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MODEL POLICIES
(Updated 7/18/11)

Model policies provide guidance, direction and recommended standards to help school administrators develop general school policy statements. Policies may be developed based on requirements of state or federal laws or at the request of the Vermont State Board of Education or the Vermont Legislature.

The Vermont School Boards Association (VSBA) develops model policies for Vermont local school officials and school administrators to use and the Department of Education helps support this effort. Some VSBA policies are developed in conjunction with the department, while others are not. In rare instances, the department and VSBA develop policies for the same topic; such policies address different interpretations of an issue and these model policies will appear as a resource on the department's Web site as well as on the VSBA Web site.

• Vermont Department of Education
• Vermont School Boards Association (VSBA)

HIV/AIDS Sample Model Policy 
This sample comprehensive HIV policy for schools, updated in 2006, addresses rights of faculty/staff and students; issues related to confidentiality and discrimination; education and instruction; legal references and resources for assistance and information. Appendices include recommended best practices for HIV prevention education and confidentiality; HIV Universal Precautions   procedures; sample confidentiality procedures; and consent forms.

Idling of Vehicles Other Than School Buses When Present on School Premises 
Section 1 of Act 48 of 2007 established 23 V.S.A. §1282(f) which prohibits school buses from idling on school grounds. The State Board of Education adopted rules to implement this legislation and to allow for limited idling in certain circumstances. Additionally, pursuant to Section 2 of Act 48, the department has developed a model policy to assist school boards wishing to reduce the idling of motor vehicles other than school buses while on school grounds. This model policy is also available in the following formats:

• Idling of Vehicles Other Than School Buses When Present on School Premises
• Idling of Vehicles Other Than School Buses When Present on School Premises

Model Policies Regarding Minimum and Optimal Average Class Size
Sections 15 and 16 of Act 153 of 2010 (formerly H.66) require the Commissioner of Education to develop model policies regarding average minimum and optimal class sizes, and to post them on the department's Web site. These policies, which illustrate approaches both at the supervisory union and district levels, address a number of variables that school boards should consider when designing class sizes, in order to best accommodate the particular needs of different grade clusters and different instructional areas. The goal of the policies is to assist school boards in fashioning class sizes which ensure the delivery of optimal educational services, while at the same time being responsible from the standpoint of cost. View model policies and guidelines for:

• Minimum and Optimal Supervisory Union-Wide Average Class Sizes Model Policy
• Supervisory Union-Wide Class Size Policy Guidelines
• Minimum and Optimal School District-Specific Average Class Sizes Model Policy
• School District-Specific Class Size Policy Guidelines

NOTE: Model policies and guidelines are now provided as separate documents rather than being combined into a single download.

Restrictive Behavioral Intervention 
On August 15, 2011, State Board Rule 4500, The Use of Restraint and Seclusion in Vermont Schools, will go into effect. In the interim, it is recommended that schools follow the new rule and use it for planning purposes.

Student Harassment
This Department of Education model policy may be used by supervisory unions/school districts to formalize policies and procedures for identifying and reporting the unlawful harassment of students based on race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, sex, sexual orientation or disability. Pursuant to Act 41 of 2007, this model policy now references the term, gender identity, as well. Vermont law requires schools to adopt a policy "at least as stringent as [this] model policy." NOTE: This model policy was revised to reflect the 2011 Legislative changes.

Another student harassment model policy may be found on the Vermont School Boards Association Model Policy Manual Web page.

• Student Harassment Form (for Schools)
  Download this form to your computer and use your word-processing program to fill in the name of your school and other required information regarding "designated employees."

• Student Harassment Form (for Districts)
  Download this form to your computer and use your word-processing program to fill in the name of your district and other required information regarding "designated employees."

• Harassment Complaint Designees
  School districts are required to designate two or more employees to receive harassment complaints pursuant to Act 91 of 2004, An Act Relating to Harassment in Schools. Contact school district administration for the names of individuals designated for your district.

Student Hazing
This Department of Education model policy may be used by supervisory unions/school districts to formalize policies and procedures for identifying and reporting the unlawful hazing of students. Vermont law requires schools to adopt a policy "at least as stringent as [this] model policy." Another student hazing model policy may be found on the Vermont School Boards Association Model Policy Manual Web page.

• Student Hazing Form
  Download this form to your computer and use your word-processing program to fill in the name of your school and other required information.

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