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House Education schedules independent-school approval update, flags PCB remediation funding cut
Summary
Committee members outlined upcoming agenda items including an independent-school approval update, a Hazing/Harassment/Bullying advisory board briefing, phone-free schools testimony, and a request to restore PCB remediation funding cut by Appropriations.
The Vermont House Committee on Education planned several forthcoming agenda items and raised concerns about a cut to PCB remediation funding.
Committee members said Jennifer Samuelson will brief the committee on the independent school approval process and the backlog of five-year approvals that grew during the COVID-19 pandemic; the update will cover the state board's role, the Agency of Education's enforcement and oversight, and the process for therapeutic schools. Members noted the state board operates in a quasi-judicial role and may not be able to discuss specific cases.
The committee also expects a briefing from the chair of the Hazing, Harassment and Bullying Advisory Board. Members noted a bill on the wall would increase that advisory board's membership from six to 18; the bill itself was not specified in the discussion.
On policy items that will pass through multiple committees, members said the Commerce Committee is advancing child data privacy and a "phone-free schools" approach and indicated that testimony should be taken when appropriate by House Education as a joint record.
Separately, committee leadership said they wrote to the Senate Appropriations Committee asking that PCB remediation funding cut by Appropriations be restored. Members cited Act 78 of 2023, which the committee said states schools will not be responsible for PCB remediation costs; they said PCB cleanup funding is not from the general fund and represents "millions and millions of dollars" in pressure on education funding.
Committee members asked their liaisons to Appropriations to seek when the Agency of Education will appear before that committee to explain how much of AOE operations and Ed Fund programs depend on federal dollars and what would be at risk if federal funds were curtailed. The committee discussed using written updates, interim briefings and an all-member briefing if preliminary commission findings become available.
