Bill > H0310

This bill addresses increasing antisemitism in Vermont by proposing two key changes to state education law. First, the bill expands the legal definition of harassment in schools to explicitly include ethnic harassment and antisemitic harassment, providing detailed descriptions of what constitutes these forms of harassment. Second, the bill requires the Secretary of Education to develop a comprehensive antisemitism awareness education curriculum for kindergarten through 12th grade, in collaboration with Shalom Alliance of Vermont. The curriculum must cover the evolution, effects, ethics, and legal consequences of antisemitism. The bill also mandates that the Secretary provide training programs for school personnel on antisemitism prevention, develop age-appropriate teaching materials, offer technical assistance to school districts, and encourage coordination with community resources. The bill's motivation stems from alarming statistics: in 2023, Vermont experienced the second-highest increase in antisemitic hate crimes per capita nationally, and the United States saw a 200 percent increase in such crimes, with the FBI reporting 1,832 anti-Jewish hate crimes in 2023, up from 1,122 in 2022. The legislation aims to prevent the normalization of antisemitism in Vermont's education system by providing education and awareness.

Education

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.310