Vermont's school choice tuition system

Many smaller Vermont towns do not operate a local high school and some towns do not operate a local elementary or middle school. Students in these towns are eligible to choose from among public or non-religious independent schools in other towns (even outside of the state or nation). Each year, approximately half of all eligible students choose a public school and half an independent school. 

Under Vermont's school choice tuitioning system, the "sending" towns pay tuition directly to the "receiving" schools. While most sending towns allow parents to choose a school, a few towns "designate" a particular school to receive all their students (though waivers sometimes are granted).

When students are tuitioned to a Vermont public school, the sending town pays the receiving school district's full cost. When students are tuitioned to independent schools, the payment is set at the Vermont statewide average per-pupil cost in Vermont's union school districts, as calculated by the Department of Education. Because this amount often is less than the tuition and fees charged by independent schools, parents are responsible for the cost above the voucher's value.

Independent schools receiving public funds must be non-religious and be "approved" as having met state standards for independent schools.