Vermont Principals Weigh in on Teacher Evaluations
The Senate Education Committee heard Jay Nichols (Executive Director, Vermont Principals' Association) on Friday afternoon. Chairman Campion introduced Nichols and reiterated they are looking for general description of the typical process in use around Vermont.
Read moreSt Johnsbury Academy Impresses Senators
Sharon Howell (the headmaster) introduced herself and Saint Johnsbury Academy (SJA) to the Senate Education Committee on Friday. Her background started in higher education before she moved into preparatory schools. She has worked for several prestigious schools and said that the faculty ant SJA is the “most professional and thoughtful of all of them” and that “it is a minor miracle that St Johnsbury academy exists, and it exists where it does… and we take all students. The only qualification is that they are not a danger to themselves or others.” SJA has both a boarding school and a day school, which local students attend through the public tuitioning program. Amazingly, 71% of students in the district are on free or reduced lunch (one of the ways policy makers measure poverty in a given school) and they that have access to world class education and attend classes with students from 17 different countries.
Read moreAgency of Education Proposes New Home Study Oversight Regime
On Thursday, Secretary Dan French (Agency of Education) joined the House Education Committee to discuss new home study legislation that the Agency of Education (AOE) is asking for.
Read moreS.219 of 2022
Wednesday afternoon, the House Education Committee reviewed S.219 from 2022. The bill would require schools who receive public tuition to comply with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws that are applicable to public schools and to avoid using public tuition to support religious instruction or worship. The bill then sought to clarify the gap left by the Chittenden v. Department of Education case where adequate safeguards to prevent tuition dollars from being used for religious instruction where not defined.
Read moreState Auditor Revisits 2019 Report on Independent Schools
State Auditor Doug Hoffer joined the House Education Committee on Tuesday to discuss his report from 2019. One of the main things he flagged was that independent schools are not required to undergo financial audits. Approval from the State Board of Education does require the school to have “financial capacity” to carry out their obligations to students.
Read moreStaffing of Independent School Oversight
On Tuesday, the House Education Committee heard from Dan French (Secretary, Agency of Education) about the staffing requirements for oversight of independent schools. Chairman Conlon opened discussion asking for a basic nuts and bolts description of what is done in this area and who does it. French stated he could come back for a regulatory and statutory dive later. He explained the process has changed since he was appointed in 2018.
Read moreThe Sharon Academy on Education Quality Standards
On Friday, the House Education Committee heard from Mary Newman (Head of School at The Sharon Academy) about the Education Quality Standards (EQS) and why they are one of the only schools to pursue this certification. Students from up to 18 different towns choose to go to The Sharon Academy and almost 80% of their students are publicly funded.
Read moreVermont School Boards Association Shares 2023 Priorities
On Wednesday, the Senate Education Committee heard from the Vermont School Boards Association (VSBA) about their priorities for the 2023 legislative session.
Prior to the discussion, Senator Hashim pointed to availability of teachers, healthcare, and incentives for people to enter the trades as areas of concern for him.
He is also favorable towards universal school meals, civics education, and matched savings plans for students. Chairman Campion favors public-private partnerships in policy areas like these.
Senator Weeks would like to focus on financial literacy and pensions issues.
Read moreState Board of Education Rules on Independent Schools
On Wednesday, the House Education Committee heard from Jennifer Samuelson, Chair of the State Board of Education (SBE), on the 2200 rule series that governs independent schools and Vermont’s public tuitioning program. The board just finished rulemaking on the 2200 series last fall and there were two main categories of changes:
- Approved independent schools eligible to receive public tuition dollars must accept students requiring special education services.
- Approved independent schools eligible to receive public tuition dollars must provide special education services to any students attending.