Vermont S. 253: An act relating to Vermont's adoption of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact

Bill Text

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VT LEG #385893 v.1
S.253 1
Introduced by Senator Harrison 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Education; maintenance of public schools; tuition; approved 5
independent schools 6
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require (1) 7
school district budgets to show the name of schools the district pays tuition to, 8
the number of students tuitioned to each school, and the amount of tuition paid 9
to each school; and (2) approved independent schools to meet specific 10
requirements in order to be approved as eligible to receive public tuition. 11
An act relating to adding transparency to Vermont’s tuitioning system 12
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 13
Sec. 1. 16 V.S.A. § 563 is amended to read: 14
§ 563. POWERS OF SCHOOL BOARDS; FORM OF VOTE 15
The school board of a school district, in addition to other duties and 16
authority specifically assigned by law: 17
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(11)(A) Shall prepare and distribute annually a proposed budget for the 1
next school year according to such major categories as may from time to time 2
be prescribed by the Secretary. 3
(B) In addition to the information required in subdivision (C) of this 4
subdivision (11), any proposed budget shall show the following information if 5
the school district pays tuition for one or more students to attend a public 6
school, approved independent school, or therapeutic approved independent 7
school: 8
(i) name of school or schools receiving tuition from the district; 9
(ii) number of students attending each school; and 10
(iii) total tuition paid to each school. 11
* * * 12
Sec. 2. 16 V.S.A. § 166 is amended to read: 13
§ 166. APPROVED AND RECOGNIZED INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS 14
(a) Authority. An independent school may operate and provide elementary 15
education or secondary education if it is either approved or recognized as set 16
forth in this section. 17
(b) Approved independent schools. On application, the State Board shall 18
approve an independent school that offers elementary or secondary education 19
if it finds, after opportunity for hearing, that the school provides a minimum 20
course of study pursuant to section 906 of this title and that it substantially 21

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complies with all statutory requirements for approved independent schools and 1
the Board’s rules for approved independent schools. An independent school 2
that intends to accept public tuition shall be approved by the State Board only 3
on the condition that the school agrees, notwithstanding any provision of law 4
to the contrary, to enroll any student who requires special education services 5
and who is placed in or referred to the approved independent school as an 6
appropriate placement and least restrictive environment for the student by the 7
student’s individualized education program team or by the local education 8
agency; provided, however, that this requirement shall not apply to an 9
independent school that limits enrollment to students who are on an 10
individualized education program or a plan under Section 504 of the 11
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794, and who are enrolled pursuant to 12
a written agreement between the local education agency and the school. Except 13
as provided in subdivision (6) of this subsection, the Board’s rules must at 14
minimum require that the school have the resources required to meet its stated 15
objectives, including financial capacity, faculty who are qualified by training 16
and experience in the areas in which they are assigned, and physical facilities 17
and special services that are in accordance with any State or federal law or 18
regulation. Approval may be granted without State Board evaluation in the 19
case of any school accredited by a private, State, or regional agency recognized 20
by the State Board for accrediting purposes, provided that the State Board shall 21

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determine that the school complies with all student enrollment provisions 1
required by law. 2
(1) On application, the State Board shall approve an independent school 3
that offers kindergarten but no other graded education if it finds, after 4
opportunity for hearing, that the school substantially complies with the Board’s 5
rules for approved independent kindergartens. The State Board may delegate 6
to another State agency the authority to evaluate the safety and adequacy of the 7
buildings in which kindergartens are conducted but shall consider all findings 8
and recommendations of any such agency in making its approval decision. 9
(2) Approvals under this subsection (b) shall be for a term established 10
by rule of the Board but not greater than five years. 11
(3) An approved independent school shall provide to the parent or 12
guardian responsible f