Zoie Saunders, Secretary | Vermont Agency of Education
The Vermont Agency of Education has released updates on several initiatives and programs relevant to educators, administrators, and students across the state.
A webinar titled "Moving from Compliance to Connection: Addressing Chronic Absenteeism in our Schools" is scheduled for November 12, 2025. The training aims to help school staff move beyond compliance-based approaches and focus on building genuine connections with students to address chronic absenteeism. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing at least 10 percent of school days for any reason, which differs from truancy or average daily attendance metrics. The session will provide practical strategies for supporting student attendance.
The Agency is also offering Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA) office hours throughout the 2025-2026 academic year. These sessions are open every Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 1:00 p.m., providing a space for current BTA team members to consult and discuss topics such as safety plans. Additional details about upcoming presentations will be shared soon.
In partnership with the Vermont School Safety Center, the Agency will hold Behavioral Threat Assessment workshops on December 9 and 10. These in-person workshops are designed for current and future BTA teams seeking to strengthen their programs. The workshops are optional and separate from the annual required BTA training.
Superintendents and administrators are reminded that self-evaluation data related to District Quality Standards must be submitted between October 15 and November 21, 2025. This initiative follows the adoption of revised Education Quality Standards (EQS) and District Quality Standards (DQS) in July 2025, part of ongoing efforts under state law to ensure equal access to quality education across Vermont. The beta test focuses on a select set of high-leverage standards, including governance.
Additionally, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is promoting its "Scat and Tracks" program for kindergarten through eighth-grade educators statewide. This virtual program introduces students to different Vermont wildlife species each week through pre-recorded videos, followed by outdoor activities where students search for signs of local animals in their natural habitats. Registration remains open until December 15.
For more information about these programs or registration details, contacts have been provided by the respective organizers within the agency.
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