The bill enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont aims to reform the public education system by emphasizing the constitutional right to education and ensuring equal opportunities for all students. It proposes the establishment of larger school district boundaries, updates to career and technical education governance, and the creation of a coordinated statewide education strategy aligned with workforce needs. The bill also introduces a new statewide education tax designed to avoid increasing property tax bills for Vermonters. Additionally, it establishes the Commission on the Future of Public Education to study the current system and make recommendations for a sustainable and equitable framework, focusing on governance, resource allocation, and community involvement in school closure decisions.

Furthermore, the bill creates a School District Redistricting Task Force to recommend new school district boundaries and configurations, ensuring public input through hearings. It appropriates funds to support the Task Force and a School District Voting Ward Working Group, which will develop voting district wards to ensure equitable representation in school board elections. The bill also introduces new class size minimum standards, a comprehensive framework for school construction, and amendments to education funding laws, including the introduction of a supplemental district spending tax and a transition to an income-based homestead exemption for property tax relief. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance educational governance, funding equity, and infrastructure modernization in Vermont's public education system.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 16-43, 16-212, 16-164, 16-165, 16-166, 16-241, 16-242, 16-563, 16-11, 16-821, 16-822, 16-824, 16-1071, 16-1121, 16-133, 32-5401, 32-5402, 32-5402b, 32-5404a(b)(1), 32-5404a, 32-5404a(b), 32-5405(g), 32-5405, 32-5410(g), 32-5410, 32-5400, 32-154, 11-1608, 32-3102(j), 32-3102, 32-3206(b), 32-3206
As Passed By the House -- Official: 16-43, 16-212, 16-164, 16-165, 16-166, 16-241, 16-242, 16-563, 16-11, 16-821, 16-822, 16-824, 16-1071, 16-1121, 16-133, 32-5401, 32-5402, 32-5402b, 32-5404a(b)(1), 32-5404a, 32-5404a(b), 32-5405(g), 32-5405, 32-5410(g), 32-5410, 32-5400, 32-154, 11-1608, 32-3102(j), 32-3102, 32-3206(b), 32-3206, 16-3448a, 16-828, 16-161, 16-162, 16-823, 16-4011, 16-4001, 16-4010, 16-4025, 16-4026, 16-4028, 16-4031, 32-5414, 32-4152, 32-3481(1)(B), 32-3481, 32-3481(1), 32-3482, 32-3485, 32-3603(a), 32-3603, 32-3610(b), 32-3610, 32-3613, 32-3618(c)(2), 32-3618, 32-3618(c), 32-3651, 32-3691, 32-3692(b), 32-3692, 32-3708, 32-3755, 32-3756(c), 32-3756, 32-3758, 32-3802a, 32-3850(d), 32-3850, 32-4001(a), 32-4001, 32-4041, 32-4044, 32-4045, 32-4052(c), 32-4052, 32-5401(7), 32-5404a(a)(6), 32-5404a(a), 32-5406(b), 32-5406, 32-6066a(f)(1), 32-6066a, 32-6066a(f), 32-5252, 32-4465, 32-5402(c)(2), 32-5402(c)
As Passed By the House -- Unofficial: 16-165, 16-3448a, 16-828, 16-161, 16-162, 16-823, 16-4011, 16-4001, 16-4010, 16-4025, 16-4026, 16-4028, 16-563, 16-4031, 32-5401, 32-5402, 32-5402b, 32-5404a(b)(1), 32-5404a, 32-5404a(b), 32-5405(g), 32-5405, 32-5400, 32-154, 11-1608, 32-3102(j), 32-3102, 32-3206(b), 32-3206, 32-5414, 32-4152, 32-3481(1)(B), 32-3481, 32-3481(1), 32-3482, 32-3485, 32-3603(a), 32-3603, 32-3610(b), 32-3610, 32-3613, 32-3618(c)(2), 32-3618, 32-3618(c), 32-3651, 32-3691, 32-3692(b), 32-3692, 32-3708, 32-3755, 32-3756(c), 32-3756, 32-3758, 32-3802a, 32-3850(d), 32-3850, 32-4001(a), 32-4001, 32-4041, 32-4044, 32-4045, 32-4052(c), 32-4052, 32-5401(7), 32-5404a(a)(6), 32-5404a(a), 32-5406(b), 32-5406, 32-5410, 32-6066a(f)(1), 32-6066a, 32-6066a(f), 32-5252, 32-4465, 32-5402(c)(2), 32-5402(c)
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Official: 16-43, 16-212, 16-164, 16-165, 16-166, 16-241, 16-242, 16-563, 16-11, 16-821, 16-822, 16-824, 16-1071, 16-1121, 16-133, 32-5401, 32-5402, 32-5402b, 32-5404a(b)(1), 32-5404a, 32-5404a(b), 32-5405(g), 32-5405, 32-5410(g), 32-5410, 32-5400, 32-154, 11-1608, 32-3102(j), 32-3102, 32-3206(b), 32-3206, 16-3448a, 16-828, 16-161, 16-162, 16-823, 16-4011, 16-4001, 16-4010, 16-4025, 16-4026, 16-4028, 16-4031, 32-5414, 32-4152, 32-3481(1)(B), 32-3481, 32-3481(1), 32-3482, 32-3485, 32-3603(a), 32-3603, 32-3610(b), 32-3610, 32-3613, 32-3618(c)(2), 32-3618, 32-3618(c), 32-3651, 32-3691, 32-3692(b), 32-3692, 32-3708, 32-3755, 32-3756(c), 32-3756, 32-3758, 32-3802a, 32-3850(d), 32-3850, 32-4001(a), 32-4001, 32-4041, 32-4044, 32-4045, 32-4052(c), 32-4052, 32-5401(7), 32-5404a(a)(6), 32-5404a(a), 32-5406(b), 32-5406, 32-6066a(f)(1), 32-6066a, 32-6066a(f), 32-5252, 32-4465, 32-5402(c)(2), 32-5402(c), 32-5401(13), 16-4015
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Unofficial: 16-165, 16-3448a, 16-828, 16-161, 16-162, 16-823, 16-4001, 16-4010, 16-4011, 16-4025, 16-4026, 16-4028, 16-563, 16-4031, 16-4015, 32-5414, 32-5401, 32-5402, 32-5402b, 32-5404a(b)(1), 32-5404a, 32-5404a(b), 32-5405(g), 32-5405, 32-5400, 32-154, 11-1608, 32-3102(j), 32-3102, 32-3206(b), 32-3206, 32-4152, 32-6066a(f)(1), 32-6066a, 32-6066a(f), 32-5252, 32-4465, 32-5402(c)(2), 32-5402(c), 32-5401(13)
As Enacted: 16-165, 16-3448a, 16-828, 16-161, 16-162, 16-823, 16-4001, 16-4010, 16-4011, 16-4025, 16-4026, 16-4028, 16-563, 16-4031, 16-4015, 32-5414, 32-5401, 32-5402, 32-5402b, 32-5404a(b)(1), 32-5404a, 32-5404a(b), 32-5405(g), 32-5405, 32-5400, 32-154, 11-1608, 32-3102(j), 32-3102, 32-3206(b), 32-3206, 32-4152, 32-6066a(f)(1), 32-6066a, 32-6066a(f), 32-5252, 32-4465, 32-5402(c)(2), 32-5402(c), 32-5401(13)