Vermont Agency of Education

This document outlines the charge and work ahead for the State Board of Education's Small Class Size Committee, focused on implementing Act 73 (2025) and H.955 (2026). The plan aims to transform Vermont education by promoting equity, efficiency, and affordability through new minimum average class size standards. Key aspects include establishing new definitions, detailing waiver authorities, outlining oversight, and setting a regulatory timeline for new rules (EQS and Rule 2200) to take effect by July 2027. The committee's work from 2026 to 2027 involves legislative clarification, rule drafting, and inter-agency collaboration to ensure consistent compliance across schools.

The committee conducted a working session to identify core issues and strategic priorities regarding the state's educational model. Discussions focused on the standardization of statewide educational requirements, policy versus implementation support, and the definition of credits within proficiency-based learning frameworks. The committee explored the necessity for clear assessment protocols, graduation pathways, and the inclusion of diverse educational perspectives, including those from curriculum directors, special educators, and CTE representatives. Future planning includes developing guiding questions for stakeholder consultations to refine graduation standards and content requirements.

This document outlines strategic questions regarding Vermont's intended educational model, specifically focusing on secondary education and graduation standards. Key areas of inquiry include defining the educational model, determining what aspects require statewide standardization, differentiating policy from implementation support, clarifying the appropriate placement of regulations (statute, EQS, local policy), and establishing the level of specificity for graduation requirements. The document also highlights the need to define core terms such as 'sufficient rigor,' 'credit,' and 'graduation' to ensure clarity and consistency in the state's educational framework.

The committee meeting focused on perspectives regarding the current legislative session, specifically regarding efforts to implement goals related to Act 73. Discussions covered H.955, an act concerning the transformation of the education system in Vermont, including potential adjustments to class size minimum deadlines. Additionally, the committee discussed H.930, which addresses and prevents chronic absenteeism, and future work related to school standards, alongside acknowledging upcoming changes in committee leadership.

The board discussed agenda updates, including the removal of a request from UVM. Members recognized board colleagues ending their terms, reviewed updates from the advisory council on literacy, and received a staff report on licensing renewals and the status of special education provisional waivers. The board also approved an educator waiver request for initial licensure through a traditional route without formal student teaching and reviewed an administrative waiver request concerning superintendent experience requirements.