Education (School Funding)

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 11, 2026

H 923: An act relating to pupil weighting for small schools and sparse school districts

This bill proposes changing how Vermont calculates funding for small schools and sparse school districts by excluding students who do not attend schools operated by the district from pupil weighting calculations. The key provision modifies the weighted long-term membership formula used to determine state education funding, specifically targeting districts classified as small or sparse. By removing non-district students from these counts, the legislation aims to adjust how much state funding these specific school districts receive based on enrollment numbers. The change directly affects school districts in Vermont that meet the criteria for small school or sparse district classifications.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill adjusts state education funding formula to better support small and sparse school districts by excluding non-district students from pupil weighting calculations, potentially increasing per-pupil funding for these schools.75% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

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introduced · Vermont · House Mar 12, 2026

H 929: An act relating to the form of school budgets

This bill proposes to change how school district budgets are presented on voter ballots to improve clarity and transparency. It directly affects school districts and their voters by modifying the format of budget authorization votes. The key provision requires that budget information be displayed in a clearer form to help voters better understand what they are approving. This change aims to make the budgeting process more accessible without altering the underlying budget amounts or authority.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill improves budget transparency and clarity for voters, enhancing public understanding of school funding decisions without restricting educational resources.75% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 4, 2026

H 886: An act relating to creating a cost of competing adjustment

This bill creates a "cost of competing adjustment" within Vermont's public education funding system to account for differences in local labor costs across the state. It directly affects how state funding is calculated for public schools, ensuring adjustments reflect regional variations in salaries and wages. The key mechanism modifies the existing funding formula to incorporate these labor cost differences, aiming to provide more equitable resource allocation. This change would apply to all public school districts receiving state education funding under Vermont's current system. The bill focuses on adjusting the funding calculation method, not on new spending or specific school programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesModifies state education funding formula to account for regional labor costs, ensuring equitable resource allocation under public education budget management.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill modifies Vermont's public education funding formula to adjust for regional labor cost differences, aiming for equitable resource allocation. Directly strengthens school funding fairness without restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

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introduced · Vermont · House Feb 25, 2026

H 916: An act relating to Education Fund expenditures review

H.916 directs Vermont's Joint Fiscal Office to create a formal process for reviewing how school districts spend Education Fund money. The review will categorize all spending, determine if it's required by law or discretionary, assess whether each category directly supports student learning, and evaluate if spending levels are reasonable. It also requires identifying better revenue sources for non-essential spending and establishing a cost-effectiveness analysis method for future state education programs. This bill directly affects school districts by requiring them to justify their spending patterns and will influence how new education legislation is evaluated for cost impact.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes fiscal review process for education spending to ensure funds directly support learning and promote cost-effectiveness, aligning with fiscal responsibility indicators.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates review of education fund spending to ensure it directly supports student learning and is reasonable, promoting efficient resource allocation for educational purposes.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 28, 2026

H 794: An act relating to increasing taxes on higher income earners and creating the School Construction Aid Special Fund

H.794 creates new tax rates for higher earners and modifies property taxes to fund school construction. It imposes a 2% surcharge on individual income above $250,000 and a 6% surcharge above $500,000, plus a wealth proceeds tax on individuals (with taxable income over $200,000 single/$250,000 married) and estates/trusts (over $15,200). It also doubles property tax rates for nonhomestead residential properties compared to homesteads. All new revenues will flow into the newly created School Construction Aid Special Fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases taxes on high earners (>250k) and wealth to fund school construction, aligning with progressive taxation and public service funding.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates School Construction Aid Special Fund via new taxes to directly fund school infrastructure, advancing educational facilities per bill's purpose statement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Property Tax State Budget School Funding

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in committee · Vermont · House Feb 18, 2026

H 802: An act relating to adjusting the census grant for inflation

This bill adjusts Vermont's special education funding to keep pace with inflation. It requires the state to calculate annual funding for each supervisory union (school district group) using a base amount adjusted each year by the official inflation rate for government spending. Starting in fiscal year 2027, funding will be determined by multiplying this inflation-adjusted base amount by the union's long-term student enrollment average. The change ensures special education funding maintains its real value over time, directly affecting all Vermont school districts providing federally mandated special education services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill ensures special education funding maintains value via inflation adjustments, protecting public service funding allocation in state budget.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill adjusts special education funding to inflation, maintaining real value and ensuring adequate school support per summary.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending School Funding Special Education

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 8, 2026

H 616: An act relating to the right to enroll full time in virtual learning

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates school districts to fund virtual learning tuition, expanding educational access without parental cost barriers per parent request.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education School Funding

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introduced · Vermont · House Jan 15, 2026

H 698: An act relating to various changes to 2025 Acts and Resolves No. 73

This bill (H.698) revises Vermont's 2025 education funding and policy framework. It removes provisions requiring schools to maintain minimum class sizes, eliminates a rule allowing receiving districts to charge sending districts extra fees for high school students, and reverts unused funds from a school district voting group back to the state General Fund. The bill also updates the state's education funding formula to add a "secondary student weight" for high school students and removes recent changes to property tax classifications affecting schools. These changes directly impact school districts, state education funding calculations, and the administration of public school tuition payments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill reverts unused education funds to General Fund, promoting fiscal responsibility in budget management.90% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationReverts unused education funds to General Fund (defunding) while removing class size requirements and fees, indicating reduced educational funding priorities.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax State Budget Higher Education K-12 Education School Funding

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passed · Vermont · Senate Mar 26, 2026

S 220: An act relating to the excess spending threshold

This bill limits annual increases in per-pupil education spending for Vermont school districts during fiscal years 2028 and 2029. It requires districts to cap spending growth at a calculated "allowable growth percentage" based on how their per-pupil spending compares to the highest-spending district (excluding certain districts), with a minimum 3% growth allowed. The formula subtracts a district’s prior-year spending from the highest district’s spending, divides that difference by the district’s own spending, then multiplies by 9% to determine the maximum allowable increase. The bill applies to all Vermont public school districts and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill explicitly limits annual education spending growth, capping increases at a calculated percentage, restricting public service funding.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationLimits per-pupil spending growth cap, restricting funding increases despite minimum 3% allowance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

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introduced · Vermont · Senate Jan 21, 2026

S 282: An act relating to increasing taxes on higher income earners and creating the School Construction Aid Special Fund

This bill creates new taxes on high-income Vermonters to fund school construction. It imposes a 2% surcharge on personal income above $250,000 (and 6% above $500,000) and a 4% "wealth proceeds tax" on individuals, estates, or trusts with taxable income exceeding $200,000 (single filers) or $250,000 (married filing jointly). It also doubles property tax rates for nonhomestead residential properties compared to homesteads. All revenue generated flows into a dedicated "School Construction Aid Special Fund" for public school infrastructure projects. The bill directly affects high earners and property owners with significant nonhomestead holdings.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes higher taxes on high-income earners (2%+ surcharge, 4% wealth tax) to fund school construction, directly advancing public education spending via dedicated revenue stream.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates dedicated tax revenue specifically for school construction funding, directly advancing K-12 infrastructure investment through new surcharges on high earners.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Fees & Licensing Property Tax School Funding

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