The Governor’s State of the State made a very clear case:
Vermont can be a national model of government that solves problems and helps people, if
we follow through on education reform.
And education reform isn’t optional. It’s essential: to affordability, housing, workforce
growth, and Vermont’s future.
The Governor laid out the reality Vermonters are living with every day:
Education spending has risen from $1.6 billion to $2.5 billion in just over a decade,
driving double-digit property tax increases, even as schools are still cutting programs and
opportunities for students.
At the same time, hundreds of millions of dollars are being diverted from housing,
childcare, infrastructure, and public safety just to keep the current system afloat.
This isn’t about effort or commitment from educators or communities. It’s about math.
Vermont now serves far fewer students through a system built for many more: 119
districts, 52 supervisory unions, and nearly 300 buildings, resulting in duplication,
inequity, and fewer real options for students and teachers.
It is a recognition that too many teachers don’t have what they need to succeed and Act
73 is a blueprint to making sure they do.
That’s why last year’s passage of Act 73 matters.
Act 73 isn’t just about rearranging funding, it’s about expanding pre-K, increasing equity,
strengthening career and technical education, closing teacher pay gaps, and creating a
governance structure that makes accountability and quality possible statewide.
If we stay committed and follow through, the result will be the best education system in
America.
The Governor was clear: the work must move forward.
Following through on Act 73, starting with new governance maps, is essential.
Without action, costs will keep rising, opportunities will keep shrinking, and other
priorities Vermonters care about will continue to be crowded out.
If we do this thoughtfully and with courage:
Every child, no matter where they live, will have the same opportunity to succeed.
And Vermont can once again show the country there is a better way to govern.