Vermont's Unique School Structure
Vermont reorganized its school districts significantly under Act 46 (2015), merging smaller districts into larger Supervisory Unions. Today, Vermont has 52 supervisory unions and supervisory districts, each governed by a school board (sometimes called a board of school directors).
School governance in Vermont is separate from town government — school boards operate independently from selectboards, though both answer to the same residents.
School board decisions are the single largest driver of Vermont property taxes
"Most Vermont homeowners don't know who's on their school board — even though that board controls more of their tax bill than any other elected body."
What School Boards Control
Budget
School boards set the annual education budget, which is the single largest driver of property taxes for most Vermont homeowners.
Superintendent hiring
The board hires and evaluates the superintendent, who runs day-to-day operations.
Curriculum and policy
Boards set district-wide academic policies, though individual principals have significant autonomy.
Facilities
Capital projects — new buildings, major renovations — require board approval and often a separate community vote.
How to Get Involved
Find your supervisory union
The Vermont Agency of Education maintains a full list of supervisory unions and districts at education.vermont.gov. Your supervisory union is the governance entity — not your individual school building.
Act 46 and District Mergers
Vermont's Act 46 (2015) required most small school districts to merge into larger unified districts by 2019. The goal was to equalize education spending across the state and reduce administrative overhead. The mergers were controversial in many communities and some towns successfully sought exemptions.