Weekly Field Memo: Recent News and Items of Interest From the Agency

Content:

Safe and Sound Schools - PREPaRE + Comprehensive School Safety Training

Audience: School safety team members, school safety personnel

Safe and Sound Schools has released a new 1.5-day virtual experience that combines NASP's PREPaRE Workshop 1 with the Comprehensive School Safety Framework Training. Designed specifically for multidisciplinary school safety teams, this experience helps participants build a stronger foundation for both physical and psychological safety while creating a path toward real-world implementation. Though this training does not meet annual school safety training requirements of Act 29, this is an excellent opportunity for any school safety team that wishes to attend. Please see the PREPaRE + Comprehensive School Safety Training Registration Page if interested.

Contact: Taylor Goodwin at [email protected]

State Board of Education Approved Standards

Audience: Superintendents, Curriculum Directors, Principals, Educators

The AOE will continue to support proficiency-based learning as we strengthen our focus on statewide implementation of the State Board of Education approved standards. However, we have archived some previously AOE-developed proficiency based learning materials while we clarify the expectations for rigor at each grade level in alignment with the state approved standards. For information on state approved standards, visit our website .

Contact: Rachael Ledwidge at [email protected]

A Heads-Up on Federal Digital Accessibility Requirements

Audience: Superintendents, Communications Directors, Technology Directors

By April 26, 2028, Vermont public schools will be required to make their websites and digital content accessible to people with disabilities under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The U.S. Department of Justice sets the standard and handles enforcement.

In plain terms, this is about whether a parent using a screen reader can navigate your school website, whether a community member who is deaf can access a video you've posted, or whether someone with a motor disability can fill out a form online. The technical standard schools need to meet is called WCAG 2.1 Level AA (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). Think of it the way you may think about physical accessibility requirements for a school building - ramps, handrails, accessible restrooms - but applied to websites and digital content.

If your district hasn't started thinking about this yet, you're not alone. A recent National School Public Relations Association survey found that only 14% of school districts have completed or nearly completed this work. The compliance deadline is still two years away, but it's never too early to start making progress. Starting somewhere is what counts.

The Agency is sharing this as an early heads-up. Compliance is a federal matter, not something the Agency oversees. The U.S. Department of Justice has two resources worth bookmarking: a plain-language overview of the rule and a first steps guide for state and local governments. Both are at ada.gov.

Contact: [email protected]

The VT Agency of Education is hiring

Audience: All Administrators, Educators and communities

The Vermont Agency of Education is hiring. To support our ongoing recruitment efforts and keep the field informed, all current open positions at the Agency will now be shared in the Weekly Field Memo (WFM). We encourage you to review, share, and distribute these opportunities throughout your schools, districts, and professional networks. View two current openings on the VT Careers website. Thank you for helping us spread the word and connect talented professionals with meaningful work in Vermont education!
The following positions have been posted: