Education

passed both · Vermont · House May 15, 2026

HCR 289: House concurrent resolution congratulating the 2026 Brattleboro Union High School championship mock trial team

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill recognizes student achievement in a legal skills program, validating and celebrating educational efforts.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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passed both · Vermont · House May 6, 2026

HCR 266: House concurrent resolution congratulating Linda Alvarez on being named the 2026 Vermont Teacher of the Year and commending the two distinguished finalists

This bill is a formal resolution that congratulates Linda Alvarez on being named the 2026 Vermont Teacher of the Year and honors the two finalists, Jason Raymond and Erin Randall. Linda Alvarez, a career and technical education instructor at Windham Regional Career Center, is recognized as the first CTE teacher to receive this award. The resolution highlights her background in business and education, her commitment to student success, and her additional roles advising student organizations and serving on advisory councils. It directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to the three educators as an official acknowledgment of their achievements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill honors a teacher and highlights CTE success, explicitly supporting educators and educational programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Teachers

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passed both · Vermont · House May 15, 2026

HCR 295: House concurrent resolution honoring Patricia Gibbons for her extraordinary half-century teaching career in the Town of Bennington

This legislative bill is a House concurrent resolution that formally honors Patricia Gibbons for her nearly 50-year teaching career in the Town of Bennington. The document recognizes her service at the Village School of North Bennington, where she taught reading and inspired students from third through sixth grade. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Ms. Gibbons, the school, and the local village board of trustees.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill honors a teacher's 50-year career, recognizing and validating the contributions of educators to the education system.85% confidence

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signed · Vermont · House May 29, 2026

H 955: An act relating to next steps in transforming Vermont’s education system

This bill outlines steps to reorganize Vermont's education system by renaming Boards of Cooperative Education Services to Cooperative Educational Service Areas and assigning each supervisory union to a specific regional area. It requires all school districts to join a study committee to evaluate creating unified union school districts and directs the Joint Finance Officer to hire a contractor to analyze how prekindergarten education should be funded. Additionally, the bill amends previous legislation to adjust its effective dates. These changes aim to improve resource sharing and equalize educational opportunities across different regions of the state.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill aims to reorganize and evaluate the education system to improve funding and structure for prekindergarten and unified districts.75% confidence

passed both · Vermont · House May 8, 2026

HCR 285: House concurrent resolution recognizing the fifth anniversary of the Middlebury Language Schools–Bennington College intercultural education collaboration

This bill is a ceremonial resolution that formally acknowledges the fifth anniversary of a partnership between Middlebury Language Schools and Bennington College. It recognizes the agreement signed in 2019, which moved three language programs to the Bennington campus to foster academic excellence and cultural exchange. The text highlights the history of the language schools and the shared commitment of both institutions to immersive education. Finally, it directs the Secretary of State to send copies of this recognition to the two colleges involved.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill recognizes a partnership fostering immersive education and cultural exchange, aligning with educational enhancement goals.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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passed both · Vermont · House May 8, 2026

HCR 259: House concurrent resolution congratulating Terese Black on being named the 2026 Vermont Mother of the Year

This bill is a ceremonial resolution that congratulates Terese Black on being named the 2026 Vermont Mother of the Year. It recognizes her extensive community service, including her work as a former teacher and director of a program helping formerly incarcerated individuals reintegrate into society. The text highlights her dedication to various volunteer roles and her faith as reasons for receiving this honor. Finally, it directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to Ms. Black.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill honors a former teacher and program director, indirectly supporting educators and community reintegration efforts.50% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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signed · Vermont · House May 29, 2026

H 949: An act relating to homestead property tax yields, the nonhomestead property tax rate, and technical changes to education finance

This bill sets specific property tax rates and funding levels for Vermont's 2027 fiscal year, including a nonhomestead property tax rate of $1.698 per $100 of value and specific dollar yields for homestead and income calculations. It also reserves $52.45 million in the Education Fund to help offset potential property tax rate increases in 2028, while correcting a definition related to statewide education tax calculations. The legislation refunds $150,576 to the City of Barre for overpaid education taxes from 2021-2024 and adjusts special education funding grants for inflation starting in 2027. Additionally, it updates how special education census grants are calculated to account for inflation over time.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes specific property tax rates and funding levels for 2027, reserves funds for education, and provides tax refunds, indicating support for fiscal management and education funding.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $52.45M to Education Fund and sets property tax rates to fund Vermont schools, directly supporting education finance.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Special Education

introduced · Vermont · House Mar 19, 2026

JRH 9: Joint resolution urging the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) to reconsider its opposition to the Rapid Prompting Method (RPM) of communication instruction for students with apraxia of speech (AOS) or autism

This bill urges the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association to reconsider its opposition to the Rapid Prompting Method, a communication teaching approach used for students with apraxia of speech or autism. The resolution does not change any laws or funding but asks the professional association to review its stance on this instructional method. It highlights that while the ASHA currently rejects RPM's scientific validity, many parents report positive outcomes for their children using this technique. The bill directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the ASHA to prompt this reconsideration.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill advocates for educational method access for students with disabilities, promoting communication instruction options in schools.85% confidence

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signed · Vermont · House May 29, 2026

H 930: An act relating to addressing and preventing chronic absenteeism

This bill defines chronic absenteeism as students missing 10 percent or more of their school attendance days in a year, regardless of whether those absences are excused or unexcused, and requires Vermont's Agency of Education to create a model policy to address the issue. It also clarifies definitions for terms like "absence," "truancy," and "excused absence," while expanding who counts as a parent or guardian to include older students, independent students, and unaccompanied homeless youth. The changes directly affect public schools, approved independent schools, and families by establishing clearer standards for tracking attendance and determining when absences are justified.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill addresses chronic absenteeism by requiring state policy development, expanding definitions to include vulnerable populations, and improving attendance tracking to enhance educational access and student engagement.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

passed both · Vermont · House Apr 16, 2026

HCR 231: House concurrent resolution honoring the outstanding achievements of the federal TRIO programs in Vermont

This bill is a ceremonial resolution that honors the federal TRIO programs in Vermont, which provide educational support to financially disadvantaged students. The TRIO programs, established by Congress in the 1960s, offer assistance to students who are the first in their families to attend college and lack sufficient funds. The resolution recognizes the work of these programs across seven Vermont colleges and the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation. It directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the resolution to the Board of Directors of the Vermont Educational Opportunity Programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill honors TRIO programs that provide educational support to financially disadvantaged students, recognizing their role in expanding educational access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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