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.

Why it matters: Adult education and literacy providers said they act as a pre-training access point — building basic academic skills, digital literacy and work-readiness so students can succeed in technical programs, apprenticeships and credentialing. Committee members and presenters framed that role as part of broader workforce development needs, including weatherization, childcare and paraprofessional pipelines.

Providers described the range of services offered: basic literacy and numeracy, English-language instruction and citizenship preparation, high-school completion pathways and targeted workforce training pilots such as Step Up to Child Care and Step Up to Paraprofessional. They said EnergyWorks, a workforce program funded via an earmark secured through Senator Sanders' office, has trained participants for weatherization crews and related jobs.

Presenters described concrete transition issues created by the sunset of the previous high school completion program (sunset June 30, 2024) and the staggered rollout of the Adult Diploma Program (anticipated start Feb. 1, 2025). They said roughly 100 students had signed high school completion plans before July 1, 2024, but had not finished; most of that group have now completed or are close to completing, but providers say limited administrative windows required legislative corrective language to protect those students’ ability to graduate.

On workforce pilots: Providers said Step Up to Child Care has completed two cohorts and is running a third; the program includes an 80-hour internship and training on required items such as first aid, CPR and mandated reporting. The presenters said the program has placed many participants into jobs at their internship sites. EnergyWorks participants have earned credentials relevant to weatherization and heat-pump installation; presenters said the EnergyWorks program has trained “over 178” participants to date and that employers have hired many graduates.

Providers also described coordination with partners: community action agencies, local career and technical education centers, Department of Labor partners and employers. Several pilots are VSAC-approved (Vermont Student Assistance Corporation) so students can use VSAC aid for related costs, and some programs are recognized as Integrated Employment and Training (IET) under adult education grant rules.

Committee follow-up and next steps: Presenters said they sent recommendations to the Appropriations Committee the same morning and asked to return in spring to report on the Adult Diploma Program rollout and workforce initiatives. They asked the Legislature to include the specific notwithstanding language in the Budget Adjustment Act so students caught in the transition window can graduate by June 30, 2025.

The presenters repeatedly emphasized nonacademic outcomes as well: confidence-building, social-emotional learning and navigation services (for example, support obtaining foreign credentials). Michelle Faust described Ready, Set, Grow Childcare Center in the Northeast Kingdom as a “teaching facility” that serves as a training site for regional human-services programs and as a Step Up internship host.

The session closed with the committee thanking the presenters and scheduling follow-up testimony on the ADP rollout and workforce training pilots later this spring.