H 568

 BILL AS INTRODUCED  H.568
 2026  Page 1 of 3
1H.568
2 Introduced by Representatives Stone of Burlington and Pinsonault of Dorset
3 Referred to Committee on
4 Date:
5 Subject: Education; attendance; district of residence; military families
6 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require school
7 districts that enroll a child whose parents or guardians have been relocated to
8 the school district under military orders to facilitate comparable special
9 education services that are in place within 30 days after the student’s
10 enrollment. This bill also proposes to allow a child of a member of the armed
11 forces to continue to attend the child’s school of origin during the school year
12 if the child’s parent or guardian who is a member of the armed forces receives
13 orders directing the member to a location outside the school district.
14    An act relating to military-connected students
15 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
16 Sec. 1. 16 V.S.A. § 1073 is amended to read:
17 § 1073. “LEGAL PUPIL” DEFINED; ACCESS TO SCHOOL
18***
19    (d) If one or both of a child’s parents or guardians are being relocated to the
20 State under military orders, a school district shall allow registration of the
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1 student by mail, telephone, or electronically and shall not require the parent or
2 legal guardian of the student or the student themselves to physically appear at a
3 location within the district to register the student. Proof of required residency
4 shall not be required at the time of the remote registration but shall be required
5 within 10 days of after the student’s attendance in the school district. If the
6 enrolling child is transferring with a plan under Section 504 of the
7 Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 20 U.S.C. § 794, or an individualized education
8 program, the school district shall take all steps necessary to ensure that services
9 comparable to those being received in the child’s previous school district are in
10 place not later than 30 days from when the child arrives in the school district,
11 including the transfer of records and any prior evaluations, the performance of
12 reevaluations as applicable, and the facilitation of any necessary meetings. If it
13 is determined that the enrolling child needs a new evaluation, such evaluation
14 shall take place within 30 days after the child’s enrollment in the school
15 district.
16    (e) If a child of a member of the armed forces is enrolled in a school district
17 and such member has received military orders directing the member to a
18 location outside the school district or any other documents from the armed
19 forces indicating a change of residency from the school district during the
20 school year, the child may continue to be enrolled in the child’s school of
21 origin, as defined in subdivision 1075(c)(1) of this title, until the end of the
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1 school year while such member remains a member of the armed forces;
2 provided, however, that any child in grade 11 may continue to be enrolled in
3 the child’s school of origin for an additional school year while the child’s
4 parent or guardian remains a member of the armed forces.
5 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE
6    This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
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