Ending School Choice (S.66) - March 22, 2023
The Senate Education Committee heard from Senator Hardy on Wednesday about S.66. She described the bill as being about the changing education landscape in light of recent US Supreme Court rulings (Carson v. Makin, etc.). She stated that the bill prioritizes the designation of public schools only for public tuitioning of students (regardless of whether one is within a practical distance). However, it does allow for tuitioning to independent schools that meet three parts of a four-part test intended to carve out the four historic academies (St. Johnsbury, Burr and Burton, Thetford, Lyndon Institute). She highlighted that her desire is to “really prioritize public schools” and that there are areas of our state where we have “divested from public education and communities don’t have the options for public schools that they once had.”
Read moreEliminating Independent School Choice (S.66)
Mary Newman (Head of School, Sharon Academy) introduced her school and the students that were with her to the Senate Education Committee on Thursday. Eighth grader Chloe Evans was the first student to testify. Chairman Campion asked what she likes about the school, what she doesn’t like, and what her message was to the Committee. Evans shared that she feels like there is a misconception that independent schools are just for rich kids and that has not been her experience. She was bullied and mistreated at her last public school because minorities were not widely accepted there. She has diagnosed trauma and would often fake sickness so she didn’t have to go to that school. She didn’t know a school couldn’t be so supportive until she was at Sharon Academy. She didn’t know there was a place she could feel at home before her current school.
Read more