Education

After nearly 30 years at the Vermont Superintendents Association, Jeff Francis is retiring this summer. His career has spanned some of the consequential educational reforms in state history. He talked with Vermont Public's Lola Duffort about the overhauls he's seen over the years, the expanding role of public schools, and how we talk about the cost of public education.

New Hampshire is one of at least 25 states that passed laws in recent years restricting certain K-12 lessons or books addressing racism and other forms of oppression. And it is the first where such a law has been declared unconstitutional.

The Vermont Agency of Education is keeping close tabs on a southern Vermont supervisory union after a string of top administrators were put on leave or resigned.

A sea change is underway in the Vermont Senate. In the last election cycle, 10 senators opted not to run for reelection. And this year, Campion is the fifth longtime senator to announce his departure from the 30-member body.

About one in five students at Vermont’s largest university reported facing food insecurity. That’s in line with the rates among college students across the country.

The tabby will become a "Doctor of Litter-ature" in recognition of his contributions to the Castleton campus, where he has become a regular visitor for the past four years.

Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark is suing biotech giant Monsanto, which manufactured polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs, in hopes of recouping cleanup costs, and has told lawmakers that stopping the testing outright might hurt the lawsuit’s chances of success.

Just after the stroke of midnight on Saturday morning, state lawmakers passed the property tax bill necessary to pay for schools.

Once a fixture in nearly every community, the blacksmith shop is now mostly a relic of the past, but for a few hobbyists and shops scattered across the state. But the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences is trying to re-invigorate interest in the craft.

Plus, a look at the controversy over the state's interim education secretary.