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

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…