An act relating to school choice for all Vermont students
H.89 would establish a statewide school choice policy for Vermont students in prekindergarten through grade 12. Under the bill, a parent or guardian could choose a public school or approved independent school for their child regardless of district of residence, and the Agency of Education would maintain a list of eligible schools and administer the selection process. The bill also directs the State Board of Education to adopt rules for midyear transfers and extraordinary cases, and it requires schools to accept students unless they lack capacity or resources.
The bill creates a School Choice Grant that would follow the student to the chosen school. The grant would be issued by the Agency of Education and paid from the Education Fund amount otherwise due to the student’s resident district. Public schools would have to accept the grant as full tuition payment, while approved independent schools and out-of-state public schools could charge additional tuition above the grant amount, with the excess paid by the parent or guardian. For districts that do not operate schools for the grades they serve, the bill preserves existing tuition obligations for resident students already attending through the end of their secondary education.
H.89 would also require the Joint Fiscal Office to produce a report by January 15, 2026, with recommendations for integrating the school choice program into Vermont’s education funding structure. That report would be prepared in consultation with the Agency of Education and other stakeholders. The bill’s main legal effect would be to add a new school choice section to Title 16 and to alter how Education Fund dollars are allocated by redirecting funding from a student’s home district to the selected school.
Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no documented debate or formal sentiment history in the materials supplied. Based on the bill text alone, the proposal appears to be a major expansion of parental choice in education and a significant restructuring of school finance, which would likely draw both strong support from school-choice advocates and concern from those worried about impacts on district funding, enrollment stability, and public school capacity.
The main points of contention likely involve whether statewide choice should override district-based assignment, how the grant amount would affect local education budgets, and whether independent and out-of-state schools should be allowed to charge families more than the grant covers. Another likely issue is equity and access, including the bill’s nondiscrimination requirements, capacity limits, and the practical effects on rural districts and students who remain in their resident schools.
The bill would add 16 V.S.A. § 822b to create a statewide school choice framework and would redirect Education Fund payments from a student’s resident district to the chosen school through a School Choice Grant. It would affect public schools, approved independent schools, out-of-state public schools, parents and guardians, and school districts, especially districts that currently rely on resident enrollment and tuition payments. It also requires a Joint Fiscal Office report on how to integrate the program into Vermont’s education funding system, signaling potential broader changes to state school finance law.
No committee discussion or vote record is provided, so there is no direct evidence of legislative sentiment in the supplied materials. The bill’s introduction and structure suggest a pro-school-choice policy direction, likely supported by lawmakers favoring expanded parental options and competition among schools. At the same time, the bill’s funding shifts and effects on district finances suggest it would likely face skepticism or opposition from those concerned about public school stability, local control, and fiscal impacts.
The most notable contention is likely over the policy choice to allow students to attend any public or approved independent school regardless of residence, which would weaken the traditional district-based assignment model. Another major issue is funding: the bill would move Education Fund dollars with the student, potentially reducing revenue for resident districts while allowing some schools to charge tuition above the grant amount. Capacity limits, lottery admissions, nondiscrimination rules, and the treatment of nonoperating districts are also likely flashpoints, particularly for districts and school operators concerned about enrollment, fairness, and implementation.