This bill is a ceremonial resolution that congratulates the 2026 Brattleboro Union High School mock trial team for winning first place at the Vermont Mock Trial Competition. It recognizes the students' success in a simulated courtroom exercise where they practiced legal skills such as drafting arguments and questioning witnesses based on a fictional criminal case. The resolution lists the names of the participating students, coaches, and advisors to formally acknowledge their achievement. Finally, it directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of this congratulatory message to the high school.
This bill proposes transforming Vermont's career technical education (CTE) system to ensure all high school students have equitable access to CTE programs. It mandates expanding CTE opportunities to middle school and early high school years, removing barriers like transportation and scheduling conflicts, and requiring high schools to award credits recommended by CTE centers. The bill also directs CTE programs to align with Vermont's current workforce needs and establishes flexible delivery models (including hybrid options) to improve accessibility. It aims to create a sustainable funding system and strengthen coordination between secondary and adult CTE programs. The changes will take effect July 1, 2026.
S.233 allocates $250,000 to establish a two-year pilot program providing neutral advocates for families of K-12 students with disabilities during Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. The program will award grants to school districts, parent child centers, and nonprofits to train advocates and offer parent education, aiming to improve school-family collaboration and prevent costly disputes. It requires grantees to provide in-person IEP meeting support and develop strategies for early issue resolution. The Agency of Human Services must report on the pilot's effectiveness by November 2027.
H.799 creates the Free Degree Promise Program to provide tuition-free associate's degrees at Vermont's Community College of Vermont (CCV) for eligible high school graduates. It directly affects Vermont students who complete CCV's Early College program (earning 20+ credits) and submit financial aid applications. The program covers tuition/fees after other aid, provides stipends for books and transportation, and includes career advising. Funding comes annually from the Vermont Education Endowment Trust Fund (5% of assets), with the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation designated as a recipient. This codifies an existing initiative to reduce student debt and expand access to postsecondary education.
This bill requires Vermont school districts to pay full tuition to the state-maintained virtual learning provider for any student enrolled full-time in virtual education, upon request by a parent or legal guardian. It directly affects families seeking virtual learning options, regardless of whether virtual education is included in the student's personalized learning plan. The key provision amends school funding laws (16 V.S.A. §§821 and 822) to mandate this tuition payment for both elementary and high school students. The virtual learning provider is overseen by the Agency of Education under 16 V.S.A. §948. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
This bill requires Vermont's Agency of Education to create guidance and training for schools to distinguish between protected political speech and unlawful harassment targeting protected groups. It adds new members to the Harassment, Hazing, and Bullying Prevention Advisory Council and mandates a new freedom of expression curriculum for public K-12 schools. The curriculum will teach students age-appropriate basics about First Amendment protections under both federal and Vermont constitutions. The bill directly affects Vermont public schools, students, educators, and school districts by setting standards for handling political expression and harassment claims. It aims to ensure schools remain safe while preventing censorship of lawful political discourse, particularly regarding issues like Palestinian human rights advocacy.
S.271 requires Vermont's Agency of Education to create guidance and training for school districts to distinguish between protected political expression (like advocacy for Palestinian rights) and unlawful harassment targeting protected groups. It also expands the Harassment, Hazing, and Bullying Prevention Advisory Council with new member categories and mandates the development of a First Amendment curriculum for public K-12 schools, teaching age-appropriate constitutional protections under both the U.S. Constitution and Vermont's Chapter I, Article 13. The bill directly affects Vermont public schools, staff, and students by setting new standards for handling speech-related incidents and integrating free expression education into curricula. Key provisions include requiring schools to use context-based evaluations of speech (e.g., differentiating targeted harassment from political critique) and ensuring training avoids chilling student expression. The bill aims to align school policies with constitutional standards while addressing concerns about vague antisemitism definitions suppressing lawful discourse.
H.779 ends Vermont's early college program by July 2027 and increases dual enrollment course eligibility from two to four courses per student for high school students. The bill addresses equity concerns by removing financial barriers (like college fees and transportation costs) that previously limited access for lower-income students and those in rural areas. It also creates a working group of education officials and school leaders to study new partnerships between high schools and Vermont State Colleges for delivering college-level coursework. These changes directly affect Vermont public high schools, students seeking college credit before graduation, and the Vermont State Colleges System.
S.221, the "Civics Strengthens Democracy Act," requires all Vermont public school districts to provide civics education from kindergarten through 12th grade. The bill defines civics as nonpartisan education covering civic knowledge (history, institutions), skills (critical analysis, communication), dispositions (inclusion, civil discourse), and behaviors (voting, community engagement). Key provisions include allowing project-based student assessments, creating recognition for exemplary students/schools (via a "civic seal"), and establishing a dedicated Civics Education Special Fund for funding. This bill directly affects Vermont's K-12 public schools and students by mandating comprehensive civic learning aligned with specific evidence-based teaching methods.
This bill requires Vermont's Secretary of Education to create an interdisciplinary climate change curriculum for K-12 schools, based on the 2023 IPCC report. It mandates that the State Board of Education update all school district curriculum standards by July 2027 to include climate change education across all grade levels and subjects. The curriculum must be open-source and accessible, building on existing educational resources. These changes apply directly to Vermont's public elementary and secondary schools and their district-level curriculum planning.
