Vermont School Climate Policy

VERMONT 

 

There are 264 school districts in Vermont and 318 schools. During the 2021-2022 school year, 78,928 students were enrolled in K-12 public schools. About 40% of students in Vermont are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. Vermont doesn’t have a specific school climate policy but several policies cover aspects of school climate. Those policies include anti-bullying, emergency response planning, special education, anti-discrimination, social and emotional learning, and academic behavioral support. There are a few policies implemented on safe internet usage and electronic resources. There is also a policy that addresses trauma-informed programming. 

Saftey

There is currently no policy surrounding School Climate in Vermont. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School Climate Center

Vermont Statutes 16 V.S.A. § 1161a. Discipline.

Schools need a comprehensive plan for responding to student misbehavior and describing the behaviors on and off school campuses that constitute misbehavior, such as bullying, hazing, and harassment.

https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/16/025/01161A

 Vermont Statutes 16 V.S.A. § 570. Harassment, hazing, and bullying prevention policies

Each school board shall develop, adopt, ensure the enforcement of, and make available harassment, hazing, and bullying prevention policies that shall be at least as strict as model policies developed by the Secretary of Education. Annually, before the commencement of curricular and co-curricular activities, the school board shall provide notice of the policy and procedures developed to students, parents/guardians, and staff members.

https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/16/009/00570

 

Vermont Statutes 16 V.S.A. § 570c. Bullying.

The policy school boards develop should include procedures for;

  • How parents, students, and teachers can report bullying and file complaints.
  • Investigating reports or incidents of bullying.
  • Consequences if after investigation the incident or report was true.

https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/16/009/00570c

Vermont Statutes 16 V.S.A. § 11. Classifications and definitions.

Provides definitions of harassment and bullying as well as what actions constitute harassment and bullying. In addition, prohibits harassment based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexuality, and disability. The policy also covers bullying that takes place off school grounds.

https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/16/001/00011

 


Who does this protect? Students,

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Code of Vermont Rules 22-000-009 Section 4102 Emergency Plan.

A comprehensive emergency plan needs to be developed, updated, and tested annually.  Should include provision for such disasters as fire, smoke, tornado, nuclear disaster, snow, blizzard, ice, flood, earthquake, bomb threat, civil disturbance, bus accidents, and other emergencies.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/vermont/agency-22/sub-agency-000/chapter-009/22-000-009/

Vermont Statutes 16 V.S.A § 1481 Fire and emergency preparedness drills.

A drill shall be held at least once each month during the school year.

https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/16/033/01481

Vermont Statutes 16 V.S.A. § 563. Powers of school boards; a form of vote.

The School board will keep the school buildings and grounds in good repair, suitably equipped, insured, and in safe and sanitary condition at all times.

https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/16/009/00563

Vermont Statutes 16 V.S.A. § 1166. Possession of a firearm at school.

Students should not have or carry firearms or dangerous weapons on school grounds.

https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/16/025/01166


Who does this protect? Students, Staff

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Vermont Statutes 16 V.S.A. § 2902. A tiered system of support and educational support team.

Within each school district’s comprehensive system of educational services, each school shall develop and maintain a tiered system of academic and behavioral supports to provide all students with the opportunity to succeed or to be challenged in the general education environment:

  • promote social and emotional learning, including trauma-sensitive programming

https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/16/099/02902

Code of Vermont Rules 22-000-036 Section 4500.3 Definitions.

Defines positive behavioral interventions and support and what it involves:

https://education.vermont.gov/sites/aoe/files/documents/edu-state-board-rules-series-4500.pdf

Vermont Statutes 33 V.S.A. § 4303. Local interagency teams.

At least one local interagency team for each administrative district is needed and the team will be made up of: 

  • Person from the designated community mental health agency for that district responsible for coordinating children’s services.
  • The person managing the family services district office of the Department for Children and Families for that district.
  • A special education administrator from a school district in that district.
  • A person designated by the Secretary of Human Services.
  • A parent of a child or adolescent with a severe emotional disturbance.

https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/33/043/04303


Who does this protect? Students, Staff

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Teaching/Learning

Vermont Statutes 16 V.S.A. § 2902. A tiered system of support and educational support team.

Accommodations for students who require support beyond what can be provided in the general education classroom and intensive, individualized interventions for any student requiring a higher level of support should be included in the tiered system of support.  

https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/16/099/02902


Who does this protect? Students, Students with disabilities

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Code of Vermont Rules 22-000-003 2120.2. Flexible Pathways.

Schools must provide students the opportunity to experience learning through flexible and multiple pathways, including but not limited to career and technical education, virtual learning, work-based learning, and service learning.

https://education.vermont.gov/sites/aoe/files/documents/edu-state-board-rules-series-2000.pdf

 


Who does this protect? Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

Interpersonal Relationships

Vermont Statutes 16 V.S.A. § 11. Classifications and definitions.

Prohibits harassment based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexuality, and disability. The policy also covers bullying that takes place off school grounds.

https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/16/001/00011

There is currently no policy surrounding Social Support for Adults in Vermont. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School Climate Center

Vermont Statutes 16 V.S.A. § 2902. A tiered system of support and educational support team.

Within each school district’s comprehensive system of educational services, each school shall develop and maintain a tiered system of academic and behavioral supports to provide all students with the opportunity to succeed or to be challenged in the general education environment:

  • Promote social and emotional learning, including trauma-sensitive programming

https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/16/099/02902

 Code of Vermont Rules 22-000-036 Section 4500.3 Definitions.

Defines positive behavioral interventions and support and what it involves.

https://education.vermont.gov/sites/aoe/files/documents/edu-state-board-rules-series-4500.pdf

 Vermont Statutes 33 V.S.A. § 4303. Local interagency teams.

At least one local interagency team for each administrative district is needed and the team will be made up of: 

  • Person from the designated community mental health agency for that district responsible for coordinating children’s services.
  • The person managing the family services district office of the Department for Children and Families for that district.
  • A special education administrator from a school district in that district.
  • A person designated by the Secretary of Human Services.
  • A parent of a child or adolescent with a severe emotional disturbance.

https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/33/043/04303

 Vermont Statutes 16 V.S.A. § 2902. A tiered system of support and educational support team.

Accommodations for students who require support beyond what can be provided in the general education classroom and intensive, individualized interventions for any student requiring a higher level of support should be included in the tiered system of support.

https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/16/099/02902


Who does this protect? Students

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Institutional Environments

Vermont Statutes 16 V.S.A. § 165 Education Quality Standard; equal education opportunities; independent school.

The school, through a process including parents, teachers, students, and community members, develops, implements, and annually updates a continuous improvement plan to improve student performance within the school.

https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/16/003/00165

Code of Vermont Rules 22-000-003 2125 CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PLAN.

The plan shall be designed to improve the performance of all students enrolled in the district and it will be developed with the involvement of school board members, students, teachers, administrators, parents, and other community members.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/vermont/agency-22/sub-agency-000/chapter-003/22-000-003/


Who does this protect? Students, Parents

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

Code of Vermont Rules 22-000-009 Section 4102 Emergency Plan.

A comprehensive emergency plan needs to be developed, updated, and tested annually.  Should include provision for such disasters as fire, smoke, tornado, nuclear disaster, snow, blizzard, ice, flood, earthquake, bomb threat, civil disturbance, bus accidents, and other emergencies.

https://regulations.justia.com/states/vermont/agency-22/sub-agency-000/chapter-009/22-000-009/

Vermont Statutes 16 V.S.A § 1481 Fire and emergency preparedness drills.

A drill shall be held at least once each month during the school year.

https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/16/033/01481

Vermont Statutes 16 V.S.A. § 563. Powers of school boards; form of vote.

School board will keep the school buildings and grounds in good repair, suitably equipped, insured, and in safe and sanitary condition at all times.

https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/16/009/00563

Vermont Statutes 16 V.S.A. § 1166. Possession of a firearm at school.

Students should not have or carry firearms or dangerous weapons on school grounds.

https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/16/025/01166


Who does this protect? Students, Staff

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes

 

There is no current policy surrounding Social Inclusion in the state of Vermont. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School Climate Center

Social Media

Code of Vermont Rules 22-000-003 2122.2. Access to Instructional Materials.

Adopt and implement written policies on electronic resources, acceptable Internet usage, and procedures for handling complaints for both staff and students.

https://education.vermont.gov/sites/aoe/files/documents/edu-state-board-rules-series-2000.pdf


Who does this protect? Students and Staff

Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No

There is currently no policy surrounding Leadership in Vermont. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School

There is currently no policy surrounding Professional Relationships in Vermont. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School

Sources include: nasbe.org and childtrends.org