VT S0271

Agency of Education must develop guidance and training for school districts to distinguish between protected political expression and unlawful harassment of protected classes, including criteria for evaluating speech context, intent, and chilling effects on student expression

Harassment, Hazing, and Bullying Prevention Advisory Council membership expands to include a civil liberties expert, Jewish and Palestinian community leaders, a K-12 educator, a K-12 administrator, and a legal scholar with First Amendment expertise

Agency of Education must develop a freedom of expression curriculum for public elementary and secondary schools covering First Amendment protections and Vermont Constitution Article 13, enabling students to distinguish political advocacy from bias-based harassment including antisemitism and Islamophobia

Curriculum must be developed by January 1, 2027, with supervisory unions required to implement instruction beginning in the 2027-2028 school year

Effective date: July 1, 2026