Vermont adult education providers tell committee new funding formula aims to stabilize services, but transition left about 100 students in limbo

Vermont adult education and literacy providers told the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development on Jan. 24 that a new funding formula should give the sector predictable support, but the transition from the older high school completion program to the Adult Diploma Program left roughly 100 students temporarily unable to finish plans they had already started.

The providers — represented by Joe Christopherher, program director at Vermont Adult Learning, and Michelle Faust, executive director of Northeast Kingdom Learning Services — said the new formula, which ties funding to 26% of the base education rate, moves the sector away from one-time allocations and should reduce the need for future budget adjustment bills.

“The program…we have the formula that properly and sustainably and moves with the times because it's 26% of the base education rate,” the presenters told the committee. They asked the Legislature to include “notwithstanding” language in the Budget Adjustment Act to allow students who had signed plans before July 1, 2024, to finish under the prior requirements.

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