Vermont H. 179: An act relating to increasing the tobacco tax on cigarettes and new smokeless tobacco

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.179
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VT LEG #380288 v.1
H.179 1
Introduced by Representative McCann of Montpelier 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Education; Agency of Education; Secretary; Department of 5
Education; Commissioner; State Board of Education; education 6
governance 7
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to transform the 8
Agency of Education to the Department of Education, which shall be 9
supervised and managed by the State Board of Education. This bill would 10
eliminate the position of Secretary of Education and create the position of 11
Commissioner of Education who shall be employed by the State Board as the 12
chief executive officer and secretary of the Board, subject to approval of the 13
Governor. This bill also proposes to change the composition of the State 14
Board of Education and to create a new appointment process for Board 15
members. 16
An act relating to the membership of the State Board of Education and the 17
reestablishment of the Vermont Department of Education 18

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VT LEG #380288 v.1
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 1
* * * Findings and Intent * * * 2
Sec. 1. FINDINGS AND INTENT 3
(a) Findings. The General Assembly finds that: 4
(1) Recent challenges faced by the Agency of Education, including 5
compliance issues with federal reporting requirements, highlight a need for 6
stronger leadership and structural reform. The Agency of Education is now 7
seen as a political tool of the Governor. With a two-year Governor term, 8
Vermont needs a Department of Education and Commissioner of Education 9
that report directly to a neutral State Board of Education with a focus on 10
leading Vermont to the best educational system in the United States. 11
(2) Concerns about transparency and effectiveness have eroded public 12
confidence in the Agency of Education. Transitioning back to a department 13
aligns with historical norms and best practices for state education governance. 14
(3) A department structure allows for greater focus on addressing 15
critical issues such as academic achievement gaps, mental health support, and 16
equitable resource distribution. 17
(b) Intent. It is the intent of the General Assembly to increase 18
accountability, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen public 19
confidence in Vermont’s education governance by transitioning the Agency of 20

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VT LEG #380288 v.1
Education to the Department of Education, lead by a Commissioner of 1
Education that reports directly to the State Board of Education. 2
* * * Department of Education * * * 3
Sec. 2. 16 V.S.A. § 164 is amended to read: 4
§ 164. STATE BOARD; GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES 5
The State Board shall engage local school board members and the broader 6
education community and, consistent with the provisions of this title, its own 7
rules, and rules adopted by the Secretary, establish and regularly update a long-8
term strategic vision for the delivery of educational services in Vermont; 9
advise the General Assembly, the Governor, and the Secretary of Education on 10
high-priority educational policies and issues as they arise; and act in 11
accordance with legislative mandates, including the adoption of rules and 12
executing special assignments. In addition to other specified duties, the Board 13
shall have supervision over and management of the Department of Education 14
and the public school system, except as otherwise provided, and shall: 15
* * * 16
(4) Biennially cause to be prepared a recommended budget for all 17
money to be expended by the Department of Education. 18
* * * 19
(10) Establish an information clearinghouse and accessible database to 20
help districts share information about educational programs and practices that 21

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VT LEG #380288 v.1
improve student performance and well-being. Educational programs and 1
practices include those designed to create and sustain a safe learning 2
environment. 3
* * * 4
(17) Report annually on the condition of education statewide and on a 5
supervisory union and school district basis. The report shall include 6
information on attainment of standards for student performance adopted under 7
subdivision (9) of this section,; number and types of complaints of hazing, 8
harassment, or bullying made pursuant to chapter 9, subchapter 5 of this title 9
and responses to the complaints,; financial resources and expenditures,; and 10
community social indicators. The report shall be organized and presented in a 11
way that is easily understandable by the general public and that enables each 12
school, school district, and supervisory union to determine its strengths and 13
weaknesses. To the extent consistent with State and federal privacy laws and 14
regulations, data on hazing, harassment, or bullying incidents shall be 15
disaggregated by incident type