Lola Duffort
Education/Youth ReporterLola is Vermont Public's education and youth reporter, covering schools, child care, the child protection system and anything that matters to kids and families. She's previously reported in Vermont, New Hampshire, Florida (where she grew up) and Canada (where she went to college).
Get in touch at lduffort@vermontpublic.org.
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The fast-moving legislation, which was initially set to receive a committee vote Friday, had been met with immediate pushback from the field.
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A key tax-writing committee in the Vermont House on Tuesday unveiled the outlines of a major education finance overhaul that would fundamentally alter the state’s tradition of local control in school budgeting.
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Vermont has 10% fewer educators than it did before the pandemic. That’s the worst mark in the country, save Alaska, according to a recent U.S. Department of Education report. The decline is prompting some Vermont principals to hire teachers with fewer qualifications — and is, in some cases, forcing schools to send kids home for the day.
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House lawmakers gave preliminary approval to legislation that would pause the state's PCB testing program. Last year, a similar measure died in the Senate when it was met with staunch opposition. This year, the legislation’s chances of becoming law appear much stronger.
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“It’s no secret our education system is at a critical stage," said Gov. Phil Scott, adding that Zoie Saunders could help Vermont's school systems navigate challenges and opportunities.
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Instead of fighting over how to divvy up the skyrocketing cost of health care, school boards and Vermont’s teachers union say they want to tackle health care reform instead.
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Why nearly a third of school budget votes failed on Town Meeting Day, and where state lawmakers go from here.
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On Tuesday, voters in nearly a third of school districts rejected their spending plans at the ballot box. Vermont Public’s education reporter Lola Duffort spoke with Mitch Wertlieb about how we got here — and how this will impact the conversation in Montpelier.
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School officials were bracing for a difficult Town Meeting Day – and they were right. A little over 30% of all school budgets went down Tuesday, according to unofficial results compiled by the Vermont Superintendents and School Boards' associations.
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The seven member towns of the Mountain Views School District will decide on Town Meeting Day whether to approve a $99 million bond to replace their combined middle and high school.