How Tuitioning and School Choice work in Vermont

A QUICK OVERVIEW:

• Tuitioning has been part of the VT educational landscape for about 140 years
  
• About 90 Vermont towns tuition students for at least one grade
• Different laws apply to elementary (K-6) and secondary (7-12) tuitioning
• Tuitioning only exists in towns that don't have designated schools to serve that grade level
• School selection and school choice are big draws for families relocating to and within Vermont
• Current tuitioning laws include private independent schools that are "approved" by the state
• Tuitioning towns are not required to provide transportation for students

ADDITIONALLY: Vermont Act 150 allows for regional "public school choice" districts. You can learn more about Act 150 here.  The legislature expanded Act 150 in 2012 - the number of participating students has been increased and the geographic boundaries are removed. Stay tuned as we review the legislation and post updated info soon.

HOW TUITIONING WORKS:

Towns that Tuition
See our School Choice Map page

Elementary Tuitioning
According to our education statutes, towns that do not maintain elementary grades shall tuition their students to "one or more schools." It is largely left to the local school board to determine what the tuitioning policies will be for elementary grades. The school board may choose which school(s) they will pay tuition to, or may pay tuition to any public or approved independent school the parent chooses. Tuition paid to a public school is paid in full. Tuition paid to an approved independent school will be the lesser of: the state average announced tuition of union elementary schools, or the tuition charged by the independent school. The electorate can choose to authorize a higher amount.

Here is the statute related to tuition payments to elementary schools.
Here is the statute related to maintenance of public elementary schools or payment of tuition.

Secondary Tuitioning
Towns that do not maintain secondary grades tuition students to a school determined by the parent or guardian of the student. Parents may choose from public or approved independent schools. The school board will pay full tuition to any public school, or any school deemed by law to be a public school.* The school board will pay full tuition for an approved independent school or the state average tuition for union high schools, whichever is less. The electorate may authorize a higher payment to independent schools.
 
Here is the statute related to tuition payments to secondary schools.
Here is the statute related to maintainance of public secondary schools or payment of tuition.

*Hanover High School is an "interstate school district" and is considered to be a Vermont public school for tuition purposes. St. Johnsbury Academy and Lyndon Institute are independent schools but because they host regional technical centers, under Vermont Law they are considered to be acting as public schools for tuitioning purposes.

Independent Schools
Independent schools are required to register with the Department of Education as a Recognized Independent School or an Approved Independent School. School boards may only make tuition payments to non-sectarian Approved Independent Schools. There are over 100 Approved Independent Schools in Vermont, with a wide range of missions, some serving very specific general and special needs student populations.
Here is the list (PDF) from the Dept of Education

School Designation
Towns without secondary schools may choose to "designate" a school. Until 2009 only approved independent schools could be designated to act as the public school. Now both public and approved independent schools can be designated. When a school is designated it must agree to accept that designation and all of the students of the sending community. Parents may request a waiver from the school board to send their child to another school, but the decision rests with the school board and there is no appeals process. The school board is required to pay tuition up to that of the designated school, the non-designated school, or the state average tuition for union high schools, whichever is less.
Here is the statute

HISTORY

The Vermont Constitution addresses public education and as a result many Vermont towns have had school choice for about 140 years:

The Vermont Constitution
"...and a competent number of schools ought to be maintained in each town unless the general assembly permits other provisions for the convenient instruction of youth. All religious societies, or bodies of people that may be united or incorporated for the advancement of religion and learning, …shall be encouraged and protected in the enjoyment of the privileges, immunities, and estates, which they in justice ought to enjoy, under such regulations as the general assembly of this state shall direct.”

Since the writing of Vermont’s Constitution, the general assembly of Vermont has directed that the parents of each child between the ages of 6 and 16 to enroll that child in either “…a public school, an approved or recognized independent school, an approved education program, or a home study program…” (16 V.S.A. section 1121). 


Vermont Education Today - A Governance Overview

Under Vermont law communities provide education by either maintaining a public school or tuitioning their students to other public or approved independent schools. An elementary education consists of grades K-6 and a secondary education contains the remaining grades of 7-12. According to the Department of Education, about 90 Vermont towns tuition students anywhere from one grade to all twelve grades. 
 
Each Vermont town is a School District with a governing School Board. School Districts are also grouped together to form Supervisory Unions, governed by a Board with representatives from each member School District, and employing a Superintendent and staff. Another governance structure is a Supervisory District. A Supervisory District is made up of one or more School Districts that have come together to be governed by a single Board, regardless of how many schools are part of the Supervisory District.

Here is a map (PDF) of Supervisory Unions and Supervisory Districts in the state.

There are additional school governance structures such as joint contract schools, union schools and unified union schools that have their own boards.