Dear Friends,

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We believe meaningful education transformation is impossible without addressing a core inequity in our current system: independent schools receiving public tuition dollars are not required to meet the same Education Quality Standards as Vermont public schools.

 

Vermont’s EQS set expectations for standards-aligned curriculum, student assessments, proficiency-based graduation requirements, personalized learning plans, tiered academic and behavioral supports, school counseling and health services, appropriately licensed professional staff, public reporting of student and system performance, and continuous improvement planning.

 

These are not minor requirements. They are the basic standards Vermont has established to ensure that students have access to substantially equal, high-quality educational opportunities. Public schools are required to meet them. Independent schools receiving public tuition dollars are not held to the same requirements.

 

That is why FVPE is asking school boards across Vermont to take a formal position in support of the Same Dollars, Same Rules principle: if a school receives public education dollars, it should meet Vermont’s Education Quality Standards.

 

So far, Burlington School District, Champlain Valley School District, Mill River Unified Union School District and Norwich School District have adopted resolutions supporting this effort, and multiple other school boards are going to be taking it up in the coming days and weeks. Now we need more school boards to join them.

 

A recent amendment led by Rep. Kate McCann of Montpelier, with 19 co-sponsors and support from many more legislators, would have applied EQS to publicly funded independent schools. The amendment did not pass, but it showed growing support for this policy and created an important opening.

 

What we are asking you to do

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• Please contact your local school board members and ask them to pass a resolution supporting Same Dollars, Same Rules.

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• Here is the resolution we are asking Boards to adopt.

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• FVPE can help make this easy by helping with timing and outreach, and we are happy to come speak with your board if that would be helpful.

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• The window is short. To be effective, school boards need to act within the next two weeks.

 

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Need help getting this on your board’s agenda?

​Contact FVPE and we will help you set it up, provide materials, and coordinate next steps.

Suggested message to your school board

You can write in your own words, or use the message below:

 

 

 

 

Dear School Board Members,

 

I am writing to ask the Board to pass a resolution in support of the Same Dollars, Same Rules principle.

 

As the Legislature continues work on H.955, I believe meaningful education transformation is impossible unless all schools receiving public tuition dollars are required to meet Vermont’s Education Quality Standards.

 

Public schools are accountable to voters, families, communities, and the State in ways that publicly funded independent schools currently are not. This is a basic matter of fairness, transparency, and educational equity. If public dollars are supporting a student’s education, the school receiving those dollars should meet the same core standards expected of Vermont’s public schools.

 

Burlington School District, Champlain Valley School District, Mill River Unified Union School District and Norwich School District have already adopted resolutions supporting this effort. I hope our board will join them. Please add this issue to the next upcoming agenda.