House Education reviews class-size minimums, seeks parallel waiver process for independent schools

The Vermont House Committee on Education met March 25, 2025, to continue consideration of amendments to H.454 addressing class-size minimums in the Education Quality Standards (Section 165 of Title 16). Committee members reviewed draft language that would (1) specify which class types are excluded from class-size minimums, (2) tie classroom limits to maximum occupancy as set by state fire and egress rules, and (3) create a waiver path in limited circumstances. The committee also discussed adding approved independent schools that accept public tuition to the statute and asked staff to draft a parallel waiver process for those schools.

The draft would exclude from class-size minimums several categories of classes and services, including career and technical education, flexible-pathway and terminal courses, advanced-placement courses, classes requiring specialized equipment, driver's education and small-group services that provide special education, supplemental or targeted academic intervention, or English learner instruction. Legislative counsel told the committee the Superintendents Association suggested the exemption list; the committee discussed the meaning of "terminal courses" and whether AP and IB should be…