Reshaping our education system
To suggest updates or other information, email (Rep. Elizabeth Burrows) at elizabeth@elizabethvt.com.
Last updated 12/22/25
Last updated 12/22/25
Wednesday, December 17th at State Board of Education meeting:
Redistricting Task Force: Final report released:
The actual proposal: https://aoa.vermont.gov/sites/aoa/files/Appendix%20E_%20The%20Vermont%20Regional%20Education%20Partnership%20Model_UPDATED%2012.2.25%20v.%202.pdf
The whole report:
https://aoa.vermont.gov/school-district-redistricting-task-force
Final report (submitted 12/1/25): https://aoa.vermont.gov/sites/aoa/files/FINAL%20-%20Redistricting%20Task%20Force%20Legislative%20Report_12.1.25_1.pdf
If the legislature does not enact new district boundaries, then the new funding formula (foundation formula) and the statewide property tax rate changes will not go forward.
The question for right now is, did the vote in favor of a status quo map mean that the new funding formula will be negated? The answer is that it appears that way, but may not be that way. The legislature still has its work to do, starting in January.
Link to the 11/10 agenda presentation on types of "school choice": https://aoa.vermont.gov/sites/aoa/files/REVISED%20-%20Sue%20presentation%20with%20Emily%20slides.pdf
The orignal proposals:
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Centers-centered map/proposal - VOTED DOWN BY THE TASK FORCE ON MONDAY, 11/10/25
new UPDATED CTE map (posting on Sunday, 11/8/25)
map of new districts under this proposal- white areas = supervisory districts, all operating k-12; others SUs, color-coded for like structures
leaves the state with seven supervisory districts and seven supervisory unions; within the SUs would be 21 districts total
spreadsheet of districts under this proposal
Districts might also be Supervisory Unions (on latest map, many are, but not all-- see above)
No savings in mergers; savings come from the state taking control of spending and cutting it off.
Private schools allowed to charge for every student at a higher “CTE” rate (e.g. above the proposed foundation block) even for students who never take a CTE course and students whose only exposure to CTE is 40 minutes a day for a semester.
Administration may still be working on a plan for a single statewide CTE district and a tuition bump for CTE.
Leaves areas with no CTE access; with no school construction aid they are not going to be built
Still includes one district with 22,000 students and another with fewer than a thousand
Regional cooperative education services (formerly BOCES) and voluntary mergers
Memo from Rebecca Holcombe and Jen Botzojorns to the Task Force that precedes Part two: https://aoa.vermont.gov/sites/aoa/files/2025-10-28%20Memo%20to%20Task%20Force%20from%20RH%20and%20JB%20on%20revisions%20to%20proposal.pdf
11/10/25 presentation (includes Comprehensive High Schools)
Regional high schools that include on-site CTE facilities
Focuses on student outcomes and educational improvement
Data-driven
AOE did not provide complete requested data set
11/10/25 two-page summary
11/10/25 presentation (includes Comprehensive High Schools)
voluntary mergers
10-year plan that includes
years 1-2: conduct fiscal modeling, finalize policy guardrails to ensure equity in opportunity; establish CES infrastructure
years 3-5: support regional planning, pilots through construction aid and technical assistance
years 6-10: scale successes
plan calls out lack of data supporting the 4,000 to 8,000 student requirement
plan calls out the lasting harm caused by forced mergers versus community expertise and collaboration
Overview of the education survey results - see "moving pieces" page for all results
Zoie Saunders' presentation on reflections and considerations (11/10/25)
PUBLIC COMMENTS RECEIVED/POSTED BY THE TASK FORCE:
https://aoa.vermont.gov/school-district-redistricting-task-force/redistricting-public-comment
“COMMUNITY, DEMOCRACY AND EDUCATION: THE CASE FOR VOLUNTARY COLLABORATION AND SUPERVISORY UNIONS - POSITION STATEMENT from RURAL SCHOOL COMMUNITY ALLIANCE (RSCA) - JULY, 2025”
(agendas, minutes, video recordings of meetings and public hearings; committee materials; public comment email address-- note: public comments received will NOT be posted publicly):
https://education.vermont.gov/state-board-councils/commission-on-the-future-of-public-education
Overview of the Commission’s Tasks and Proposed Changes to the State Board of Education:
https://education.vermont.gov/vermont/content/state-level-governance
Necessary updates to the roles and responsibilities of school district boards and the electorate;
A process for communities to have a voice in decisions regarding school closures; and
A process for monitoring implementation of Act 73 in a manner that is transparent and public facing.
Final report - to be presented at the Vermont State Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, December 17th (see home page for details)
COMMISSION SURVEY RESULTS OVERVIEW: https://aoa.vermont.gov/sites/aoa/files/Vermont_Education_Survey_Findings%2011-10-2025.pdf
RAW DATA FROM SURVEY (goes to Excel spreadsheet): https://education.vermont.gov/spreadsheet/edu-vermont-education-system-survey-responses
Although this group, which includes the Secretory of State’s office, has started meeting to discuss establishing guidelines for mapping voting wards spanning multiple towns, they cannot actually start drawing any voting map(s) for school boards until the Redistricting Task Force has finalized its recommendations for 1-3 maps by 12/1/25.
State Board of Education Small Sparse Schools Committee (the link goes to information provided in advance of the October 10, 2025 meeting; here is a link to the minutes from that meeting)
leave written public comment for the committee at SBE.PublicComment@vermont.gov
Committee meets on Wednesday, December 10th, 6-7:30 p.m. (per 11/21/25 meeting).
Class size averages for the whole dang state:
(Excel spreadsheet) edu-sbe-class-size_act73_mins_july_25
Small Sparse Schools Committee continues working on proposed standards for schools to be “Small by Necessity” (less than 100 students) or “Sparse by Necessity” (fewer than 55 residents per square mile).
12/15/25 Agency of Education submits report to the legislature on “clear and equitable guidelines for minimum transportation to be provided and covered by transportation grants.”
8/1/26 State Board of Education amends EDUCATIONAL QUALITY STANDARDS
(Rule 2000 series) “… to assure compliance with the class size minimum standards.”
7/1/26 (FY27) Class-size minimum rules apply
7/1/27 (FY28) Class-size minimum non-compliance actions apply (AOE)
https://education.vermont.gov/vermont/content/education-policy-changes
Class size standards.
(i) The average class size minimum for first-grade classes shall be 10 students.
(ii) The average class size minimum for grades two through five shall be 12 students.
(iii) The average class size minimum for grades six through eight in all required content areas shall be 15 students.
(iv) The average class size minimum for grades nine through 12 in all required content area classes shall be 18 students.
(v) Multiage classrooms for grades kindergarten through eight shall be limited to two grade levels per classroom.
(vi) Prekindergarten, kindergarten, career and technical education, flexible pathways, terminal courses, advanced placement courses, courses that require specialized equipment, and driver’s education classes shall be excluded from the class size minimum requirements in this subdivision
Small group services for the purpose of providing special education, supplemental or targeted academic intervention, or English learner instruction shall also be excluded from the class size minimum requirements in this subdivision.
(vii) Class sizes shall not exceed the maximum occupancy limits established by local and State fire codes, including egress and safety requirements.
(B) Waivers. If a school board determines that it operates a school that is unable to comply with the class size minimum standards due to geographic isolation, or a school has developed an implementation plan to meet the standards contained in this subdivision that may include consolidation or merger, the school board may ask the State Board of Education to grant it waiver from this subdivision. The State Board shall define what qualifies as geographic isolation in its rules adopted pursuant to subdivision (a)(3) of this section (note: this is the work of the State Board of Education Small Sparse Schools Committee.) . The State Board’s decision shall be final.
Updated graduation requirements recommendations: https://education.vermont.gov/sites/aoe/files/documents/edu-aoe-grad-req-rec-pres-202511.pdf
Minutes from November 20th meeting
ACT 73 established this work group to plan and problem-solve with no funding plan or commitments. The administration, which has promised to reduce education property taxes, has not provided for the cost of infrastructure repairs, improvements and new construction for this exorbitant annual statewide cost. The earliest possible availability of construction funds would be after 7/1/27 during FY28, if at all.
https://education.vermont.gov/vermont/accordion-type/act-73-summary
Note: in 2007 (18 years ago) the state cut off state aid for school infrastructure and construction, allowing school buildings throughout the state to deteriorate.
In their January, 2025 report, the non-partisan Vermont Joint Fiscal Office (JFO) reported that in 2024 the Agency of Education and the State Treasurer estimated that current school infrastructure needs would require $6.2 billion or $300 million per year for 20 years.
https://education.vermont.gov/sites/aoe/files/documents/edu-act-73-special-education-report-2025.pdf
The proposal to assign a fixed amount of special education funding based upon a student’s individualized Education Plan (IEP) eligibility category (i.e., Specific Learning Disability, Intellectual Disability, Emotional Disturbance, etc.) does not accurately provide school districts with sufficient funding for the wide range and intensity of each student’s individualized educational needs.
NOTE that starting 7/1/28 (FY29) under ACT 73, Total Education Spending and per student foundation formula funding will be set at the state level.
Without taking in specific educational needs and expenses, the legislature and governor will set a pre-determined amount for the Education Fund based upon FY25 (2024-2025) expenditures. School Boards will no longer determine, with public input, the financial needs of their districts, and will no longer submit budgets for local voter approval/rejection (unless to ask voters to approve spending beyond the allotted amount, which would be paid directly by the district).
NOVEMBER, 2027 (Intended date): ELECTION OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS FOR NEW ACT 73 DISTRICTS BASED UPON NEW VOTING WARDS
JULY 1, 2028 (intended date): NEW DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARDS ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY AND MUST OPERATE WITH THE FUNDING THE STATE PROVIDES.
If a district’s taxpayers are want to raise up to 6% more funds, they can vote to increase their own tax and pay the substantial penalties involved.