[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6057988,"mediaKeyId","3299443-7f9297871b453d7d9cda42a3ead2ecaf","parentId",3299443,"title","House Education reviews proposal to extend Vermont National Guard tuition benefit in H.480","audioSeconds",740,"startMs",1252000,"endMs",1992000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3299443-7f9297871b453d7d9cda42a3ead2ecaf&start=1252&end=1992","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3299443-7f9297871b453d7d9cda42a3ead2ecaf/thumbnail_1252000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6057988/Vermont/House-Education-reviews-proposal-to-extend-Vermont-National-Guard-tuition-benefit-in-H480","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057988-80e4037825e5df48318039d9073b99df/orig.mp4?Expires=1771124746&Signature=T-jgsC~Tv9u6qKCOnNg9whlj0nCLYSiHeCawclLdLHYEga~aHOVLn6KZcW07Y-tGw0d-k7y71Hc6ElXetO8xzbTKf2o3ESb2akLl8pPKKIJ7p8G1KCDAgXLiQiUeli3OlMMNDb0z0m706D7pvqK2y0BIcYM~oqyp2u9McrFS2NvMNpYwD7xux6NIjTeofyxm8ynM1PALBFV5MqyvrGeEMSR0iHzwZBWsB-tw~nsCUpWoOY9H39MQspOlmy5MGJZQPZgGu-TveeQbWtvwn2IXNkacADU0Rn7TMb9QiDgAJlZoJieOvtlfTlAXI8X4kpmJbO9p74xrg4KncziFtMc~~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-14T19:18:44.74Z","article","Witnesses told the House Education Committee on Wednesday that section 11 of H.480 would remove a sunset and resolve inconsistent language in the VSAC statute governing the Vermont National Guard Tuition Benefit Program. Tom Little, representing VITSEC, described the benefit as a forgivable loan program administered under VSAC statute §2857 that conditions tuition forgiveness on subsequent service and said the Guard requests making a recent temporary expansion permanent.

“The guard has presented its proposal to lift that sunset,” Tom Little said, raising the committee’s attention to a subsection that allowed members to pursue a second bachelor’s or a master’s degree subject to a sunset. Little said that participation rose from seven Guard members in 2022–23 to 18 the following academic year and that the Guard views the benefit as important for recruitment and retention.

Little also said he found conflicting subsections in the statute about whether members may pursue an out-of-state program when a program is not available in Vermont; the proposed change would make those cross-references consistent. He told the committee the program is funded through the Guard appropriation transferred to VSAC for distribution to institutions where members enroll.

Committee members asked how the program handles demand if available appropriations are limited. Little said awards are made on a rolling basis and that the program has not historically exhausted its funds on an annualized basis; the Guard files an annual report to the committee with usage statistics. Little said Senate Education had taken a straw vote in favor of the bill’s language.

No formal vote on section 11 was taken at the hearing. The committee indicated it expects testimony from the deputy adjutant general in a later session to offer additional detail on funding and program administration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Education - 2025-05-14 - 2:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Witnesses told the House Education Committee section 11 of H.480 would repeal a sunset and resolve inconsistent statutory language for the National Guard Tuition Benefit administered by VSAC; witnesses said the program supports recruitment and has not historically exhausted appropriations.","taxTitle","Education, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",30651,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6057993,"House Education hears council testimony to restore literacy supports for grades 4–12 in H.480",1246,2000,1248000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3299443-7f9297871b453d7d9cda42a3ead2ecaf&start=2&end=1248","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3299443-7f9297871b453d7d9cda42a3ead2ecaf/thumbnail_2000.jpg","/articles/6057993/Vermont/House-Education-hears-council-testimony-to-restore-literacy-supports-for-grades-412-in-H480","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057993-c61a0f41284608fb7135f8e00899ef62/orig.mp4?Expires=1771124746&Signature=DMLk8cHB2PIkXI1SgG2Y8kOChE-vVkcs0xzv3kKfa7IWTiu7bYT0AKXv8UJK84pX-HdXuxWR16n4Fca15V20D9A3xLlv516nB3fe7JfhduUqyK5ntqOC9cKuVu-Hkz0X6WKxgiydRMmLx~nLYvv~hkqH0uKRNNi-JYeqWSEuW6-4BDvThdjFyPu4qeYEeC31l~1YkgVpyNdNeeeHNKriNUpsSWQBkGJt3f~9982uR6oEaRm-EkHvfqBnMelYpkowrnGgm4FtYbt6jHs1G~NHphXhXqvGTXjOPkG9E2XedTCah-dJacyLaFPpWjopF~wzNeW4A4W3Om8pMlQyBdSxXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the House Education Committee on Wednesday considered language in H.480, section 10, that supporters say restores literacy supports for students in grades 4 through 12. Gwen Carmoli, chair of the Advisory Council on Literacy, and a council community member testified in favor of reinserting language removed in the 2024 early literacy update (Act 139) so older struggling readers continue to receive supplemental instruction.

The Advisory Council on Literacy has recommended that statute 2903 be clarified to make explicit that certain supplemental instruction provisions apply to grades 4–12, not only kindergarten through grade 3, Carmoli said. “The language you see in front of you reflects what the council's work has, and it reflects a review of evidence based practices,” Carmoli said. She asked the committee to clarify instances where draft text might be read as applying to K–3 to avoid confusion with the earlier Act 139 requirements for early grades.

Cynthia, a community member of the Advisory Council on Literacy, told the committee she supports the draft wording in H.480 (draft 13.2) and urged the committee not to delay implementation currently set for July 1, 2025. “All struggling readers in grades 4 through 12 deserve and need support immediately,” she said, and noted the Agency of Education has offered training and resources under Read Vermont.

Committee members and witnesses also discussed implementation capacity. Carmoli suggested the committee consider whether implementation of section 10 should begin in July 2026 to allow time for guidance and for schools to plan and allocate staff and dollars. Carmoli said she believes the agency supports the policy in principle but may not yet have all guidance documents and that some middle and high schools lack the personnel to deliver supplemental literacy instruction immediately.

Representative discussion noted the deliberative constraints of the current legislative process: changes to the bill now could require reconciliation with the Senate or force conference committee action before adjournment. Committee members described a range of district capacities — some unions and supervisory districts share reading specialists or instructional coaches, while others have reduced supports in recent years following pandemic-era funding shifts.

Where draft language removed a previously specific reference to assessments when notifying parents, Carmoli said the change appears intended to allow flexibility for students on different pathways (for example, those participating in CTE or internships) where the same screeners may not apply. She explained flexibility was meant to avoid delaying contact with families when educators observe literacy concerns.

No formal vote or amendment on section 10 was taken at the hearing. Committee members asked witnesses and the Advisory Council to continue working with the Agency of Education and the Senate Education Committee to clarify statutory language and implementation timelines.","The House Education Committee heard testimony from the Advisory Council on Literacy and community members urging restoration of statutory language to ensure supplemental literacy instruction for students in grades 4–12, and discussed whether implementation should be delayed to allow agency and school planning.","actionData","errors"]

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House Education reviews proposal to extend Vermont National Guard tuition benefit in H.480

House Education hears council testimony to restore literacy supports for grades 4–12 in H.480