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

Agency Releases Act 73 Special Education Report

Audience: Educators, Principals, Superintendents

The Agency of Education released a new Special Education Report, which identifies strengths, challenges, and opportunities in the delivery of services to students with disabilities. The report is an important part of the Agency's ongoing strategic planning process and a key step in implementing Act 73, the state's new education transformation law. Read more about the release of the report and key findings in the Agency's press release.

Contact: Cassie Santo at [email protected]

AOE Regulatory Compliance Team - October Webinars

Audience: Business Managers, Superintendents, any staff involved with grant management and/or procurement

The AOE Regulatory Compliance Team is offering the following trainings during the month of October:

Compensation of Personal Services - "Time and Effort"
October 7th at 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Register for Compensation of Personal Services - "Time and Effort" October 7th

Contract Administration
October 15th at 9:30 am - 10:00 am
Register for Contract Administration

Compensation of Personal Services - "Time and Effort"
October 21st at 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Register for Compensation of Personal Services - "Time and Effort" October 21st

Suspension and Debarment - SAM.gov
October 29th at 11:00 am - 11:30 am
Register for Suspension and Debarment - SAM.gov

Please register using the links provided.

Compensation of Personal Services - "Time and Effort" trainings will be the same content, offered at different times for your convenience.

Contact: Abby Houle, School Finance Analyst at [email protected]

Building a Strong Foundation for Lifelong Literacy Success: A Facilitator's Guide to Implementation

Audience: Instructional coaches, Lead teachers, Curriculum coordinators, Literacy leaders

Join us for a dynamic and interactive 90-minute session designed to prepare literacy leaders, coaches, and facilitators to effectively implement professional learning structured around the asynchronous modules that make up the statewide science of reading course, Building a Strong Foundation for Lifelong Literacy Success. This workshop will provide a practical guide to delivering the course in schools and professional learning communities, with an emphasis on facilitation strategies, pacing, and adult learning practices. Register now for the Building a Strong Foundation for Lifelong Literacy Success workshop, which takes place on Tuesday, October 7, from 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm.

Contact: Emily Leute at [email protected]

Early Education Free October Professional Development

Audience: Universal PreK administrators, Teachers and Staff

The Early Education Team at the Agency of Education is pleased to announce a FREE October professional development opportunity:

October 9 - GOLD for Administrators and Coaches: Using Data to Support Children, Families, and Teachers. This 1-day training session is designed to enhance your understanding and application of GOLD data to support your role in assuring reliable reporting of GOLDdata for Universal Prekindergarten programs.

October 10 - Unlocking the Power of the Assessment Process. This 1-day training session is designed to enhance your understanding and application of GOLD data to support your role in assuring reliable reporting of GOLDdata for Universal Prekindergarten programs.

Contact: Michele Johnson at [email protected] to inquire about registration.

Q&A: Guidance on Section 10 of Act 72 (16 V.S.A. § 2903 Amendment)

Audience: Curriculum leaders, Literacy leaders, Educators, Principals, Literacy Coaches, Literacy Interventionists, Special educators

Join members of the Agency of Education's Read Vermont team at 3:30 pm on Wednesday, October 29th, for a high-level overview of the recent language amendment to 16 V.S.A. § 2903 to require supplemental reading instruction for any enrolled student whose reading proficiency falls significantly below proficiency standards for the student's grade level or prevents progress in school. Following a brief presentation, subject-matter experts from the AOE will be available to answer questions. Register now for the Q&A: Guidance on Section 10 of Act 72 (16 V.S.A. § 2903 Amendment). You will receive a meeting link upon registration. See Guidance on Section 10 of Act 72 for more information about the language amendment.

Contact: Emily Leute at [email protected]

Behavioral Threat Assessment Workshops: 10/7 and 10/8 - Now Offered Virtually

Audience: Current School Behavioral Threat Assessment team members

Due to low attendance, these sessions are now offered only virtually.

The Agency of Education, in partnership with the Vermont School Safety Center, is pleased to announce a series of upcoming Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA) Team workshops, to be held on October 7th and 8th. These workshops are designed to support current and future BTA teams in building and maintaining effective BTA programs.

Please note that these workshops are an optional, separate offering from the required annual BTA training.

Please register via the October 2025 BTA Workshop Registration Form

Contact: Taylor Goodwin at [email protected]

Behavioral Threat Assessment Office Hours

Audience: Current school Behavioral Threat Assessment team members

Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA) open office hours will resume on September 16 for current school BTA team members. Office hours will be held throughout the 2025-2026 school year on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm. Please use this BTA Team Consultation Office Hours Meeting Link to join.

See below for the upcoming office hours schedule:

• Week 4 (Oct. 7/9) = Gathering Information
• Week 5 (Oct. 14/16) = Students with Autism and BTA
• Week 6 (Oct. 21/23) = Interviewing
• Week 7 (Oct. 28/30) = Safety Plans

Contact: Taylor Goodwin at [email protected]

Vermont Financial Literacy Virtual Academy

Audience: Administrators, Curriculum Directors, Educators- K-12, After-school, CTE, Adult Education

Champlain College's Center for Financial Literacy has launched the Vermont Financial Literacy Academy, a free, online, on-demand and asynchronous financial literacy professional development program, available 10/1/25 to 1/31/26. K-12 educators can earn up to 8 hours of professional development credit. Registration allows you to access a menu of sessions. This program, funded by a grant from EastRise Credit Union, includes a keynote interview with the Vermont Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders, and presenters include the Vermont Treasurer, the Co-Founder of Next Gen Personal Finance(NGPF) and other national experts.

Contact: Martha Deiss at[email protected]