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 a Supreme Court ruling against schools keeping students’ gender identity confidential, a Vermont bill to create statewide protocols to shield immigrant students from federal immigration enforcement, and the upcoming shuttering of an elementary school with only 40 students. Be sure to check out the school budget scoreboard with live updates!
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
No Promotion No Problem. Higher Ed Jobs offers advice on bouncing back when the step up the ladder doesn’t come together as hoped.
“Out of Smell, Out of Mind.” Times Argus follows up on a less than glowing review of radon testing in Vermont’s schools, while The VPO questions the wisdom of cutting funding for testing and remediation of radon and PCBs: “And if we can’t do that, we kill the testing program and whistle past the graveyard, I guess?”
Remembering The Classroom. School Administrator hands the pen to a school leader who recently took a two-week break to teach in a sixth grade classroom: “The heart of education beats strongest when we stop drawing battle lines and start building bridges.”
Spending More to Break Even. VT Digger sums up the major influences on ever-increasing school budgets, including health care: “We are in a place where inflation for school district costs is running at sometimes double the inflation rate. … We cannot consolidate our way out of that.”
Parents First, States Second. Chalkbeat brings us up to date on a recent Supreme Court case that ruled parents have a right to be informed by schools about their child’s gender identity and any gender transition, blocking a California policy.
Rights for Immigrant Students. The Winooski News details a proposed bill that expands protections for immigrant students by establishing statewide protocols to help keep students safe from federal immigration enforcement.
Last Bell Rings. WCAX reports on voters’ decision to close an elementary school with a student population of 40. Also, voters decided to shutter another elementary school where the largest class has eight students.
Power of Small Schools. The Hechinger Report digs into research on school size, finding a dramatic difference when it comes to college enrollment. This was a popular item in last issue, so here it is again for readers who may have missed it.
School Choice Showdown. VT Digger reports on Vermont parents who have filed a lawsuit arguing that Act 73 sharply limits which private schools can receive tuition dollars, thus violating their children’s educational opportunities.
Return to Normal. Seven Days VT picks up the the good news that over 80% of Vermont communities approved their local school budgets, despite ongoing debates over education funding and rising property taxes.
Go Small or Go Home. The Hechinger Report zooms into a rural district in the midwest that is betting on microschools, a movement gaining momentum.
Heads Up, Vermont. States are taking innovative steps to support their students. Vermont school leaders and lawmakers should take note:
Massachusetts lawmakers are expected to send a bill to the governor that would mandate literacy curricula for its public schools.
A pediatric hospital in Ohio screens for early literacy to find children who would benefit from additional support.
Oregon put $35 million toward summer school for 30,000 students, with positive learning outcomes.
Georgia lawmakers have passed a bill requiring students learn cursive handwriting in grades 3-5.
School Shootings in 2026. Education Week’s tracker has logged four school shootings in 2026. “On Feb. 27, a teenage male was shot at Detroit Edison Public School Academy in Detroit, Mich.” 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.
Flor Diaz Smith urges the governor to engage more meaningfully with local education leaders rather than undermining the community’s budget process: “I was deeply surprised and dismayed that you publicly announced your intention to vote against the Washington Central School District budget so close to Town Meeting Day.” A press release from the VPA goes a step further.
Heidi Schumacher contends that schools cannot tackle rising chronic student absenteeism on their own and need broad community support to address the underlying social and health challenges that keep kids from learning. This was a popular item in last issue, so here it is again for readers who may have missed it.
Ryan Csizmesia argues that schools are failing students because a culture of “compassion without consequences” has eroded classroom discipline and academic standards: “A diploma no longer shows some level of educational achievement; it just means a student sat in a classroom for the required number of hours.”
Chris Young, Rebecca Fillion, and Holly Russell-Vroegop contend that political rhetoric and inconsistent state leadership are undermining genuine efforts to improve education: “How can schools be expected to use [assessment results] productively, especially when the first time we hear of them is in the media, decrying the state of our schools?”
Ellen Parent states that using generative artificial intelligence in schools undermines students’ cognitive development and the very skills education is meant to build: “Take away any part of the writing process, and we take away the opportunity for our minds to grow and gain power.”
Kate McCann calls out the state administration on the recently published school report card: “I’m a math teacher. The Secretary of Education’s fun with numbers is embarrassing.”
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 students have voting power on school boards? Responses were equally strong for No, students are too young to understand complex issues and Maybe, it should be up to each school community. About half as many readers selected Yes, student voice is very important.
This issue’s survey question: What strategies would you support to address teacher shortages? Please indicate your response by clicking a check mark.
✅ Higher pay
✅ Student loan forgiveness
✅ Mentorship programs
Thank you to the reader from New Hampshire 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
Principal. Come lead Cambridge Elementary School and join a vibrant elementary school staff who are committed to academic excellence and inclusive practices. We are seeking a dynamic leader with a track record of excellence in creating and leading an exemplary educational environment focused on equity, access, inclusion and diversity. Sponsored by Lamoille North Supervisory Union
Principal. Richford Elementary School has opened a search for a dynamic and caring PK-5 educational leader with proven ability to lead school improvement efforts focused on high academic, social, and behavioral expectations for all learners. Join a team that is innovative and forward-thinking, many of whom have been recognized at the local, state, and national level for their work in education! Sponsored by Franklin Northeast Supervisory Union
Principal. Lake Region Union High School is looking for a dynamic, student-centered, and visionary leader who is ready to accelerate the school’s academic excellence and community pride. Successful applicants will demonstrate facility with instructional leadership such as evidence-based practices and data-informed decision-making. Sponsored by NESDEC
Co-Principal and High School Lead. Join an outstanding team of educators at Leland & Gray Union Middle and High School! We are looking for a collaborative, student-centered leader who understands the unique developmental needs of adolescents and values shared leadership, unified systems, and clear communication. Strong applicants will have at least five years of relevant experience and a Masters degree. Sponsored by Windham Central Supervisory Union
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 25 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 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 Vermont university is looking for a curriculum developer to create Muscle Matters, an introductory course in meat science.
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
Humble brag, this is a widely read publication with more than two thousand subscribers in Vermont and across New England. But it ain’t no Kim Kardashian, who has about as many social media followers as, um, the population of the United States.
So it’s big news when Kim Kardashian mused recently that the moon landing “might’ve been fake.” This signaled a deeper societal puzzle: even in 2026, we struggle with navigating between fact and fiction.
That moment should have been a wake‑up call to schools, parents, and policymakers that critical thinking is essential in a world drowning in information.
On the other side of the country, here in the Green Mountain State, a similar question is playing out in the legislature. Lawmakers remain locked in disagreement over how to reform the education system despite a wealth of data. Reconfigure districts? Reshape governance? Change funding formulas… again?
Act 73, the big structural overhaul, remains stuck in place.
Vermonters meantime aren’t stuck. Last week on Town Meeting Day, voters made one thing crystal clear: we still stand behind our public schools. Roughly 80 percent of local school budgets passed this year, marking broad community support for continued investment in classrooms despite the political hand‑wringing.
Families aren’t walking away from the idea that schools are worth sustaining.
What binds these narratives is not just education policy; it’s a broaders idea of civic commitment. In Vermont, people showed up to vote for school budgets because we recognize that schools are places where future voters and community members learn both content and context. And that’s what too many students are at risk of missing when they take sensational claims at face value, swiping through TikTok clips and those algorithmic echo chambers.
Meanwhile, legislators scramble over how to change an education system without losing the very trust that community voters just reaffirmed at the ballot box. The impulse toward sweeping reform must be balanced with realistic, research‑grounded steps that respect local values while still addressing inequities and rising costs.
If we want students who can separate moon shots from moon hoaxes, we can’t rely on legislative stalemates. We have to invest in schools big and small that teach thinking, not just testing, and in communities that back those schools not just in theory but at the ballot box.
Eye on Data
The chart below tracks number of open positions for teachers in Vermont in the past 60 days, presented as data points and a linear trend line. Data from SchoolSpring.
Pass It On
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Grants & Opportunities
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.
Deeply Rooted Here. The Smithsonian and the National Arab American Museum offer a 12-posted exhibition of teaching posters that illustrate how Arab Americans have been an integral part of American society for more than 150 years.
Chess for Youth. Senator Bernie Sanders is hosting a chess event for grades 1 to 12 to learn how to play and improve their skills. Lunch included. Vermont State University’s Judd Hall in Randolph, 11 am to 4 pm, March 14.
Teachers’ Night Out. Burlington City Arts invites teachers, teachers in training, and family members of educators to a relaxed social hour with drinks and snacks and a special behind-the-scenes look at new exhibitions. 4 to 5 pm, March 20 at the BCA Center in Burlington.
More Chess for Youth. The annual Vermont State Scholastic Chess Championships for grades K to 12 will be held at Lamoille Union High School. March 28.
If You Missed It
School Budget Scoreboard. The VSA has posted an unofficial spreadsheet that keeps track of which budgets have passed, 93-19 at publication time.
Ramadan and Eid. Several classroom resources are available to help explain the Muslim holy month that started last week, and perhaps also fill in a few blanks for school staff who wonder why there are two Eids every year. This was a popular item in last issue, so here it is again for readers who may have missed it.
Fewer UFOs, More School. The editorial from the last issue of the 802 Ed was also published by the Times Argus, Rutland Herald, and Bennington Banner.
Utah’s Inflection Year. A recent blog post points to the strong correlation between the Beehive State’s integration of digital learning in the classroom and a precipitous decline in test scores.
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, CTE Career and Technical 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: Be sure to take it easy, springtime Daylight Savings Time is linked to greater likelihood of a heart attack.