Vermont H 813: An act relating to ensuring the same accountability, transparency, and education standards for all schools receiving public funding

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.813
2026 Page 1 of 20

VT LEG #385828 v.2
H.813 1
Introduced by Representatives Casey of Montpelier, Arsenault of Williston, 2
Austin of Colchester, Brady of Williston, Burrows of West 3
Windsor, Chapin of East Montpelier, Graning of Jericho, 4
Hooper of Randolph, LaMont of Morristown, Logan of 5
Burlington, Masland of Thetford, McGill of Bridport, Minier of 6
South Burlington, Priestley of Bradford, Rachelson of 7
Burlington, Sibilia of Dover, Stevens of Waterbury, Stone of 8
Burlington, Torre of Moretown, Waszazak of Barre City, and 9
Yacovone of Morristown 10
Referred to Committee on 11
Date: 12
Subject: Education; approved independent schools; education quality 13
standards; school designation 14
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require 15
approved independent schools to (1) comply with the education quality 16
standards under 16 V.S.A. § 165; (2) maintain an open enrollment policy for 17
publicly tuitioned students; (3) hold meetings of their governing bodies in 18
accordance with Vermont’s Open Meeting Law; (4) agree to comply with 19
access to public records under 1 V.S.A. chapter 5, subchapter 3; (5) establish 20
and maintain an accounting system that meets criteria established by the State 21

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.813
2026 Page 2 of 20

VT LEG #385828 v.2
Board; (6) prepare and distribute an annual budget to the Agency of Education 1
and sending school districts; (7) keep school buildings and grounds safe and in 2
good repair; (8) regulate or prohibit firearms or other weapons on school 3
premises; (9) adopt a truancy policy; (10) employ or contract with licensed 4
special educators to meet the needs of enrolled students; (11) employ or 5
contract with a school nurse consistent with the requirements contained in 6
State Board of Education rules; (12) agree not to charge publicly tuitioned 7
students fees or additional tuition above the amount received pursuant to 8
16 V.S.A. chapter 21 from sending school districts; and (13) recognize and 9
bargain in good faith with teachers’ and administrators’ organizations by 10
complying with the provisions of 16 V.S.A. chapter 57. 11
An act relating to ensuring the same accountability, transparency, and 12
education standards for all schools receiving public funding 13
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 14
Sec. 1. 16 V.S.A. § 165 is amended to read: 15
§ 165. EDUCATION QUALITY STANDARDS; EQUAL EDUCATIONAL 16
OPPORTUNITIES; INDEPENDENT SCHOOL MEETING 17
EDUCATION QUALITY STANDARDS 18
(a) In order to carry out Vermont’s policy that all Vermont children will be 19
afforded educational opportunities that are substantially equal in quality, each 20

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.813
2026 Page 3 of 20

VT LEG #385828 v.2
Vermont public school, including each career technical center, and each 1
approved independent school shall meet the following education quality 2
standards: 3
(1) The school, through a process including parents, teachers, students, 4
and community members, develops, implements, and annually updates a 5
continuous improvement plan to improve student performance within the 6
school. The plan shall include goals and objectives for improved student 7
learning and educational strategies and activities to achieve its goals. The plan 8
shall also address the effectiveness of efforts made since the previous 9
continuous improvement plan to ensure the school maintains a safe, orderly, 10
civil, and positive learning environment that is free from harassment, hazing, 11
and bullying. The school shall assess student performance under the plan 12
using a method or methods of assessment developed under subdivision 164(9) 13
of this title. 14
(2) The school, at least annually, reports student performance results to 15
community members in a format selected by the school board or governing 16
body of an approved independent school. In the case of a regional career 17
technical center, the community means the school districts in the service 18
region. The school report shall include: 19
(A) Information indicating progress toward meeting standards from 20
the most recent measure taken. 21

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.813
2026 Page 4 of 20

VT LEG #385828 v.2
(B) [Repealed.] 1
(C) Information indicating progress toward meeting the goals of an 2
annual continuous improvement plan. 3
(D) Any other statistical information about the school or community 4
that the school board or governing body deems necessary to place student 5
performance results in context. 6
(E)–(G) [Repealed.] 7
(H) A description of how the school ensures that each student 8
receives appropriate career counseling and program information regarding 9
availability of education and apprenticeship program offerings at career 10
technical centers. 11
(I) [Repealed.] 12
(J) If the school is a secondary school, information and supporting 13
data presented in a manner designed to protect student confidentiality on the 14
dropout and gra