AGENCY OF EDUCATION:
ARCHIVED COMMISSIONER
MEMOS FOR JANUARY - JUNE 2010
MAY - DECEMBER 2009 &
ARCHIVED AGENCY/ARRA MEMOS FOR 2009

This page contains links to 2009 archived letters/memos from the commissioner, including memos pertaining to the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. Memos are presented in date order, with the most recent appearing first.

• Archived Department Memos for 2010 (January through June)
• Archived Department Memos for 2009
• Archived ARRA Memos for 2009

• Letter Seeking Talented Educator Nominations (June 21, 2010)
  The department is soliciting nominations for outstanding Vermont educators to be recognized as state leaders. These educators may be considered for membership on advisory boards and task forces, as well as candidates for special recognition programs. Your recommendations will identify educators who will be of great value to your community and state and who may also ultimately receive prestigious recognition. This application was due August 1, 2010. Use this link to view and download the Talent Pool Recommendation Form.

• Letter from Education Commissioner Vilaseca and Department of Children & Families Commissioner Stephen Dale Regarding the Technical Assistance Resource Guide (TARG) (June 21, 2010)
  On March 17, 2009, Act 1 - An Act Relating to Improving Vermont's Sexual Abuse Response System - was signed into law and includes several new mandates for Vermont schools. This letter outlines the requirements of the department and the Department for Children and Families to help schools meet their statutory requirements.

• H. 792 Legislation Memo to Superintendents, Principals, Technical Center Directors, Business Managers and School Board Chairs (June 7, 2010)
  This memo is advanced notice of an important FY 2012 budget issue all school districts, supervisory unions and technical centers must face. An Act Relating to Implementation of Challenges for Change, H. 792, has recently been signed by the Governor. The purpose of the legislation was to respond positively to our significantly reduced state revenues resulting from the severe recession we have experienced. This legislation identifies key outcomes for state government programs and how those will be accomplished with reduced funding.

• Driver Education Program Changes 2010 (May 19, 2010)
  This memo addresses immediate and upcoming changes to the driver education program. The department no longer employs a driver education consultant and the Vermont Higher Education Collaborative (VTHEC) is now the administrator for driver education pre-service, continuing education and re-licensure coursework.

• Letter to Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Rural States (April 27, 2010)
  This letter, signed by 13 state education commissioners, outlines the concerns and challenges facing rural states related to national education initiatives such as Race to the Top (RttT) and the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

• Memo Regarding an Invitation to Attend a Briefing on Board Examination Systems of the National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE) with Marc Tucker, April 13 from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m.: For Superintendents, High School Principals, School Board Members (March 10, 2010)
  Vermont has a wonderful opportunity to participate with seven other states in piloting some of the best instructional systems and examinations with the intent of dramatically increasing the number of students who leave high school ready to succeed in college. The focus for our state is on allowing high schools that choose to participate to adopt some of the best (and proven) instructional practices in the world, to provide a powerful system of support to our struggling students, our most able students, and everyone in between, and to motivate our high school students to take tough courses and study hard in school. This will be a great opportunity for schools as they look to differentiate themselves. Participation by schools in this effort is entirely voluntary, and only students who choose to will participate.

• Memo Regarding Letter of Support/Commitment on Broadband Connectivity: Information and Guidelines (February 24, 2010)
  The department is currently working with a number of state agencies to submit on behalf of all K-12 schools an application to the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). This program will provide significant ARRA funding for the development of robust broadband resources to community anchor institutions including K-12 schools. The hope is that "last mile" connections can be covered with this funding and bring high-speed connectivity to schools not currently able to acquire it. It also includes schools currently connected but desiring increased bandwidth at competitive pricing. With this application, there needs to be commitment from anchor institutions with specific language that indicates need for these services. NOTE: The due date for submission of support letters was March 8, 2010.

• Memo Regarding District Support for Local Standards Boards (LSBs) (February 3, 2010)
  This memo from the commissioner requests that all superintendents actively support their district LSBs by granting the basic supports such as: provide time at in-service meetings and individual school faculty meetings to present relicensure procedures/updates and regard LSB service as district committee work in addition to considering more substantial supports such as release time with substitute coverage during the school year.

Letter from Commissioner Vilaseca and Commissioner of the Department for Children & Families Stephen Dale: Sexual Violence Prevention Task Force (SVPTF) Update (December 12, 2009)
The Vermont Sexual Violence Prevention Technical Assistance Resource Guide (TARG), will provide guidelines for schools’ capacity-building around sexual violence prevention programs and nationally recognized, “best practice” criteria for schools to identify what sexual violence prevention curricula and activities work in their local community. Neither the Sexual Violence Prevention Task Force as a body, nor the TARG as the mandated product of the SVPTF’s work, represent endorsement of specific sexual violence prevention curricula, models or programs. After review by the Agency of Education and the Department for Children and Family Services, the TARG will be available to schools in July 2010, as required by Act 1 of 2009.

Memo Regarding a Survey of Educational Personnel Diversity (December 9, 2009)
View information about a University of Vermont and a coalition of the VSA, VSBA, VPA and the Agency of Education survey about diversity in the teaching and administrative workforce in Vermont Schools. Due Date: December 15, 2009.

Policy Recommendations for Hiring Substitute Teachers (December 2, 2009)
Local school boards are responsible for adopting policies regarding employment qualifications of substitute teachers. This memo outlines Commissioner Vilaseca's recommendations for additional school policies regarding the hiring of substitute teachers.

Availability of Online Criminal Record Checks (December 2, 2009)
To promote student safety, an easy-to-use online criminal record service is available for school administrators to use. Known as the Vermont Criminal Conviction Record Internet Service (VCCRIS), VCCRIS allows educational institutions a means of immediately retrieving criminal convictions records online.

Letter from Commissioner Vilaseca and Commissioner of Finance & Management Jim Reardon Regarding Fiscal Year 2011 School Budget Recommendations (November 10, 2009)
This memo to school administrators and school board members discusses the impact the economic downturn is having on school budgets and some potential changes legislators may consider this upcoming session that would affect school budgets.

Letter and Forms on School-based Clinics for H1N1 Flu Vaccine (September 11, 2009)
This joint letter from Health Commissioner Wendy Davis and Education Commissioner Armando Vilaseca outlines the state plan for hosting school-based clinics for the H1N1 Flu Vaccine for students. In addition to this important letter, this packet includes the options schools have for voluntarily participating in the clinics, and a form schools are required to fill out and return to the Health Department by September 18, 2009.

Letter Regarding President Obama’s Speech to Students (emailed September 4, 2009)

Commissioner’s Op-Ed Submission on Adult Literacy (September 3, 2009)

Letter from Commissioner Vilaseca and Department of Health Commissioner Davis Regarding H1N1 (Swine Flu) and Action Steps for Schools (August 19, 2009)
Please review this important letter from Education Commissioner Armando Vilaseca and Health Commissioner Wendy Davis including guidance for schools in preparation for an anticipated resurgence of the H1N1 virus this fall in schools. View additional H1N1 resources. The download includes a Letter from Education Commissioner Armando Vilaseca and Health Commissioner Wendy Davis and a One-Page Action Steps for Schools to Prevent the Spread of Flu.

Memo: Reports of Alleged Unprofessional Conduct or Incompetence (July 6, 2009)

Memo: Title I Schools (May 6, 2009)

Memo: Schedule of Parent/Teacher Conferences and In-Service Days (May 4, 2009)

Statewide Student Information Systems (April 29, 2009)
The department is exploring the feasibility of implementing a statewide student information system as part of a competitive grant opportunity from the USDOE under ARRA. In order to secure funds to meet the assurances, the commissioner must apply for funds under ARRA Title XIII, Institute of Education Sciences, for the purpose of creating a student information system serving each supervisory union, member district and regional technical education district. We realize that some districts and supervisory unions are currently looking to purchase information systems for special education or for all students. We encourage you to consider holding off on this purchase if possible. The USDOE should be releasing a timeline for this grant process and we will provide an update at that time in future field memos. Contact: Lisa Gauvin, IT Director, at lisa.gauvin@state.vt.us. NOTE: View selected parts of the submitted Vermont Data Enhancement Project application.

Communication Update on the ARRA (April 22, 2009)
This memo includes the most recent information from the Commissioner about the expected use of ARRA funds, as well as how the department can increase school access to models that meet the assurances of the law.

Communication on the ARRA (February 27, 2009)

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