VT H0931

Creates an exemption to the moratorium on approving new independent schools when a currently approved therapeutic independent school undergoes a change in ownership, allowing it to continue operating without interruption

Adopts the Interstate Compact for Education, establishing Vermont's membership in the Education Commission of the States—a multi-state body with 7 members per state that facilitates cooperation, policy research, and information sharing on education issues

Renames "boards of cooperative education services" (BOCES) to "cooperative educational service areas" (CESA) throughout Vermont statute, with no more than 7 CESAs permitted statewide

Suspends counting a school's failure to meet class size minimum requirements toward the three consecutive years of noncompliance that triggers State Board action, until the State Board updates Education Quality Standards rules or July 1, 2027, whichever comes first

Requires the Agency of Education to conduct criminal background checks and registry searches for any new employee or contractor who may have unsupervised contact with students, with applicants paying the fee and those convicted of registrable sex offenses barred from employment