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 introduces new provisions, including the establishment of larger school district boundaries effective July 1, 2026, updates to career and technical education governance, and the creation of a statewide strategy that integrates various educational pathways. The bill also addresses property tax implications by improving efficiency in educational service delivery and transitioning to a foundation formula for funding. Additionally, it establishes the Commission on the Future of Public Education to study and recommend sustainable frameworks, while also creating a School District Redistricting Task Force to propose new district boundaries based on demographic and geographic considerations.

Furthermore, the bill introduces significant changes to the education funding framework, including the recalibration of educational opportunity payments and the establishment of a new income-based homestead property tax exemption system. It mandates annual inflation adjustments to ensure the relevance of financial support for small and sparse schools, while also implementing a regional assessment district system for property taxation. The bill includes provisions for community input, transparency in governance, and a focus on equitable representation in school board elections. Overall, the legislation reflects a comprehensive approach to enhancing educational quality, governance, and funding in Vermont, with a strong emphasis on community engagement and equitable access to resources.

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)