The 802 Ed
What's going on in Vermont education policy and practice
Welcome back!
This issue of the 802 Ed covers many topics that are immediately useful like the governor’s budget priorities and possible school spending caps, a federal investigation into transgender student athletics in Vermont, and a possible sunset of the state’s PCB remediation program. Be sure to check out the great collection of op-eds!
New to the lingo? At the suggestion of a reader we include a guide to common abbreviations, just scroll down past the news.
- Steven Berbeco, Editor
School Leadership
“Because You’re A Woman.” Edutopia offers practical advice on combatting common stereotypes as a female administrator.
Title IXed. Seven Days VT explains the recent federal investigation opened on a Vermont school district for permitting transgender students to compete on sports teams that align with their gender identity.
Full Power Milk. The New York Times reports on legislation that now permits federally funded school nutrition programs to serve full-fat milk. Gift link
Departmentalizing in Elementary. The Hechinger Report zooms into elementary schools where students as young as six switch among classes taught by subject-specialist teachers.
Interim Leadership. Higher Ed Jobs offers advice for those coming into a temporary position, and suggests ways to think differently about the role.
Students Run The State. St. Albans Messenger highlights the fifth grader from Highgate who has been inaugurated as the state’s first Kid Governor, together with her cabinet.
Funding Whiplash. Education Week describes reaction to the federal government’s decision to cancel more than hundred school mental health grants, including in Vermont, and then an about-face to restore funding the next day.
Mississippi Miracle. The New York Times profiles the radical educational success of the Magnolia State despite low education spending and high childhood poverty: “If we can do it, anyone can.” Gift link
PCBs? Oh, Never Mind. WCAX reports on a bill that would sunset the state’s commitment to remediating PCB carcinogenic substances in schools. Update: VT Digger picks up the story with quotes from the chair of the House Education Committee about the testing program, “the mother of all unfunded mandates.”
“A Reluctant Subject.” Seven Days VT’s Alison Novak reflects on perceived resistance from the secretary of education when writing a profile about her. This was a popular item in last issue, so here it is again for readers who may have missed it.
Pet Bugs. Education Week makes the case for tarantulas, jumping spiders, and hissing cockroaches as classroom pets, instead of the most common options of fish, bearded dragons, and guinea pigs.
Heads Up, Vermont. States are taking innovative steps to support their students. Vermont school leaders and lawmakers should take note:
New York’s governor is calling for an overhaul of how the state teaches math, as well as proposing Mental Health First Aid training for all high school students.
Legislators in Hawaii are considering a bill to protect children from AI chatbots, mirroring a similar law in California.
School Shootings in 2026. Education Week’s tracker has logged zero school shootings in 2026. Let’s hope this number doesn’t change. Total school shootings in 2025: 18. As a reminder, DPS and AOE operate an anonymous school safety tip line for students, school staff, and their community: calling 1-844-SAFE4VT; texting SAFE4VT to 274637; or online at safe4vt.org. For questions about school safety training in Vermont, contact Sunni Erikson.
Buzz On The Street
This sections highlights recent op-eds and letters to the editor about education.
Kayce Bradley argues that independent schools should not be undermined in the education reform debate: “Education is not a monolith, and neither are our children.”
Flor Diaz Smith points out that rising employee health care costs are the biggest driver of school budget pressure and must be addressed directly rather than focusing on redistricting: “You don’t balance a budget by ignoring the biggest expense.”
Emilie Tenenbaum and Sharron Harrington remind us that the state’s long-term investment in affordable, high-quality child care must be protected: “Vermont’s commitment to child care is a source of statewide pride.”
Brian Bloomfield contends that true equity in Vermont’s schools means providing the necessary support and resources so all students can genuinely participate and succeed: “There are no shortcuts. Equity demands time, expertise and commitment.”
Linda Smith puts forward the argument that Vermont must embrace difficult education reforms like consolidating districts and cutting administrative costs rather than clinging to nostalgia: “I love town schools. But I know that things have to change.”
Ross Powers advances the idea that Vermont’s school choice system is not a perk for elites but a lifeline for rural and working-class students, as the author’s own Olympic journey demonstrates: “Restricting school choice doesn’t impact wealthy out-of-staters who can pay tuition; it hurts the local Vermont families.”
Reader Survey
In each issue we ask a survey question to get a sense of what is on our readers’ minds. Then, the following issue, we report back on what we learned.
Last issue we asked: Should the governor’s State of the State speech have focused so much on education finance? Responses were evenly divided between Yes, it’s a problem that needs to be solved urgently and No, what about all the other issues? A small number of readers selected Check back with me later, I’m still on winter break.
This issue’s survey question: Do you support the Senate leader’s proposed spending cap for school budgets? Please indicate your response by clicking a check mark.
✅ Yes, school spending has gotten out of control
✅ No, there really isn’t anything more that can be cut
✅ I’m not sure how I feel about it
Thank you to the reader from Chittenden county who suggested that survey question. What’s on your mind? Suggest a survey question to find out how your colleagues respond in an upcoming issue of the 802 Ed!
How Ya Doin’?
The start of the school year can be challenging for many reasons. It may be helpful to look for support around personal and professional issues. If you would like to schedule a time to talk with a rostered psychotherapist and VPA mentor, we can work on making small but significant steps that promote self-care, communication, and control. Sponsored by 802 Ed
Listen Up
Check out the 802 Ed’s conversation-style podcast! Generated by Notebook LM
Job Listings
Supercharge The Applicant Pool. The market for school staff in Vermont is fierce and it’s important to stand out when attracting quality candidates. Why get wedged in among thousands of open positions on SchoolSpring? Your opportunity can stand out in an upcoming issue of the 802 Ed, dropping into the Inbox of thousands of readers. Sponsored by 802 Ed
The Big List. Josh Czupryk compiles and publishes a monthly spreadsheet with more than 700 job opportunities for remote work in K-12 education.
Looking for a Change? With so many open jobs in education, there are sometimes unusual opportunities. For example, a college in Kansas is recruiting for a Head Rodeo Coach. Yee-ha!
Thank The Team
You read it, you love it, and now is a good time to say thanks. Cover our coffee budget! Writing, editing, researching… all of that is caffeine driven. Choose this option and the extra energy will go to finding a few more updates to share.
Note From The Editor
Recently my kiddo came home from school with a backpack stuffed full of snow pants, random books, a stick of gum picked up from a friend, a drawing of a flying avocado, a small science project, and a district newsletter.
My kids are always curious and full of questions about everything, from dinosaur farts to how we can count down to negative zero. So it didn’t surprise me that the science project was a balloon taped to a straw, to demonstrate how air pressure makes it expand.
What was less exciting was the newsletter and update about another likely hike in our property taxes. My child noticed me reading it and asked, “Why does school always need more money?”
I quickly ran through a few answers in my head, including the snippy: “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” But the truth is more complicated.
In Vermont, the cost of caring for our families and the cost of educating our children are tied together, like my kid’s balloon being squeezed from both ends. When health care prices inflate on one side, the pressure doesn’t disappear. It just bulges into property taxes and the whole community feels it.
The numbers keep swelling, just like that balloon next to my ear as I’m typing this, and just as my property tax bill is threatening to do.
Keep expanding, and something is going to pop.
Eye on Data
The chart below tracks number of open positions for school leaders in the past 90 days, presented as data points and a linear trend line. Data from SchoolSpring.
Pass It On
Like what you are reading? Hit the button below to send a copy to a colleague, friend, neighbor, your boss… whoever!
Grants & Opportunities
“For the Love of the Land.” Clemmons Family Farm is offering no-cost lesson plans for grades K-8 about the Clemmons Farm, a national historic landmark in Vermont, through storytelling, mindfulness activities, music, poetry, and gardening projects. Access available January 26 to March 31.
Healthy Use of Media for Your Child. ParentIN Burlington and Burlington School District are presenting an in-person presentation and discussion about supporting middle and high school student use of technology. January 27, 5:30 pm to 8 pm, at Hunt Middle School.
Build A Better School. The Smithsonian Design Museum announced a national high school design competition for high school students, responding to the question: What would you design for your community’s future? Deadline is February 2.
Civics Bee. The Vermont Chamber of Commerce is hosting a contest about American democracy for students in grades 6 to 8. Deadline is February 3.
Slingshot Challenge. National Geographic announced a contest for 13‑ to 18‑year‑olds who submit a one‑minute video outlining an innovative solution to a local environmental issue, with $10,000 in funding on the line to help bring their idea to life. Deadline is February 6.
Vermont FEED. Shelburne Farms is hosting the Northeast Farm to School Institute, a year-long professional learning opportunity that starts in the summer and helps teams build robust farm to school programs. Deadline is February 9.
Summer Camp. AHS has posted an RFP for a summer camp for students with disabilities, with a maximum award of $250,000 per year. Deadline is February 13.
Teach Financial Literacy. Champlain College is offering a no-cost three credit graduate-level course in March and April for middle and high school educators. Deadline is February 19.
Presidential 1776 Award. The U.S. Department of Education announced a national competition for high school students testing knowledge of the country’s founders, its Constitution, and the Revolutionary War. Online test available February 22 to 28.
Aligning Pre-K. DCF has posted an RFP for a contractor to develop an integrated statewide framework for Universal Pre-K. Deadline is February 25.
Superintendent of the Year. The VSA has opened its award nomination process, noting that nominations can come from any person in the Vermont education community such as superintendents, principals, central office staff, teachers, school board members, and community members. Deadline is March 13.
If You Missed It
“Failing System.” Education headlined the governor’s recent budget address: “The total cost of our education system is creeping towards $3 billion. And remember, that’s for about 80,000 kids.”
Every Day Counts. A recent study of pre-K to grade 8 students demonstrates an association between poor academic performance and missing fewer than 10 school days.
Graduate with A Plan. Advance Vermont is offering tailored training for school staff to help youth navigate their career and education options.
“It’s Not All About Taxes, Stupid.” Whether editorial gaffe or public dig, a major Vermont news outlet’s choice of title for an op-ed by the state’s secretary of education led to a quick, critical response by the AOE, calling the title “misleading, divisive, and insulting.”
First BOCES. AOE recently approved the first Board of Cooperative Educational Service Agency (BOCES) to provide shared services across supervisory unions and districts in southeastern Vermont.
Since 2021 the biweekly 802 Ed has brought together the latest from Vermont’s associations for principals, superintendents, and school board members, as well as state and national education agencies and many other news sources. We hope that you’ll find something useful in each issue and welcome comments or suggestions for upcoming issues: editor@802ed.com.
Abbreviation list: AASA School Superintendents Association, AOE Agency of Education, DCF Department for Children and Families, DMH Department of Mental Health, DPS Department of Public Safety, FERPA Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act, NAEP National Assessment of Education Progress, NEASC New England Association of Schools and Colleges, RFP Request for Proposals, SBE State Board of Education, SEL Social Emotional Learning, UVEI Upper Valley Educators Institute, VEHI Vermont Education Health Initiative, VPA Vermont Principals Association, VPO Vermont Political Observer, VREC Vermont Rural Education Collaborative, VSA Vermont Superintendents Association, VSBA Vermont School Board Association, VSBIT Vermont School Boards Insurance Trust, VSBPE Vermont Standards Board for Professional Educators, VTCLA Vermont Curriculum Leaders Association, VTSU Vermont State University.
Special bonus for making it to the bottom: Kept safe by a retired science teacher in Maine, the world’s oldest Twinkie recently turned 50: “The Twinkie and I are a lot alike. We’re old, gray and flaky.”