Conference committee adopts interim, statewide approach to adult education funding

A conference committee working on the FY‑26 budget agreed to interim language establishing a statewide approach to adult education funding and directed a report on how to make future distributions more equitable.

Committee members said they reached “majority agreement” on the adult‑education language and that the proposal is intended as a temporary, step‑down approach from prior practice while staff prepare a plan for a permanent fix. The committee explicitly rejected allocating the funds by county, saying that option "is not an option" for this interim construct.

Committee staff noted the current formula results in the North East Kingdom receiving the largest share under the interim approach and described the measure as an attempt to move toward a fairer allocation next year. The text placed reporting responsibility with state education and administration offices; the proposal requires the Agency of Education and the Secretary of Administration to provide a report to the appropriate committees on an equitable distribution method.

The provision was described repeatedly as an interim measure; committee members said they expect additional vetting and that the language was circulated and reviewed by staff and stakeholders before being presented to the committee.

Less central technical changes to the budget sheets—moving some staff positions and program funding between base and one‑time sections—were discussed alongside the adult education language, but the committee separated those bookkeeping moves from the policy decision on adult education funding.

The committee asked staff to circulate final language and spreadsheets and said they will review the report and proposed permanent distribution next year.