2005 Vermont Code - § 1073. — \'Legal pupil\' defined; access to school

§ 1073. "Legal pupil" defined; access to school

(a) "Legal pupil" means an individual who has attained the age of five years on or before January 1 next following the beginning of the school year. However, a school district may establish and enforce a regulation which requires that students admitted to kindergarten have attained the age of five on or before any date between August 31 and January 1.

(b) No legal pupil, including a married, pregnant or postpartum pupil, shall be deprived of or denied the opportunity to participate in or complete an elementary and secondary public school education. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 822 and 1075 of this title, for reasons related to the pregnancy or birth, a pregnant or postpartum pupil may attend any approved public school in Vermont or an adjacent state, approved independent school in Vermont, or other educational program approved by the state board. The commissioner shall pay the educational costs for a pregnant or postpartum pupil attending a state board approved educational program in a 24-hour residential facility for up to eight months after the birth of the child. The commissioner may approve extension of payment of educational costs based on a plan for reintegration of the student into the community or for exceptional circumstances as determined by the commissioner. The district of residence of a pupil in a 24-hour residential facility shall remain responsible for coordination of the pupil's educational program and for planning and facilitating her subsequent educational program.

(c) An individual who is not a legal pupil shall not be enrolled in a public school, except for enrollment in a program of essential early education, without the consent of the superintendent. (Amended 1971, No. 243 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; 1979, No. 124 (Adj. Sess.); 1983, No. 247 (Adj. Sess.), § 4(6); 1985, No. 71, § 6; 1991, No. 21, § 1; 1995, No. 157 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 1997, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 153a, eff. April 29, 1998.)