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Agency of Education asks for $4 million to plan transformation as federal COVID funds expire
Summary
At a Feb. 20 House Appropriations hearing, the Agency of Education outlined a FY 2026 request that centers on a $4 million one‑time appropriation to support education transformation planning, warned of an ESSER funding “fiscal cliff,” and highlighted rising special‑education costs that state officials say require systemwide changes.
Montpelier — The Agency of Education told the House Appropriations Committee on Feb. 20 that it needs a one‑time $4 million appropriation in FY 2026 to scope and support an anticipated education transformation, and warned lawmakers that federal pandemic relief that helped districts will largely expire, creating significant budget pressures.
"The agency implements state and federal laws, policies, and regulations so that all Vermont learners have equitable access to high quality learning opportunities," Interim Deputy Secretary Jill Briggs Campbell told the committee as she opened the agency's presentation.
The agency's recommended FY 2026 budget totals about $2.6 billion, the interim chief financial officer, Sean Kuslow, told the committee. The request is about $47.5 million below the current year largely because federal pandemic grants are ending. Kuslow said the state and districts together received more than $500 million in COVID‑era education funding; about $256 million of ESSER funds went directly to districts and roughly $44 million remained for agency programs and contracts. The last of…
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