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. Key provisions include the establishment of new school district boundaries effective July 1, 2026, updates to career and technical education governance, and the creation of voting wards within school districts to enhance representation in school board elections. The bill also addresses potential increases in education property tax bills through measures aimed at improving service delivery efficiency and transitioning to a foundation funding formula. Additionally, it establishes the Commission on the Future of Public Education to study the current system and make recommendations for a sustainable framework, with public engagement and feedback incorporated into its final report due by October 1, 2025.

Further, the bill introduces a School District Redistricting Task Force to recommend new boundaries and configurations, ensuring community input through public hearings. It also creates a School District Voting Ward Working Group to develop equitable voting districts for school board elections. The bill includes amendments to education quality standards, such as minimum class size requirements, and establishes a framework for school construction and consolidation, including the creation of a State Aid for School Construction Program. It modifies existing education funding laws, introducing new definitions and calculations for educational opportunity payments, and emphasizes support for small and sparse schools. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance the educational landscape in Vermont through comprehensive reforms in governance, funding, and infrastructure.

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)