VermontVermont changes school approval and education agency hiring rules
Starting July 1, 2026, approved therapeutic schools changing owners can apply for approval, and the Agency must check certain candidates who could have unsupervised student contact.
What it does
An approved therapeutic school changing owners can apply for approval despite the moratorium on new school approvals. The State Board must process the application if the school will remain a therapeutic school.
Before recommending a candidate for a covered Agency of Education job, the Agency must request criminal record information if the person could have unsupervised contact with students.
The act changes how two education councils are staffed and supported. One meets less often and loses member expense payments; the other gains members and duties, must report yearly, and may pay members for up to 12 meetings.
The act adds additions to the definition of a “cost-saving measure” used in energy performance contracts; the summary does not describe which additions qualify.
Argument forTherapeutic schools could continue an ownership change review, and student safety may improve when the Agency checks candidates who could have unsupervised contact with students.
Argument againstAgency job candidates may face extra screening, while changes to council duties and meeting schedules could make some work harder to coordinate.
More detail
The State Board of Education must process a new application when an approved therapeutic school changes owners. This applies to currently approved therapeutic schools whose ownership change requires a new initial application. The school must remain an approved therapeutic school after the ownership change. The act takes effect July 1, 2026.
The Agency of Education must request criminal record information for certain job candidates. It covers full-time, part-time, temporary, and contract candidates who will have, or may have, unsupervised contact with students. The requirement applies when the Agency is prepared to recommend the person for a position. The act takes effect July 1, 2026.
The act changes the membership, duties, meetings, support, reporting, and compensation rules for two education councils. These provisions cover the Intercollegiate Sexual Harm Prevention Council and the Harassment, Hazing, and Bullying Prevention Advisory Council. The Intercollegiate Sexual Harm Prevention Council will meet twice a year, and its members will no longer receive per diem pay or expense reimbursement. The Harassment, Hazing, and Bullying Prevention Advisory Council must report annually and may pay members for no more than 12 meetings each year. The act sets aside $21,000 from the General Fund for the Agency of Education in fiscal year 2027 to pay the second council’s member per diems and expenses. The act takes effect July 1, 2026.
The act changes what may count as a cost-saving measure in energy performance contracts. This applies to the definition used in the state law on energy performance contracting. The act takes effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 29House message: Governor approved bill on June 17, 2026Latest
- May 29Signed by Governor Phil Scott on June 17, 2026Became Law
- May 29Delivered to Governor on June 11, 2026To Governor
- May 29House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 29Rep. McCoy of Poultney moved to deliver the bill to the Governor forthwith, which was agreed to
- May 29Senate proposal of amendment concurred inMinor
- May 29Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 28Action Calendar: Unfinished Business
- May 27Action Calendar: Unfinished Business
- May 26Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 22Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 21Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 20Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentPassed 2nd Chamber
- May 20New Business/Third ReadingMinor
- May 193rd reading ordered
- Vote recorded Roll Call, requested by Senator Weeks, Failed -- Needed 15 of 30 to Pass -- Yeas = 11, Nays = 19. Result: fail.Upper
- May 19Proposal of amendment by Committee on Education agreed toMinor
- May 19Roll Call, Requested by Sen. Weeks
- May 19Roll Call, requested by Senator Weeks, Failed -- Needed 15 of 30 to Pass -- Yeas = 11, Nays = 19
- May 19Proposal of amendment not agreed toMinor
- May 19Point of order on ground of lack of germaneness raised by Senator Hashim ruled not well taken
- May 19Proposal of amendment by Senator(s) Heffernan; textMinor
- May 19Reported favorably by Senator Watson for Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- May 19Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Hashim for Committee on EducationMinor
- May 19Favorable report by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- May 19Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on EducationMinor
- May 19Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- May 15Favorable report by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- May 15Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on EducationMinor
- May 15New Business/Second ReadingMinor
- May 14Favorable report by Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- May 14Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on EducationMinor
- May 14Second ReadingMinor
- May 14Entered on Notice Calendar
- May 8Referred to Committee on Appropriations per Senate Rule 31
- May 8Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on EducationMinor
- May 8Second ReadingMinor
- May 8Entered on Notice Calendar
- Mar 27Read 1st time & referred to Committee on EducationMinor
- Mar 25Read third time and passedPassed 1st Chamber
- Mar 25Action Calendar: Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 24Third Reading orderedMinor
- Mar 24Report of Committee on Ways and Means agreed to
- Mar 24Rep. Kascenska of Burke recommended for the Committee on Appropriations
- Mar 24Rep. Burkhardt of South Burlington recommended for the Committee on Ways and Means
- Mar 24Rep. Conlon of Cornwall spoke for the Committee on Education
- Mar 24Read second timeMinor
- Mar 24Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Mar 20Notice Calendar: Favorable with Amendment
- Mar 19Pending entry on Notice Calendar, referred to Committee on Appropriations per Rule 35(a)
- Mar 13Committee bill read first time and referred to Committee on Ways and Means per Rule 35(a)Introduced
EducationEnvironment & EnergyCriminal Justice