The 802 Ed
What's going on in Vermont's education policy and practice
Welcome back!
This issue of the 802 Ed covers many topics that are immediately useful like news of changes to Title I funding, FERPA, and nationwide data collection. Be sure to check out the feature article on Vermont’s Secretary of Education!
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
Jedi Mind Tricks. BBC offers a handful of research-based methods to change people’s minds, a helpful skill for teachers, schools leaders, and community members.
Buzz on The Street. Several opinion pieces have been circulating lately about the governor’s education proposal and similar legislative activity, including:
UVEI’s T. Elijah Hawkes: “Vermont schools aren’t as broken as some say.”
Start School Later’s Pallas Snider Ziporyn: “Vermont schools should not be like Starbucks.”
Retired teacher Mike Macijeski: “The sine qua non of great schools is great teachers.”
Senator Kesha Ram Hisdale: “We must protect [education] from becoming a political football.”
Secretary Spotlighted. Seven Days VT reports on the Secretary of Education’s bumpy arrival to the state: “I kept thinking throughout the year that any week now she's going to come in and say, “I’ve had enough.’”
Ed Plan Or Else. VT Digger points out that the governor may keep the legislative session running longer than usual if the legislature punts education transformation to next year: “I will not support adjourning this session without a bill to transition to a new funding system, establish a new governance structure that unlocks transformation, and includes a specific implementation timeline.”
Bye-Bye Title I?
The New York Times gives a heads up that the U.S. Department of Education may withhold funding for schools with a high proportion of low-income students unless the state asserts its schools have ended diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Gift link
Chalkbeat reports that New York said no, thank you and Chicago is taking more of a battle stance: “We’re not going to be intimidated by these threats, it’s just that simple.”
PTSD is ADA. K-12 Dive gives us the heads up about a federal court’s decision in Tudor v. Whitehall Central School District that a teacher with post-traumatic stress disorder could have a short daily break under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Time Audits. Edutopia suggests how a school leaders can track their time to learn more about how the “Hey, can I interrupt you for 30 seconds?” add up.
Toolbelt Generation. Vermont Public spotlights the rapid growth and success of the state’s career and technical education centers, at least one of which is now more competitive to get into than the University of Vermont.
“Making School Even More Inaccessible.” Burlington Free Press reports on a recent community forum in Chittenden County where participants reviewed many concerns about the governor’s education proposal.
Homeschool Data Disappearing. The Hechinger Report signals the alarm that the U.S. Department of Education’s recent research on homeschooling is unlikely to be released to the public: “There is a certain irony that a pro-school choice administration would cut objective data that might help increase acceptance of homeschooling.”
Mental Health Ed. Education Commission of the States advocates for short trainings with big impacts on mental health literacy for educators and school leaders.
Sunsetting Starbase? The Times Argus gives us a heads up that the nonprofit STEM program STARBASE may be closing its doors as early as this week because of federal pressures coming from Congress. [I used to be on the board of this program, it’s really an outstanding resource for students. - Ed.] Update: STARBASE remains open: “STARBASE Vermont recently received a limited amount of federal funding in order to keep serving our students while we wait for further federal finances.”
Use Them or Lose Them. Chalkbeat points out the negative downstream effects of the U.S. Department of Education’s decision to no longer honor extensions to spending pandemic relief funds, and Vermont Public picks up the conversation about the millions of dollars that have disappeared for Vermont.
Exiting Stage Right. School Administrator offers sage advice on how to leave a school leadership role on the right note, and with fewer clumsy mistakes.
Speaking Truth to Power. VT Digger hands the pen to a recent AOE division director who doesn’t hold back the punches: “As a public servant, the governor should be inviting questions and concerns, not denigrating them.” This was a popular item in last issue, so here it is again for readers who may have missed it.
Using AI to Superpower Math. Education Week reviews current thinking about innovative ways that artificial intelligence can help the classroom and free up teachers’ time.
Coming Storm of Viruses. VT Digger looks at the state’s troubling vaccination data for measles and breaks down the immunization rates by school and child care program.
Gimme More PD. Education Week highlights a tremendously popular method of professional development for educators.
Heads Up, Vermont. States are taking innovative steps to support their students and Vermont school leaders and lawmakers should take note:
Newark Public Schools recently hosted a teen mental health summit: “We have to remove the negative stigmas around mental health and mental health conversations.”
Louisiana swapped out remedial education to try an innovative approach to teaching English, with a 40% jump in passing rates.
Maryland is working to offer education jobs to displaced federal workers: “Don’t wait! Apply now if teaching is your future.”
School Shootings in 2025. Education Week’s tracker has logged three school shootings in 2025: “On March 4, a 16-year-old student was shot and killed after being chased onto Lansdowne High School grounds in Baltimore, Md.” Total school shootings in 2024: 39. 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 Rob Evans.
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: Would Vermont be better off with a state-wide teacher contract? Responses were strongest for Yes, it’s unfair that schools pay teachers differently, with about half as many readers selecting I’m not sure, there are benefits to both sides of it or No, it should be left up to the local communities.
This issue’s survey question: Should teachers assign computer or phone based homework? Please indicate your response by clicking a check mark.
✅ Yes, it’s important that students develop tech skills
✅ No, kids today are already in front of their screens too much
✅ Sometimes, as long as there’s a non-computer/phone option
Thank you to the reader from California 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!
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
School Leader Vacancies. Latest report from VPA counts 46 school leader positions, like principal and assistant principal, that are turning over for next school year.
The Big List. Josh Czupryk compiles and publishes a monthly spreadsheet with almost 700 job opportunities for remote work in K-12 education.
Looking for a Change? With so many open positions in education, there are sometimes unusual opportunities. For example, Massachusetts is looking for a new heads of its school systems, after the interim commissioner decided to take a job in the Philly suburbs. Better cheesesteaks, right?
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
If you haven’t already heard, the hot buzz in schools today is the new Minecraft movie. Before you roll your eyes at a movie about a video game, this is one is several steps up from Tron.
Yeah, there are in-jokes, but also a level of audience participation in the theater that gives it the feel of a major sporting event. Where else am I going to hear thunderous applause when someone introduces himself: I am Steve. My kids loved it, and I learned how to use the phrase ‘chicken jockey’ correctly in a sentence.
Amidst all the hooting, hollering, and overpriced buckets of popcorn, my nerd brain couldn’t help but think: This is actually a lot like education policy.
The characters in Minecraft are pitched against each other in a classic good guy / bad piglin fight for control of the world. When the sun sets, the bad piglins come out and wreck everything, and the central characters fight for control of a device that can turn day into night.
Meantime back in the real world, there is a pitched battle underway for control of education funding. Nationally the current administration recently mailed out a “reminder” that Title I funds will be withheld from states that don’t comply with new policy directives. And within Vermont, the governor has been clear that he will hold the legislature in Montpelier until there is a new education funding system for the state.
We can go back and forth about proficiency based learning, schools mascots, and critical race theory - remember when that was a thing? But the day turns into night when the funding spigot is turned off.
My hope doesn’t lie in Minecraft’s netherite armor and diamond swords. It’s in the roar of that audience. If Vermonters can get howling out of their seats for a chicken jockey, we sure can raise the roof to keep our schools open.
Eye on Data
The chart below tracks the number of open positions for substitutes in education roles in Vermont in the past 90 days, presented as data points and no trend line this time. 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!
Colleagues on the Move
Congratulations to this colleague who received administrator licensure from AOE since the last issue of the 802 Ed! Data from AOE.
Sara Manoogian • Principal
Do you know a colleague who has made a recent move? Let us know!
Grants & Opportunities
Snap! VDH has published an RFP for nutritional education services related to the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, valued at more than $300,000. Deadline is April 11.
Immigrant Student Conference. Burlington School District has opened a call for proposals for a statewide conference on immigrant and refugee background PreK-12 students, May 16 and 17. Deadline for proposals is April 25.
Act 173 Survey. A UVM doctoral student asks teachers to complete a survey on Act 173 in schools. Email for more info.
Statewide Student Voice. The State Board of Education is seeking a student representative for a two-year term. Deadline is April 28.
If You Missed It
FERPA Refresh. The U.S. Department of Education updated its policy on applying the bedrock student privacy protection law: “Going forward, the correct application of FERPA will be to empower all parents to protect their children from the radical ideologies that have taken over many schools.”
AOE Deputy. Congratulations to Jill Briggs Campbell, recently appointed deputy secretary of the Agency of Education.
Big Bucks. The National Museum of American History has published classroom resources that help teachers use objects from world cultures to teach about financial literacy.
Secretary Search Process. Vermont’s legislature is considering a bill that would require a “robust national search process not later than 60 days after public notification of the resignation of a Secretary of Education.”
Have You Heard? A popular education podcast spotlights Vermont, “where public schools are confronting a ‘perfect storm’ of challenges.”
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. 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: University of Maryland recently announced this year’s “international superstar” commencement speaker: Kermit the Frog. (Jim Henson graduated from UMD in 1960 with a degree in Home Economics.)