Policy for The People - March 10, 2025

If you have any stake in Vermont’s education system—whether you're a parent, student, educator, bus driver, counselor, cafeteria staff member, school nurse, EMT, or in any other role—you should pay VERY close attention to the following draft bill (DR25-0937) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sQHbSTU1jXnl5TrLKpE0SUtppQPY4Iwc/view. 


What’s the Point:

This heavy-handed attempt to standardize education in Vermont proposes to do so by imposing harsh changes to current programs such as “school choice”. These changes largely target low-income and rural Vermonters. Most importantly, this is a very swift attempt to make changes to long-standing programs that have provided equitable education for many decades. 


Why it Matters for All Vermonters:

  • The kindergarten through 8th grade “tuitioning system” will be limited for everyone in the 802. 
  • Increased financial and administrative burdens, especially on small districts
  • These “one size fits all” changes do not consider equity for low income and other marginalized students. 
  • Potential for reduced educational access due to transportation issues.

Why this matters MORE for the NEK and rural Vermonters:

  • Limits Lyndon Institute, St. Johnsbury Academy, and similar schools from enrolling any high school students who live within a 75-minute drive of either school.
  • Would no longer allow schools like Lyndon Institute to educate students who attend using public tuition. At LI, more than 98% of the student body would be affected. This would cause the entire school to close. 
  • Sets a minimum school size for grades 6-12. This could lead to the closure of many small schools in rural Vermont towns. 

How to Take Immediate Action:

Write. Your. Legislators. Find them here: https://legislature.vermont.gov/people/


AND/OR


Write the committee members who are currently proposing this bill. They are: 

Representative Peter Conlon - pconlon@leg.state.vt.us

Representative Chris Taylor - cataylor@leg.state.vt.us

Representative Erin Brady - ebrady@leg.state.vt.us

Representative Jana Brown - jbrown@leg.state.vt.us

Representative Joshua Dobrovich - jdobrovich@leg.state.vt.us

Representative Leanne Harple - lharple@leg.state.vt.us

Representative Robert Hunter - rhunter@leg.state.vt.us

Representative Emily Long - elong@leg.state.vt.us

Representative Kate McCann - kmccann@leg.state.vt.us

Representative Beth Quimby - bquimby@leg.state.vt.us

Representative Casey Toof - ctoof@leg.state.vt.us

Committee Assistant Annie Gianni - agianni@leg.state.vt.us


In summation, if this bill passes in its current form it will undoubtedly disproportionately affect low-income Vermonters, rural Vermonters, and any students who are currently enrolled through the state’s very popular “school choice” program. 


Normally, I would encourage you to ask legislators to “re-design” this bill; but considering the last minute timing of its potential introduction, there is no chance that our very hardworking Committee(s) on Education will be able to restructure this bill in a way that is equitable for the underrepresented populations that I have already mentioned. 


Please write your legislators TODAY to help them better understand how this will affect your lives. 


This is Policy for The People. 

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