Senate Ed Committee continues discussing public money for independent schools

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NEW STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC MONEY?: A bill working its way through the Statehouse includes new standards independent schools must meet to receive taxpayer funding.

Lawmakers in the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday discussed a bill that pertains to the requirements independent schools may need to meet to continue receiving taxpayer money.

H.483, an act relating to the accountability and oversight of approved independent schools eligible to receive public tuition, says independent schools must agree to “enroll any student who requires special education services under specific circumstances.” It also discusses adopting and implementing policies and procedures to comply with the Vermont Public Accommodations Act and the Vermont Fair Employment Practices Act.

On Tuesday, Sen. Martine Gulick, D-Chittenden Central, the committee’s vice chair, expressed satisfaction about the bill.

“I really applaud the folks that worked on this. I think they gave this a nice balance of accountability and oversight without being too stringent or limiting to the independent schools,” she said.

Gulick added that independent schools that receive taxpayer funding should be held to the same standards as public schools on enrollment decisions.

“Public schools basically take everybody, and we’ve got these public dollars going to these ‘public’ schools — they should have to do the same,” she said.

The Committee Chair has concerns

Sen. Brian Campion, D-Bennington, the chair of the committee, expressed hesitation about requiring independent schools to take special needs kids regardless of cost. He suggested that, in some cases, a student and a school may not be a good fit.

“That’s why we have so many special education schools in the state,” he said.

As currently written, the bill states “the school shall not use an admissions process for publicly tuitioned students that includes interviews, entrance exams, academic history, required campus visits, or consideration of ability to pay for any costs or fees.”

It continues that something like a lottery process could be implemented if there are concerns about the ability of schools to provide for publicly-funded students.

Supporters

Vermont Care Partners has reviewed the bill.  Other supporters include the superintendent of the Dresden School District, the Vermont VNEA, the Principal’s Association, and the School Board Association.

Former House lawmaker Oliver Olsen testified that the committee needs to re-examine the financials of this bill and hear from more families. Also, Agency of Education Interim Secretary Heather Bouchey testified that this should wait until after the “new Rule 2200 series” is implemented this summer.  Rule 2200 is designed “to assure effective, available, and equitable educational opportunities for students enrolled in Vermont’s independent schools in accordance with State and federal law and aligned with the purposes set forth in Act 173 of 2018,” according to the Vermont Legislature.

Special Education costs rising nationwide

Special education costs are straining school budgets nationwide and the problem is only getting worse.

“Special education costs are rising as more students are requiring services provided by a school’s given special education program,” a report in The Advocate states. “Yet, the lack of Congress’ promised funding creates a crushing weight placed on the states, and in turn, individual school districts. This creates a cascading effect as the 7 million [14%] students who receive special education support through IDEA are continually placed in a disadvantageous position through no fault of their own.”

Public schools losing students nationwide

Nationwide, American public schools are losing students at an alarming rate. According to a NYTimes report from last year, “All together, America’s public schools have lost at least 1.2 million students since 2020, according to a recently published national survey. State enrollment figures show no sign of a rebound to the previous national levels any time soon.”

Michael Bielawski is a reporter for True North. Send him news tips at bielawski82@yahoo.com and follow him on Twitter @TrueNorthMikeB.

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One thought on “Senate Ed Committee continues discussing public money for independent schools

  1. I’d like to know if the D’s and P’s working on this are receiving campaign funds from the NEA? If so they should all be impeached and denied from serving/working in government for ever. We all know their wish is to remove all taxpayer support for independent schools which make public indoctrination centers look like the failures at education they really are.

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