§ 791. General Provision—Article I
A. Statement of policy. It is the purpose of this compact to increase the educational opportunities within
the states of New York and Vermont by encouraging the formation of interstate school
districts which will each be a natural social and economic region with adequate financial
resources and a number of pupils sufficient to permit the efficient use of school
facilities within the interstate district and to provide improved instruction. The
state boards of education of New York and Vermont may formulate and adopt additional
standards consistent with this purpose and with these standards; and the formation
of any interstate school district and the adoption of its articles of agreement shall
be subject to the approval of both state boards as hereinafter set forth.
B. Requirement of congressional approval. This compact shall not become effective until approved by the United States Congress.
C. Definitions. The terms used in this compact shall be construed as follows, unless a different meaning
is clearly apparent from the language or context:
a. “Interstate school district” and “interstate district” shall mean a school district
composed of one or more school districts located in the State of New York associated
under this compact with one or more school districts located in the State of Vermont,
and may include either the elementary schools, the secondary schools, or both.
b. “Member school district” and “member district” shall mean a school district located
either in New York or Vermont which is included within the boundaries of a proposed
or established interstate school district. In the case of districts located in Vermont,
it shall include city school districts, town school districts, union school districts,
and incorporated school districts. Where appropriate, the term “member district clerk”
shall refer to the clerk of the city in which a Vermont school district is located,
the clerk of the town in which a Vermont town school district is located, or the clerk
of an incorporated school district.
c. “Elementary school” shall mean a school which includes all grades from kindergarten
or grade one through not less than grade six nor more than grade eight.
d. “Secondary school” shall mean a school which includes all grades beginning no lower
than grade seven and no higher than grade twelve.
e. “Interstate board” shall refer to the board serving an interstate school district.
f. “New York board” shall refer to the New York State Board of Education.
g. “Vermont board” shall refer to the Vermont State Board of Education.
h. “Commissioner” shall refer to the New York Commissioner of Education or the Vermont
Secretary of Education, individually or collectively as appropriate. “State departments
of education” shall refer collectively to the New York State Education Department
and the Vermont Agency of Education.
i. Where joint action by both state boards is required, each state board shall deliberate
and vote by its own majority, but shall separately reach the same result or take the
same action as the other state board.
j. The terms “professional staff personnel” and “instructional staff personnel” shall
include superintendents, assistant superintendents, administrative assistants, principals,
guidance counsellors, special education personnel, school nurses, therapists, teachers,
and other licensed personnel.
k. The term “warrant” or “warning” to mean the same for both states. (Added 1975, No. 130 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 1989, No. 118, § 3; 2013, No. 92 (Adj. Sess.), § 94, eff. Feb. 14, 2014.)