But perhaps no other demographic is more affected than, well, the kids themselves.

A new bill introduced by Rep. Leanne Harple, D-Glover鈥攁nd inspired in part by Vermont students鈥攖ries to give those students more say in whatever future awaits for Vermont鈥檚 public education system.

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But concurrently, Vermont sends those students to out-of-district schools at a rate more than double the national average, a practice that鈥檚 costly and generally not ideal for students.

鈥淲hat do you think is driving that gap?鈥� asked Rep. Bridget Marie Burkhardt, D-South Burlington.

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Bill Kimball, the district鈥檚 superintendent, said he鈥檚 seen a 17% decrease in the number of students considered chronically absent through the first quarter of this school year compared to last year.

Meanwhile, more than two-thirds of the district鈥檚 students attend school 95% of the time鈥� considered the target attendance rate under federal guidelines. Overall, about 22% of students in Kimball鈥檚 district are considered chronically absent.

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鈥淲hile this session was long and difficult and uncomfortable for some, we were able to come together and chart a path towards a system that better serves our kids and one that taxpayers can afford,鈥� Scott said, surrounded by top legislative leaders and other dignitaries, before signing the bill.

He noted, however, that the legislation was 鈥渏ust the beginning,鈥� and work to continue public education reform in future legislative sessions 鈥渨ill be just as difficult and just as important as what we did this spring.鈥�

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But just three days later, after initially defending and clarifying the decision in the face of public backlash, Education Secretary Zoie Saunders backtracked late Monday afternoon, informing superintendents the state would instead send a single statewide certification.

鈥淭o be clear, the Agency of Education and the Attorney General鈥檚 Office continue to support diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in our schools. Our communication on Friday was intended to make you aware of the directive from the U.S. Department of Education regarding Title VI,鈥� Saunders wrote Monday afternoon, 鈥渁nd to reinforce that diversity, equity, and inclusion practices are lawful and supported in Vermont. In no way, did AOE direct schools to ban DEI.鈥�

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Chris, once a teacher, received a master鈥檚 degree with a focus on special education. As a teenager, Pallas served on her local school board, making her one of the youngest members in the country in 2006.

So when the couple鈥檚 eldest of three children, Noah, received an autism diagnosis at age 5, they thought themselves capable of advocating for his rights under federal and state law within the public school system. (VTDigger is using a pseudonym for Noah.)

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鈥淭he school spending I think is out of control,鈥� Quinn, 61, of Montpelier, said Tuesday outside of City Hall. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e squeezing us out of town.鈥�

Voters across many Vermont communities on Town Meeting Day considered whether to support school budgets that are estimated to increase the average education property tax bill by 19%. Benefits and salaries, school construction, disappearing federal dollars and increased mental health-related needs are all contributing to rising education costs, according to state data.

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The existing Milton Elementary School was first built in the 1950s to serve grades 1-6 and expanded piecemeal over the following decades, eventually becoming the district鈥檚 pre-K-8 school.

By 2020, the oldest parts of the building had long been showing their age. A perennial mold problem had plagued the school for decades, and the school boilers were on their last legs. Leaders said upgrades were sorely needed.

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The 2022 survey, which is conducted every two years except in 2020 due to Covid-19, also illustrates the long-stretching effects of the pandemic. Nearly one in five seniors reported that the pandemic affected their post-high school plans in some way 鈥� by causing them to choose a school closer to home, rethink college, or decide to defer or take a gap year.

While the number of students saying they will enroll in college in the fall after graduation has hovered around 75% since 2012, it dropped to 70% in the latest survey.

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But instead of playing its first game, Mid Vermont Christian chose to forfeit 鈥� because the opposing team had a transgender player. Going ahead with the matchup, Mid Vermont鈥檚 head of school Vicky Fogg told the Valley News, would 鈥�(jeopardize) the fairness of the game and the safety of our players.鈥�

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