Education

This bill (H 657) enables unaccompanied homeless youth aged 16+ to access key services without parental consent. It creates a certification process where youth verified as homeless by school liaisons, shelter directors, or homeless service providers receive a standardized form from the Department for Children and Families. This certification allows youth to obtain medical/dental care, mental health services, driver’s licenses, housing, school enrollment, banking services, and vital records - without needing parental permission. The bill clarifies that parental consent is not required if parents forced the youth out, neglected them, or refused support, with the Department acting in place of a guardian.

H 480 requires all Vermont public school districts and independent schools to establish behavioral threat assessment teams by July 1, 2025, with full implementation of threat assessment programs by October 1, 2025. This includes training staff (with bias training), adopting policies, updating emergency plans, and educating school communities. The bill also creates a new framework for virtual learning, allowing Vermont public school students to enroll in supervised online courses that meet state standards, with districts counting these students in enrollment totals. Additionally, it exempts specific accredited colleges from certain education law requirements and clarifies that school nutrition contracts do not require public bidding.