The Vermont School Boards Association exists to achieve Vermont’s vision for public education by supporting local boards to serve as effective trustees for education on behalf of their communities, and by providing a strong collective voice in the development and implementation of public education policy.

 

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A Situational Analysis of Public Education in Vermont: 2013

This joint presentation of the VSBA & VSA is intended to provide an array of useful information about conditions facing public education in Vermont. The analysis provides an overview of Vermont's school demographics, the statewide political conversation about education, fiscal characteristics of Vermont's schools, and the educational attainment of its students.

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EQS Commission

The Vermont Agency of Education's Education Quality Standards Commission is currently working on updating the EQS. You may find update to their progress at: http://education.vermont.gov/new/html/board/eqs.html.

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Vermont’s school boards are passionate about every child receiving an exceptional education. We know that the world is changing and that technology has opened dramatic new opportunities to enhance learning for our students.

For the past several months, we have spoken at regional meetings and at our annual conference about the need to engage every child in education and prepare them for success in this fast-changing world. By most measures, Vermont has a very good education system compared to other states. At the same time, we know that there are too many students who do not engage in their education. We know that too few students go on to higher education and fewer still complete a degree. We know we have much to do to better prepare our students for the new economy that calls for highly skilled graduates who are proficient in literacy, science, math, critical thinking, and creativity.

Moving education forward will require change on many levels—statewide leadership as evidenced by the Governor in his recent inaugural address, sound policy from the State Board, effective support from the new Agency, and most importantly, local implementation. Genuine, sustainable change comes community-by-community, school-by-school, through the creative efforts of teachers, through the education leadership of superintendents and principals, and through the commitment and focus of school boards. Vermont’s school boards are catalysts for change and create a climate that allows innovation to flourish among educators. We must be committed to moving education forward.

VSBA & VSA Joint Agenda for a World Class Education

Over the course of the fall, the Vermont School Boards Association and the Vermont Superintendents Association have put together a joint Agenda for Public Education. The comprehensive proposal, presented by board members and superintendents to a joint press conference on January 15, is available on this webpage. It focuses on how we engage every child in a world-class education. Specific proposals are being made in the areas of:

• Focusing education on personalized learning and proficiency
  
• A new vision for teaching and learning
  
• Engaging and supporting families
  
• Delivering and using world-class technology and information
  
• Providing effective leadership

To learn more about the Agenda for a World-Class Education System, please review the following documents:
VSBA & VSA Press Release
VSBA & VSA Agenda for a World-Class Education System
Succinct Summary of Agenda Proposals