Zoie Saunders, Secretary | Vermont Agency of Education
The Vermont Agency of Education has released its latest weekly update, highlighting several ongoing and upcoming initiatives across the state’s education system.
The agency announced an extension for the Statewide Graduation Requirements Survey deadline. Community feedback can now be submitted until the end of Friday, November 14. The survey is open to all and aims to gather broad input on graduation requirements. “We consider each of you a vital ambassador to your respective communities. As we seek to gather feedback on statewide graduation requirements, your help in facilitating local conversations is essential for the success and equity of this statewide initiative,” the agency stated.
After a pause due to federal funding delays, Read Vermont—a program aimed at ensuring every child reads by third grade—will relaunch with expanded coaching and professional learning opportunities. A launch webinar will be held on November 10 from 3:00 to 4:00 PM.
A new survey targeting K-3 principals has been released to inform future professional development in reading and math, as well as fulfill data requirements under Act 139. The agency requests responses from every Vermont school serving grades K-3 by November 17.
Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA) team members are invited to participate in open office hours throughout the school year, with sessions scheduled every Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 1:00 PM. In addition, BTA workshops will take place on December 9 and 10 in partnership with the Vermont School Safety Center.
A webinar detailing updates to the Local Foods Incentive grant application process is scheduled for November 12 from 3:00–4:00 PM. The session will cover both Baseline Year and Subsequent Year grants.
Applications are now being accepted for the Program Track State Afterschool Grant through the Grants Management System, supporting both new programs and expansions at existing centers. The deadline for submissions is December 10, 2025.
Educators and support staff can register for a webinar on using universal screening tools to address students’ social, emotional, and behavioral needs. This event takes place December 5 from 9:00–10:00 AM.
Training focused on addressing chronic absenteeism in schools will be held on November 12 from 9:00–11:00 AM. The session aims to move beyond compliance-based approaches toward fostering genuine connections with students who miss significant amounts of school time.
Nominations are open until December 8 for Vermont’s CTE Presidential Scholars program, which recognizes outstanding career technical education students graduating between January and August of next year.
The Building Effective Supports for Teaching (BEST) Project released its annual report comparing student outcomes at schools implementing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) with other schools statewide.
In collaboration with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, professional development focused on literature about the Holocaust will be offered this winter for educators teaching grades six through ten. Supported by Read Vermont, this series begins December 5 in Montpelier; registration closes November 24 due to limited space.
Finally, updated guidance regarding Section 10 of Act 72 (16 V.S.A. § 2903 Amendment) was presented by members of the Read Vermont team during a recent webinar. This amendment requires supplemental reading instruction for students whose proficiency falls significantly below grade-level standards or impedes academic progress. Webinar recordings and slides are available online along with further guidance materials.
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