POSITION STATEMENT
DUAL ENROLLMENT
In passing Act 77, the 2013 Legislature enacted a revised dual enrollment statute – 16 V.S.A. § 944 – providing financial support for high school students to take college-level courses from college instructors and receive credit toward both high school and college graduation.
The legislation specifically excluded from dual enrollment financial support those Vermont resident students attending independent schools on a private-pay basis. This exclusion abridges the right of all Vermont resident students to a publicly-financed preK-grade 12 education guaranteed in the Vermont Constitution.
The students prevented from participation in the dual enrollment program by 16 V.S.A. § 944 were eligible under previous dual enrollment statutes and did in fact participate then.
VISA Position
All Vermont-resident students are constitutionally entitled to a publicly-funded preK-12 education. Students may use as much or as little of their entitlement as they wish, without prejudice to the entitlement availability.
The legislation specifically excluded from dual enrollment financial support those Vermont resident students attending independent schools on a private-pay basis. This exclusion abridges the right of all Vermont resident students to a publicly-financed preK-grade 12 education guaranteed in the Vermont Constitution.
The students prevented from participation in the dual enrollment program by 16 V.S.A. § 944 were eligible under previous dual enrollment statutes and did in fact participate then.
VISA Position
All Vermont-resident students are constitutionally entitled to a publicly-funded preK-12 education. Students may use as much or as little of their entitlement as they wish, without prejudice to the entitlement availability.