaries to the legislature by December 1 (Sec. 1-36).

• Requires the state legislature to finalize school district boundaries during its 2026 session (Sec. 1-36).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall not take effect until July 1, 2027 (Sec. 37).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that amends and modifies provisions related to education governance, quality, and finance systems in Vermont, effective July 1, 2027.

Highlights:

• Amends and modifies provisions related to education governance, quality, and finance systems in Vermont, including (Sec. 1-36):

• Reducing the number of school districts and class-size minimums;

• Universal graduation requirements for high school students; and

• Shifting to a foundation formula for school funding, which allows the state, not local taxpayers, to determine how much it costs to educate each student.

• Authorizes average class size minimums of the following, including (Sec. 1-36):

• In kindergarten, the average class size minimum would be 12; 

• For grades 1 to 4, it would be 15; and

• In grades 5 to 12, it would be 18.

• Specifies that some classes would be exempt from the class size minimums, including (Sec. 1-36):

• Career and technical education;

• Advanced Placement courses;

• English Language Learners instruction; and 

• Special-education classes.

• Requires that to receive public funds, independent schools would have to abide by the class-size minimums, and Schools would be able to apply for a waiver from the State Board of Education if they can't comply with the prescribed class-size minimums (Sec. 1-36).

• Amends and reestablishes a program to provide state aid for school construction, which was suspended in 2008, but does not appropriate funding (Sec. 1-36).

• Repeals and ends the practice of sending public dollars to independent schools outside of Vermont and specifies that, to continue to be eligible to receive state dollars, independent schools in Vermont would have to show that at least 51% of their students were publicly funded as of July 1, 2025 (Sec. 1-36).

• Requires that school districts be able to raise additional funds of up to 10 percent of the budget produced by the foundation formula (Sec. 1-36).

• Amends and breaks non-homestead properties into 3 different classifications for tax purposes, apartments, residential, and nonresidential, and establishes 12 regional assessment districts for property reappraisals (Sec. 1-36).

• Establishes a 5-member subcommittee, made up of members with deep experience in public education in Vermont, that would meet this summer and fall and present 3 proposals for new school district boundaries to the legislature by December 1 (Sec. 1-36).

• Requires the state legislature to finalize school district boundaries during its 2026 session (Sec. 1-36).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall not take effect until July 1, 2027 (Sec. 37).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends and modifies provisions related to education governance, quality, and finance systems in Vermont, effective July 1, 2027.

Highlights:

• Amends and modifies provisions related to education governance, quality, and finance systems in Vermont, including (Sec. 1-36):

• Reducing the number of school districts and class-size minimums;

• Universal graduation requirements for high school students; and

• Shifting to a foundation formula for school funding, which allows the state, not local taxpayers, to determine how much it costs to educate each student.

• Authorizes average class size minimums of the following, including (Sec. 1-36):

• In kindergarten, the average class size minimum would be 12; 

• For grades 1 to 4, it would be 15; and

• In grades 5 to 12, it would be 18.

• Specifies that some classes would be exempt from the class size minimums, including (Sec. 1-36):

• Career and technical education;

• Advanced Placement courses;

• English Language Learners instruction; and 

• Special-education classes.

• Requires that to receive public funds, independent schools would have to abide by the class-size minimums, and Schools would be able to apply for a waiver from the State Board of Education if they can't comply with the prescribed class-size minimums (Sec. 1-36).

• Amends and reestablishes a program to provide state aid for school construction, which was suspended in 2008, but does not appropriate funding (Sec. 1-36).

• Repeals and ends the practice of sending public dollars to independent schools outside of Vermont and specifies that, to continue to be eligible to receive state dollars, independent schools in Vermont would have to show that at least 51% of their students were publicly funded as of July 1, 2025 (Sec. 1-36).

• Requires that school districts be able to raise additional funds of up to 10 percent of the budget produced by the foundation formula (Sec. 1-36).

• Amends and breaks non-homestead properties into 3 different classifications for tax purposes, apartments, residential, and nonresidential, and establishes 12 regional assessment districts for property reappraisals (Sec. 1-36).

• Establishes a 5-member subcommittee, made up of members with deep experience in public education in Vermont, that would meet this summer and fall and present 3 proposals for new school district boundaries to the legislature by December 1 (Sec. 1-36).

• Requires the state legislature to finalize school district boundaries during its 2026 session (Sec. 1-36).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall not take effect until July 1, 2027 (Sec. 37).

Full Bill Text