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

Content:

Agency of Education is Seeking Public Comment on Waiver Request to USED to Permit Consolidation of ESEA State-Level Activities Funds

Audience: All Administrators, Educators and communities

The Vermont Agency of Education is requesting a waiver of ESEA Section 8201(a) and (b) for federal fiscal years 2026-2029. This would allow consolidation of state-level activity funds across Title IIA, IVA, and IVB.

These funds currently support statewide professional learning, technical assistance, and program implementation. The waiver would not change funding amounts, but would streamline administration and allow more flexible, coordinated professional learning across roles (e.g., educators, leaders) and settings (e.g., classroom and afterschool). This flexibility will help advance statewide priorities, including literacy, math, and chronic absenteeism. Please click here for the full text of the waiver request. The Agency welcomes comments on this request. Please submit in writing by 4:30 pm Monday May 11, 2026 to [email protected].

Contact: Anne Bordonaro at [email protected]

Agency of Education is Seeking Public Comment on Proposed Update to Vermont's Significant Disproportionality Methodology

Audience: All Administrators, Educators and communities

The Vermont Agency of Education is posting a methodology change to significant disproportionality for public comment. Significant disproportionality is one of the equity requirements of IDEA that monitors whether students from particular racial or ethnic groups are identified for special education, placed in certain educational settings, or disciplined at rates that are significantly different from their peers.

The change in methodology relates to the data sources used in significant disproportionality calculations and aims to align the measurement of significant disproportionality to Vermont's education governance structure. The proposed methodology would count all students, including tuitioned students, according to their district of residence. This would ensure that the numerator and denominator in risk ratio calculations are based on the same district population.

Please click here for the full statement. You can send comments or questions to the Agency by emailing [email protected]. Comments will be considered through May 18, 2026.

Contact: [email protected]

Seeking Student Member for Vermont State Board of Education

Audience: Vermont Secondary Students, Superintendents, Principals, CTE Directors, Guidance Counselors, Secondary Educators

The Governor's Office is seeking a student representative for the State Board of Education. This appointment will be for a two-year term (first-year as a non-voting member and the second-year as a voting member). Rising sophomores and rising juniors are encouraged to apply. Candidates may apply by submitting a resume and letter of interest to [email protected]. Application deadline is Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Questions about the State Board of Education may be directed to Maureen Gaidys ([email protected]) at the Agency of Education. More information about Boards and Commissions can be found here: Boards and Commissions | Office of Governor Phil Scott.

Contact: Maureen Gaidys at [email protected]

Evolving Our Support for Vermont's Multi-Tiered System of Supports

Audience: All administrators and educators

We recognize that the recent Agency reorganization, including the dissolution of the formal VTmtss team, has led to questions regarding the future of this work. We want to clear any ambiguity: The Agency of Education remains deeply committed to MTSS in alignment with Act 173. Rather than siloing these efforts within a single team, we are transitioning to an integrated model where MTSS principles and continuous improvement frameworks are woven into the fabric of every division across the Agency. This shift ensures that our strategic plan and our support for student outcomes are inextricably linked, providing a more cohesive experience for the field.

Currently, we are taking stock of existing resources to ensure they are modernized and centered on robust Tier 1 instruction - the foundation of equitable schooling. Our goal is to preserve the rigorous continuous improvement processes at the heart of VTmtss while making them more accessible and actionable for districts. We look forward to partnering with educators statewide to build a shared understanding and a more aligned system that meaningfully supports every Vermont student.

Contact: Stephanie Vogel at [email protected]

Informational Session: Using Grant Funds to Promote College and Career Readiness

Audience: Superintendents, Principals, Curriculum Directors, School Counselors, Teachers

Empowering Students. Elevating Educators. Strengthening School Communities. Learn how to use grant funds to enable teachers to become credentialed to teach concurrent college courses in their high school classrooms. High school teachers who hold a master's degree in their subject area or a general master's with 18 credits in the subject area can qualify as college adjunct faculty, enabling them to offer students equitable opportunities to earn college credit while still in high school. Use this link, Using Grant Funds to Promote College and Career Readiness, on Wednesday May 20th from 9:30 - 10:30 AM to access this informational session. No preregistration is needed.

Contacts : Ryan Parkman, Flexible Pathways Program Manager, College and Career Readiness Division [email protected]. Jessie Murray, State Title 1 Director, Grants Management Division [email protected]. Amy Dodge, Post-Secondary Programs Coordinator, College and Career Readiness Division [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 six 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: