BILL AS INTRODUCED H.101
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H.101 1
Introduced by Representative Graning of Jericho 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Education; Agency of Education duties 5
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require the 6
Secretary of Education to (1) provide statewide technical assistance to school 7
districts and supervisory unions on the implementation of all statewide 8
requirements and (2) conduct a comprehensive program evaluation and 9
organizational analysis of the Agency of Education and report back to the 10
House and Senate Committees on Education with recommendations for 11
changes to the Agency of Education. 12
An act relating to the role and structure of the Agency of Education 13
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 14
Sec. 1. 16 V.S.A. § 212 is amended to read: 15
§ 212. SECRETARY’S DUTIES GENERALLY 16
The Secretary shall execute those policies adopted by the State Board in the 17
legal exercise of its powers and shall: 18
(1) Coordinate the educational work of the public schools with higher 19
education in the State. 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.101
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(2) Identify the educational goals of the public schools, provide 1
alternative methods of attaining those goals, and promote education in the 2
State. 3
(3) Evaluate the program of instruction in the public schools. 4
(4) Advise the General Assembly concerning proposed laws affecting 5
the public schools. 6
(5) Supervise and direct the execution of the laws relating to the public 7
schools and ensure compliance. 8
(6) Supervise the expenditure and distribution of all money appropriated 9
by the State under the provisions of this title for public schools. 10
(7) Arrange conferences and summer schools for superintendents and 11
teachers and employ suitable speakers, lecturers, and instructors for the same; 12
fix the amount of tuition for the instruction; provide for educational gatherings, 13
institutes, summer schools, and other supplementary educational activities; and 14
provide for cooperation with the Board of Libraries established by 22 V.S.A. 15
§ 602 or the State Librarian. 16
(8) Inform citizens of the condition of and opportunities within the 17
public education system and provide other educational publicity for the 18
enlightenment and well-being of the citizens of the State. 19
(9) Establish requirements for information to be submitted by school 20
districts, including necessary statistical data and other information and ensure, 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.101
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to the extent possible, that data are reported in a uniform way. Data collected 1
under this subdivision shall include budget surplus amounts, reserve fund 2
amounts, and information concerning the purpose and use of any reserve funds. 3
(10) Make recommendations to school boards regarding transportation 4
policies. 5
(11) Provide an educational facilities planning service to make available 6
technical assistance and comprehensive information on school construction, 7
school systems design, component technology and suppliers, and similar 8
subjects to public schools, school districts, and independent schools, for the 9
purpose of helping them to achieve flexibility and economy in construction, to 10
retain the potential for modification and expansion of educational facilities, 11
and to attain the lowest maintenance costs consistent with educational needs. 12
(12) Distribute at his or her the Secretary’s discretion upon request to 13
approved independent schools appropriate forms and materials relating to the 14
education quality standards for elementary and secondary students. 15
(13) Ensure the provision of services to children and adolescents with a 16
severe emotional disturbance in coordination with the Departments of Mental 17
Health, for Children and Families, and of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent 18
Living pursuant to the provisions of 33 V.S.A. chapter 43. 19
(14) Annually, communicate to each superintendent a list of information 20
that a supervisory union, a school board, a school district, a school, a school 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.101
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district employee, or a supervisory union employee is required under State or 1
federal law to make available to the electorate, community members, parents, 2
or students. It is the intent of this subdivision that the Secretary shall make a 3
good faith effort to compile a complete list of the information to be made 4
available. Due to the difficult nature of compiling such a list, it is also the 5
intent that failure to include relevant information on the list shall not constitute 6
grounds for an action against the Secretary. 7
(15) Annually, with the Commissioner of Health, shall jointly inform 8
superintendents and principals of appropriate practices regarding students with 9
life-threatening allergies and chronic illnesses; and prepare and distribute 10
policies, training materials, and school guidelines for managing students with 11
life-threatening allergies and chronic illnesses, including family 12
responsibilities, school responsibilities, and student responsibilities. 13
(16) Annually, convene a meeting of directors of Vermont educator 14
preparation programs and representatives of school boards, superintendents, 15
principals, educators, and the Vermont Standards Board to determine subject 16
and geographic areas in which there is a critical need for educators and to 17
discuss ways to meet the need. 18
(17) Encourage and facilitate collaboration among school districts and 19
supervisory unions to share information and expertise regarding low-incidence 20
special education needs. 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.101
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(18) Annually, inform superintendents and principals of regional 1
resources available to assist schools to provide instruction in cardiopulmonary 2
resuscitation and the use of automated external defibrillators and provide 3
updated information to the education community regarding the provision of a 4
comprehensive health education. 5
(19) Establish an information clearinghouse and accessible database to 6
help districts share information about educational programs and practices that 7
improve student performance. Educational programs and practices include 8
those designed to create and sustain a safe learning environment. 9
(20) Develop, in consultation with the Secretary of State, and make 10
available to school boards sample ballot language for issues that may be 11
decided by Australian ballot and for which no statutory language exists. 12
(21) Prepare a budget for the Agency and submit it to the Governor after 13
review by the State Board. 14
(22) Annually, prior to September 1, present the Governor’s education 15
policy priorities to the State Board. 16
(23) Provide statewide technical assistance to school districts and 17
supervisory unions on the implementation of all statewide requirements, 18
including: 19
(A) professional development; 20
(B) curriculum development; 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.101
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(C) education quality standards implementation; 1
(D) district quality standards implementation; 2
(E) statewide testing; 3
(F) rule changes; and 4
(G) all statewide initiatives. 5
Sec. 2. AGENCY OF EDUCATION PROGRAM EVALUATION AND 6
ORGANIZATIONAL ANALYSIS ; REPORT 7
(a) The Secretary of Education shall conduct a comprehensive program 8
evaluation and organizational analysis of the Agency of Education, which shall 9
include: 10
(1) an evaluation of the culture of the Agency; 11
(2) an Agency-wide pay scale analysis; 12
(3) an inventory of the training and reporting requirements currently 13
required of school districts by the Agency and the origin of those requirements; 14
and 15
(4) any other component of the Agency the Secretary deems relevant. 16
(b) On or before January 15, 2026, the Secretary shall issue a written report 17
to the Senate and House Committees on Education with the findings of the 18
evaluation and analysis required under subsection (a) of this section. The 19
report shall include the Secretary’s recommendations for any changes to the 20
Agency, efforts already underway to complete such changes, a timeline for any 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.101
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remaining changes, and any legislative changes necessary to achieve the 1
Secretary’s recommendations. 2
Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 3
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. 4