Zoie Saunders, Secretary | Vermont Agency of Education
The Vermont Agency of Education has released its latest updates and announcements for educators, families, and school staff across the state.
The Governor’s Annual School Safety Conference is scheduled for October 28, 2025, at the Killington Grand Resort Hotel in Killington. The event will feature a keynote presentation, panel discussions, and breakout sessions led by Vermont school safety partners and national experts. Registration details will be provided soon.
The Agency has also updated its Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Mental Health Well Being web page to highlight the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union's Voices in Motion initiative. This project, supported by Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education), focuses on building inner capacity through professional learning and leveraging staff expertise to lead mental health initiatives for students. “Through Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education), SVSU aims to build inner capacity by offering professional learning through their AWARE partners and tapping into the strengths and expertise of their staff to lead successful mental health initiatives and create supportive environments for all students,” according to the Agency.
More than 220 schools in Vermont have been selected to participate in the 2026 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Schools will be assessed in Grade 4 and Grade 8 reading and mathematics between January 26 and March 20. Superintendents have already received notification letters, with principals set to receive theirs next. Participating schools must complete a technology readiness survey this September to determine if they can use their own devices or require NAEP equipment. More information about NAEP is available at The Nation's Report Card (https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/). Past results from Vermont can be found on the National Assessment | Agency of Education page (https://education.vermont.gov/student-learning/assessment/national-assessment).
The Flexible Pathways Team is offering office hours for high school counselors regarding Early College inclusion in the Dual Enrollment system. Sessions are scheduled for September 3rd at both 9:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., with no preregistration required. Guides, videos, and FAQs are available online to support users of Dual Enrollment, Fast Forward, and Early College programs.
In compliance with Act 29 of 2023, which requires annual training for Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA) team members at public and recognized independent schools, the Agency has published its training schedule for the upcoming year. These trainings fulfill legal requirements under Act 29.
A webinar titled "Maximizing Your Use of SWIS" will take place on September 4th from 1:00-3:00 p.m., covering topics such as initial setup, data entry, and generating reports using SWIS—a data-based information system used by many schools.
Additionally, an introductory webinar on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is scheduled for September 9th from 9:00-10:00 a.m., with registration open until August 26th. The session will address systems, data practices, prosocial behavior strategies, prevention procedures, response techniques for interfering behavior, and using data for decision-making within PBIS frameworks.
For more information about any of these events or resources, contact details are provided throughout each announcement.
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