Press Release: Unified Education System Essential for Vermont’s Reform
Montpelier, VT — The Friends of Vermont Public Education, an advocacy board comprised of local educators and concerned community members, has issued a critical commentary highlighting the inefficiencies of Vermont’s education system, emphasizing the urgent need for a unified framework.
The commentary posits that the current division between public and private educational systems—both funded by taxpayer resources yet governed by disparate regulations—hinders meaningful reform. This twin structure, managed by a notably diminished Agency of Education, allows independent schools to operate with far less accountability than their public counterparts. Citing a 2020 report from State Auditor Doug Hoffer, the group pointed out that public schools must adhere to strict transparency standards while independent institutions are exempt from basic oversight practices.
As Vermont Public education reporter Lola Duffort indicated, independent schools present substantial barriers to reform progress. Legislative measures like Act 46 and Act 173, designed to necessitate school mergers and provide financial incentives for public schools, have failed to unify the systems or address core structural issues.
Recent negotiations regarding educational reforms, particularly surrounding H.454, collapsed, primarily due to efforts from certain senators seeking to accommodate independent school interests, thereby jeopardizing progress.
The Friends of Vermont Public Education assert that real change requires abandoning fragmented negotiations. They advocate for a cohesive educational system that mandates uniform standards across all publicly-funded institutions, including setting quality education benchmarks and enhancing oversight from the Agency of Education.
The board emphasizes that until Vermont forms a singular educational framework, addressing key issues like affordability and equitable instruction will remain elusive. “The time for meaningful, comprehensive reform is now,” they assert, calling on stakeholders to prioritize the establishment of one equitable educational system.
For more information, the board’s directors include Geo Honigford, Adrienne Raymond, and others from various Vermont communities.
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