Vermont Now Requires Publicly Funded Private Schools To Accept Special Education Students

In March, 2022, the Vermont Board of Education (SBE) adopted rules to require publicly funded independent (private) schools to accept students with disabilities. The SBE seeks to hold all schools that receive taxpayer money to standards similar to those for public schools. The new rule is scheduled to take effect in July 2023, and applies to only those schools located within Vermont.

In Vermont, towns without a public elementary, middle, or high school are permitted to use public funds to pay for tuition for the town’s students to attend their preferred public or an approved private school. For the . . .