[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6093980,"mediaKeyId","2845175-77ed6ff88801eefe95ece6f837627632","parentId",2845175,"title","Draft amendment bars closures that shift to tuition, sets 450‑student school‑size goal and raises questions for independent schools","audioSeconds",214,"startMs",1386000,"endMs",1172000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2845175-77ed6ff88801eefe95ece6f837627632&start=1386&end=1172","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2845175-77ed6ff88801eefe95ece6f837627632/thumbnail_1386000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6093980/Vermont/Draft-amendment-bars-closures-that-shift-to-tuition-sets-450student-schoolsize-goal-and-raises-questions-for-independent-schools","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093980-36e67fb2cc6e159fcdd0e164b931bf66/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178753&Signature=BL07xnGkAe~4-rD84U1PfefnORYKtoIVvPcc7DINoj36DDPdc4-pVjNLO1AbZnuJ77RXC3TStxldVS1XbUpTNe5IEsv53lCCiK7As1d4zuN7oxuPdaWwsDzR~xOpayuoZ9eF5kFnYDNfUrVEPqn5ocE250afM1Q0CEr5ItwRxOIZSU2PJA2NjuiEmfRLZeLtWTchcQ6pB14UExqB57XwLR~9EzaBiy4WAev0on4ChPDdC58fCMH-PzrxzxOM1n6aR33MRyu0BqJqonkFPHFpxpQT4UOg2dz48NjsjYEdlP~5s6KapDqfmxfTuCHynguNF4B4n5c4FU8Ymc9ZcrPgUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-01T07:07:57Z","article","A section of the H.454 amendment reviewed by Ways & Means would bar a school district from closing an existing public school and meeting its obligation by paying tuition for students to attend other public or approved independent schools, with limited processes for designation of replacement public schools, presenters said.

The draft provision (section 8) states that, notwithstanding law to the contrary, a district is prohibited from closing an existing public school and providing for resident students' education by paying tuition for attendance elsewhere. If a district cannot provide education for affected resident students in another school or schools operated by the district, the district must designate three or fewer public schools to serve as the public school(s) of the district under the current designation process (16 V.S.A. 827 language referenced).

The bill also contains intent language that \"each public school operating grades 6 through 12''shall have a minimum average daily membership of at least 450 students\" as an aspirational target, and includes a requirement that the State Board initiate rulemaking for independent schools that accept public tuition so those independent schools must comply with the proposed class‑size minimum standards. The rulemaking deadlines and phased effective dates vary; the independent school rulemaking is scheduled to be initiated on or before August 1, 2026, with additional deadlines for statewide graduation and small‑by‑necessity standards in 2027.

Concerns and clarifying questions: Committee members raised concerns about how these provisions would affect small rural schools. Representative Brannigan said he could \"think of about 5 schools offhand right now who cannot fit 450 people in their building here in Northern Franklin County,\" and asked whether such schools would receive a small‑by‑necessity declaration or another exemption. Beth replied that the intent language is aspirational and that standards for \"small by necessity\" would be developed and reported back (State Board report due December 1 on proposed standards). Representative Odey flagged potentially ambiguous drafting in the independent‑school requirement that reads as applying to approved independent schools \"that intend to accept public tuition,\" observing \"when I read that, it sounds like if you are already accepting public tuition, you don't have to comply.\" Beth said later sections of the bill make clearer that any independent school receiving public funds would be subject to the class‑size requirements; members discussed making precise drafting changes to remove ambiguity.

Why it matters: The prohibition on closure paired with a school‑size goal and independent school compliance rules could meaningfully constrain district options for addressing persistently low enrollment and force legislative choices about boundaries, capital construction and funding to implement any mandated consolidations. Members noted the local character of school facilities and urged care in drafting exemptions for geographically small communities.

Next steps: Staff invited members to propose drafting amendments to clarify independent school coverage and to work with education committee staff on the small‑by‑necessity standards. The State Board and Agency of Education are directed to begin rulemaking and to report back on proposed standards and processes on the timelines set out in the draft.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Ways and Means - 2025-3-31 - 2:05PM","oneSentenceSummary","Section 8 of the H.454 amendment would prohibit a district from closing a public school and meeting its obligation by paying tuition for resident students to attend other schools, and the draft includes aspirational language setting a 450‑student minimum average daily membership for grades 6'12.","taxTitle","Ways & Means, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",35157,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6093985,"H.454 language would create state school‑construction aid program, advisory board and fund",1843,1487000,3330000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2845175-77ed6ff88801eefe95ece6f837627632&start=1487&end=3330","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2845175-77ed6ff88801eefe95ece6f837627632/thumbnail_1487000.jpg","/articles/6093985/Vermont/H454-language-would-create-state-schoolconstruction-aid-program-advisory-board-and-fund","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093985-ebdf47faec99b15ef0b21bb061452727/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178753&Signature=FX4eA6t~kOCRu~Ltj9CdBza6gCC0SRcKpycylxl~WTIdjJaCsDLLUb19ubEGa7gcW9~6XMikwaEVGQfS-WY-0qfRFk~xWP3tgeRGNN9qBBT4Kq0tdIFwo~8x68xwoK632ulX~sx8YZCg2u1Hi83dmWaRzXLhyqlEzXcte4C6HXYGB4CV4akokv~NfXtjGZnYS3CSaX76R-bzhW9GZ7T-qyGTFsnJr~-OaKEEkerrKPLiGFrlnLABLPQucYsgq-iOEK7SxUXQdmjjV4zbHhl6bvuBzQgIspfq8NEqx8fzFUqGCFzMXveEFov8wavCt1NU1A~0GZnqtMWvjeLYB~h7Vw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ways & Means members reviewed several sections of H.454 that would create a State Aid for School Construction program, assign implementation duties to the Agency of Education (AOE), establish an advisory board and create a school construction special fund, presenters said.

Under the draft, the agency would implement the program, adopt rules specifying a point‑based prioritization and bonus incentive structure, maintain lists of projects (preliminary and final approvals), provide technical assistance, carry out a needs survey at least every five years and submit an annual school construction funding request to the governor. The language transposed from a separate school construction bill would largely take effect July 1, 2026; an advisory board provision would take effect July 1, 2025 to allow the board to advise while the program is being stood up.

An advisory board: The bill creates an eight‑member State Aid for School Construction Advisory Board comprising four ex officio members (state treasurer, commissioner of Buildings & General Services, executive director of the Vermont Bond Bank or designee, and the chair of the State Board of Education) and four appointed members (two appointed by the Speaker and two by the Committee on Committees) with expertise in education, construction, real estate or finance. The advisory board would advise AOE on rulemaking, priority setting, eligible cost components, a clearinghouse of prototypical plans, and policies to reduce borrowing; it would not exceed six meetings per year and would have a 10‑year sunset (July 2035) unless renewed.

Aid formula and project rules: The draft sets a base award of 20% of the eligible debt service cost of a project, with up to an additional 20% available through bonus incentives defined in rule. For emergency projects the secretary may grant up to 30% of eligible costs, capped at a maximum project cost of $300,000 (30% of $300,000 = $90,000). The secretary may require districts to vote funds or authorize bonds before final approval; districts generally may not be reimbursed for debt incurred in anticipation of aid under the program. Project eligibility and preliminary approval criteria include regional educational needs, economic efficiencies, facility condition, demonstrated inability to meet needs by other means and completion of a facilities master plan with robust community engagement. The draft also references playground design conforming to US Consumer Product Safety Commission handbook guidance for public playground safety.

Questions from members: Representative Will Zazek asked whether the legislature would have access to the full prioritized list of projects regardless of the governor's recommended budget; Beth (committee staff) said she would review the draft further and confirm whether that explicit reporting requirement is included. Representative Volkow said she did not see any recommended FTEs in the draft and raised capacity concerns for AOE: \"There is nobody at the agency right now. No FTE dedicated to school construction,\" she said. Committee counsel John Grama (Office of Legislative Counsel) noted several provisions mirror existing law and said the handling of preapproval costs and program incentives was debated in previous sessions.

Why it matters: Reestablishing a state construction aid program would create a new statewide process for prioritizing and funding school capital projects and could reduce local borrowing if funding is provided. Members emphasized that the program's effect will depend on the amount appropriated, staffing at AOE and the rules the agency adopts to assign priority points and bonus incentives.

Next steps and remaining issues: Committee staff said AOE is expected to report back with a staffing plan for a school construction unit and that testimony to House Education identified potential positions, some contingent on funding. Members asked for explicit legislative reporting requirements and greater transparency on the agency's prioritized project list; staff agreed to follow up on those points. The committee proceeded to other bill sections following the walkthrough.","The committee reviewed draft language to revive a State Aid for School Construction program administered by the Agency of Education, including a new advisory board, a construction aid special fund, application priorities and a base aid formula; members raised concerns about staffing, funding and transparency of project priorities.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6093990,"Committee reviews class‑size minimums, waivers and enforcement in H.454 amendment",0,852000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2845175-77ed6ff88801eefe95ece6f837627632&start=852&end=852","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2845175-77ed6ff88801eefe95ece6f837627632/thumbnail_852000.jpg","/articles/6093990/Vermont/Committee-reviews-classsize-minimums-waivers-and-enforcement-in-H454-amendment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093990-8f381d449471a22ecc75b7308878782c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178753&Signature=OCCHTt43EpHzNREYkFEO~aI6VECWEHBdNWUowewMnufnV1FrYc~p-7KgkpDLtYHmGlcu6etPFr6~o3ezYv9mHfcMbp3UA5GNAFDsVLDNedZXBRujiND7dMvy6QL46l-dJJynSl39qMMrO8XCa6wgjQ4zRFp16g3qs8klEQivTKByfR0A~xKPVgKHNY-qO5NPLxPB3wmP4AaG7Mgvwbk9JnR5LaPagX0oNbfmCIza5yznDIiyknDCbO4ijePnEA0IZsT6yvpPmSnG28NZU396H~OY-krXMaHxzMXWMd1PjxxOFCagw5ac56tQYipUcxW5jrBa7kG~pM1rNOkG9e9jrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Ways & Means committee continued a line‑by‑line walk through of a strike‑and‑call amendment to H.454 that would insert class‑size minimums into Vermont's education quality standards and spell out waivers and enforcement procedures, presenters said.

The proposal sets average class‑size minimums of 12 students for kindergarten, 15 for grades 1 through 4 and 18 for grades 5 through 12, excludes certain specialty courses and services from those minimums, and directs the State Board of Education to define waiver criteria for geographically isolated schools. The provisions would take effect July 1, 2026, where noted in the bill language.

The change is introduced as an amendment to the education quality standards statute (Title 16 165). Committee staff member Beth said the bill adds a new subdivision for class‑size minimums and described how the averages would be applied. \"I believe what is meant here is that the class size minimum is 12 students, but that can be averaged amongst all of the kindergarten grades,\" Beth said. Representative Kimball pressed on the drafting: \"The term 'average minimum' seems to be a term of art. One's an average, one's a minimum,\" she said, seeking a clearer definition for application within a school.

Why it matters: The amendment would make class‑size minimums part of the statutory education quality standards, which triggers the existing oversight and remediation process if a school does not meet standards. Under the bill, if the Secretary of Education determines a school has failed to meet the class‑size minimums for two consecutive school years without an approved waiver, the secretary must recommend one or more statutory actions to the State Board of Education (continued technical assistance, boundary adjustments, administrative control, closure or consolidation), and the State Board must follow established hearing and least‑intrusive requirements before ordering action. Boards aggrieved by State Board orders may appeal to the courts.

Key details and exclusions: The bill as drafted excludes CTE courses, flexible pathways, terminal and advanced placement courses, classes requiring specialized equipment, driver's education and small‑group services provided for special education, supplemental/targeted interventions, or English learner instruction. Class sizes must also comply with local and state fire code occupancy limits. The State Board is required to adopt rules defining geographic isolation and to create a waiver process; the board's decision on waivers is final under the draft language.

Committee members asked procedural and definitional questions. Representative Kimball asked whether averages are computed within a school (Beth: \"Within a school.\") and sought confirmation that boundary adjustments and district consolidation remain among the possible remedies the State Board could recommend. Representative Bridal emphasized ways and means concerns about funding: \"Our job is going to be to make sure there's enough money to pay for all these teachers,\" she said, asking whether data exist now on per‑class or per‑district costs to implement the standards.

Implementation and limits: The transcript shows an accompanying session‑law provision that would prohibit the State Board from ordering school or district consolidation if doing so would require construction costs exceeding the applicable district's capital reserve account until the General Assembly establishes new district boundaries and further guidance. That provision aims to limit the State Board's use of consolidation where immediate construction funding would be necessary to implement a merger.

What remains open: Committee staff and members acknowledged drafting ambiguities: the bill uses \"average class size minimum\" language that members asked be clarified, and members asked for data on current class sizes and likely fiscal impacts. Several members said those are matters for ways and means to quantify before funding decisions. The State Board and Agency of Education are directed to initiate rulemaking and to report back with proposed definitions and processes in the timelines specified in the bill.

Ending: The class‑size section concludes with the same enforcement ladder already used for other education quality standards; committee staff closed that portion of the walk through and the committee moved to subsequent school construction and rulemaking sections.","A Ways & Means walkthrough of an amendment to H.454 would add statutory class‑size minimums to Vermont's education quality standards, set exclusions and waiver processes, and tie enforcement to existing remedies for schools that fail to meet standards.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Draft amendment bars closures that shift to tuition, sets 450‑student school‑size goal and raises questions for independent schools

H.454 language would create state school‑construction aid program, advisory board and fund

Committee reviews class‑size minimums, waivers and enforcement in H.454 amendment