H.454 is now law

On July 1, Governor Phil Scott signed H.454 into law, a far reaching education overhaul passed under pressure. The bill lacked majority support from Senate Democrats and only passed with Republican votes. In the House, it quickly passed on a voice vote, leaving no public record of where members stood. 

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The process revealed how deeply private school interests shaped public policy. Two Senate conferees, Seth Bongartz and Scott Beck, now face formal ethics complaints filed by Friends of Vermont Public Education board member Geo Honigford. Bongartz, a longtime private school board chair and paid consultant, fought to protect funding for his former client. Beck, a teacher at St. Johnsbury Academy, pushed for carve-outs that benefit his employer and reduce oversight.

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Despite promises of transformation, the bill delivers no cost savings, no consistent rules, and no accountability. It preserves a system where private schools receiving public funds can select students, dismiss them without cause, bypass education standards, and avoid public reporting. No independent oversight exists to enforce the rules.

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This contradicts Vermont’s Constitution, which guarantees public education for all and requires state resources to serve the common good. H.454 failed that test.

Supporters now highlight a patchwork of “off ramps.” But a bill that needs that many escape routes is not serious reform.

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Senate Democratic leadership backed the bill but couldn’t secure a majority: 7 voted yes, 10 voted no. In the House, there’s no record at all. That’s not accountability. That’s not good governance.

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July 1 was a difficult day for public education in Vermont. But this fight isn’t over. Friends of Vermont Public Education will keep working to ensure that any school receiving public dollars follows public rules, serves all students, and answers to Vermonters.