AGENCY OF EDUCATION

Meet Vermont Education Secretary Armando Vilaseca
A resident of Westford, Vermont, Armando Vilaseca graduated from the University of Vermont with a Bachelor of Science degree in education. He received his Masters in Education with a focus on educational leadership from Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Vilaseca joined the Agency of Education in January 2009. Secretary Vilaseca has over 30 years of experience in Vermont's education system, having spent his entire professional career in Vermont schools. He began as a classroom teacher at the Georgia Middle School in Georgia, Vermont, and served as a teaching principal at the Reading Elementary School. He then served as the principal for Westford Elementary and Middle School, assistant principal and then principal of Essex High School, a position he served in for 10 years, and superintendent of the Colchester School District. Most recently he has served as the superintendent of Franklin West Supervisory Union.

Vilaseca, a native of Cuba, has also served as a government liaison accompanying a delegation to Cuba to introduce Cubans to Vermont agricultural products.

Communications from the Agency:

• SchoolSpeedTest - June 14th deadline
  Dated: June 11, 2013
  
  
• Implementation of Vermont IDEA Part C Rule Changes
  Dated: May 24, 2013
  
  
• School Egress (Evacuation) & Secure the School (Clear the Halls) Drill Schedule
  Dated: May 20, 2013
  
  
• Harassment, Hazing & Bullying – Prevention Policies and Designated Employees
  Dated: May 15, 2013
  
  
• Federal Budget Information - Sequestration
  Dated: April 5, 2013
  
  
• Memo to Superintendents from Secretary Vilaseca on Principal Mentoring
  Dated: March 26, 2013
  
  
• Help Improve Envision – “Promoting Healthy School Environments” – Program
  Dated: March 8, 2013
  
  
• Opinion Piece Submitted by Armando Vilaseca: This Is High School Today
  Dated: February 22, 2013
  
  
• The Cafeteria is the Largest Classroom in Your School
  Dated: September 17, 2012
  
  
  
  
• NECAP 2012 Fall Testing
  Dated: August 24, 2012
  
  
• Combined Incident Reporting Software (CIRS)
  Dated: July 25, 2012
  
  
• Clarifying the Process for Enrollment in Vermont Home Study
  Dated: July 23, 2012
  
  
• Educator Reporting Requirements and Access to Child and Adult Abuse Registries
  Dated: July 20, 2012
  
  
• Commissioner's Required Actions FY13
  Dated: July 7, 2012
  This letter is about the new supports and interventions that will be part of the Commissioner’s Required Actions for the 2012-2013 school year.
  
  
• Important Notice Regarding Changes in the School Improvement Process
  Dated: June 21, 2012
  The official release of AYP results will occur on August 6, 2012 and schools will receive their Commissioner’s Required Actions shortly thereafter. This year, Commissioner’s Required Actions will include new requirements. A close reading is essential to understand what will be required of schools in each AYP designation.
  
  
• Opinion Piece Submitted by Armando Vilaseca: Diversity
  Dated: May 25, 2012
  This spring saw a number of positive developments in the area of school district governance. The changes illustrate how the system established in Act 153 by the Legislature to encourage districts to study the possible benefits of collaborative activities is intended to work.
  
  
• Opinion Piece Submitted by Armando Vilaseca: Voluntary Mergers a Move in the Right Direction
  Dated: May 24, 2012
  This spring saw a number of positive developments in the area of school district governance. The changes illustrate how the system established in Act 153 by the Legislature to encourage districts to study the possible benefits of collaborative activities is intended to work.
  
  
• Federal Budget Information and Sequestration
  Dated: May 9, 2012
  The Vermont Agency of Education has been paying close attention to the situation that exists within the education funding stream from the federal government. Many of you have been in touch with us looking for guidance as you develop future budgets and prepare for your educational needs in the coming year(s). We recognize that good and informed advice helps direct important decisions on your part. We recognize that these decisions are of the utmost importance and include teacher’s contracts and innovative programming that provide quality educational opportunities for our students. Please read this important memo as to the current status of federal funding.
  
  
• Student Educator Course Transcript Data Collection
  Dated: May 2, 2012
  Commissioner Vilaseca's letter to all superintendents addressing the Student/Educator Course Transcript data collection which should be underway. The deadline for this data collection is August 15, 2012 and it must be completed in order to ensure that Vermont is in compliance with Statewide Fiscal Stabilization Fund for which Vermont districts have already received funds.
  
  
• Opinion Piece Submitted by Armando Vilaseca: Don’t Let This Opportunity Pass Us By
  Dated: April 11, 2012
  Every session our Legislature considers hundreds of bills, all of which aim to enhance our current status. This year legislators have an incredible opportunity to fundamentally improve the lives of thousands of Vermont students, and make a concrete investment in the future of our state.
  
  
• ALERT: Suspicious Letters PDF
  Dated: March 9, 2012
  Notes from Conference Call on March 9, 2012 with Commissioner Armando Vilaseca and Captain Chris Reinfurt of the Vermont State Police with school administrators.
  
  
  • Press Release: New England Schools Target of Suspicious Packages; Vermont Schools Alerted PDF
    
    
• Commissioner Vilaseca on School Choice PDF
  Dated: January 25, 2012
  Since 2005 there have been several legislative changes and I have reviewed this memo and decided that the time has come to apply a more liberal, and arguably more literal, interpretation of the “5% or 10” transfer provision.
  
  
  • Clarification of Revised Memo on School Choice PDF
  • Capacity Guidelines under 16 V.S.A. §§ 1621 - 1622 PDF
    
    
• Commissioner Vilaseca Opinion Piece on Bennington Strike PDF
  As commissioner, I have no authority to intervene in the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union (SVSU) strike or any other local contract negotiation. However, I believe I have a responsibility to speak up on behalf of the students.
  
  
• Commissioner Vilaseca Opinion Piece on ESEA Waiver PDF
  Vermont and the rest of the country have been given a wonderful opportunity to shed the flawed aspects of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and refocus our efforts on true success for all students.
  
  
• School Bus Idling Law, Administrative Rule, and Potential Penalties PDF
  To put it simply, buses are to be turned off while loading and unloading students at the school. If a bus is parked on school grounds during a sporting event or for any other reason, it is to be turned off. Idling is unnecessary, adds costs, is unhealthy, and pollutes.
  
  
• Extended NECAP Test Window for School Affected by Hurricane Irene PDF
  Recognizing that a number of Vermont Schools are starting the new academic year under the worst of circumstances, we are working out arrangements with our assessment contractor, Measured Progress, to extend the NECAP testing window to November 1, 2011 for those schools that have experienced significant delays in opening schools in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. Administrators from schools interested in using the extended testing window must contact our Director of Educational Assessment, Michael Hock, (802-828-3115/ Michael.Hock@state.vt.us) by no later than September 16, 2011 so that Measured Progress and the agency has sufficient time to prepare for the extension.. The assessment window for all other schools will continue to be October 3, 2011 to October 25, 2011, with pick up on October 26, as originally scheduled.
  
  
• Update on US Department of Education Waiver Request PDF
  
  
• Opinion Piece Reflecting on the Past Year
  This article was written by Commissioner Vilaseca and reflects upon the end of another school year and reviews the various accomplishments and challenges that were encountered throughout the past year.
  
  
• School Configurations and Accountability PDF
  This memo is in response to the several requests received in recent months from Superintendents interested in making changes to their school configurations for the purpose of school accountability (AYP).
  
  
• Guidance for Alternative Acquisition of Physical Education Credit PDF
  This reminder about School Quality Standards and guidance for alternative credit acquisition in physical education has been prepared because the 2010 Vermont School Health Profiles Report indicates that an increasing number of schools are exempting students from physical education. While the Vermont Agency of Education does support alternative pathways to learning, it is important that such pathways are of high quality and are equally accessible to all students.
  
  
• Guidance on the Mandates of Act One: Improving Vermont's Sexual Abuse Response System PDF
  This joint letter from Commissioner Vilaseca and Commissioner Yacavone clarifies questions about "Section 9 -  AN ACT RELATING TO IMPROVING VERMONT'S SEXUAL ABUSE RESPONSE SYSTEM."
  
  
• Opinion Piece on Act 153 Implementation
  This article was written by Commissioner Vilaseca for the Vermont School Boards Association newsletter, outlining his thoughts on Act 153 and school district and supervisory union mergers.

• Federal Education Jobs Fund
  Information on state allocation options, allowable and prohibited uses by the school districts and reporting requirements for the Federal Education Jobs Fund (EJF).

• Challenges for Change Supervisory Union Budget Target Results
  Section E2(e) of Act 146 required the Agency of Education to compile estimated budget amounts gathered from supervisory unions and technical center districts on their ability to meet the recommended budget targets set in August. The deadline for this transmittal was December 15. With one unreported and six incomplete, this document reflects the summary of those budgets, indicating that just over $4 million of the $19.9 million due from the reported SU targets were reached. These figures are preliminary, incomplete and are subject to change.

  • Statewide Summary of Results PDF
  • Supervisory Union Summary of Results PDF
  • Explanation of Summary of Results PDF

Current Initiatives

• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)
  The ARRA (or Recovery Act or "Stimulus Bill") was signed into law by President Obama on February 17th, 2009. The passage of the Act has created a need for information concerning its effect on Vermont schools, districts and supervisory unions. The Vermont Agency of Education and Vermont’s congressional delegation have been working to clarify the details and the requirements of ARRA.

• Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and National Governors Association (NGA) Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI)
  The CCSSI is a significant and historic opportunity for states to collectively develop and adopt a core set of academic standards in mathematics and English language arts. Forty-six states and three territories have joined the CCSSI. The initiative is being jointly led by the NGA Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers in partnership with Achieve, ACT, and the College Board. It builds directly on recent efforts of leading organizations and states that have focused on developing college- and career-ready standards and ensures these standards are evidence- and research-based and internationally benchmarked to top-performing countries.

  • CCSSI FAQ PDF
  • CCSSI PowerPoint Summary PDF

• Archived Initiatives
• Education Governance
• Statewide School Year Calendar

General Phone Numbers
This link provides phone numbers for programs and services in the Agency of Education listed alphabetically by topic area (e.g., GED, licensing, special education technical assistance, etc.).

The agency's calendar of events is designed to be used as a planning tool by agency staff, State Board members and educators in the field. The calendar lists agency-sponsored events, which, unless noted otherwise, are intended to benefit service providers, educators and administrators. View the calendar of agency-sponsored events.

Each year a teacher from Vermont’s education community is recognized as the Vermont Teacher of the Year. The Teacher of the Year is chosen through a thorough application and selection process. As the recipient of this award, the teacher travels statewide visiting schools and working with other educators. This program is sponsored by Hannaford Supermarkets and the Vermont Agency of Education. The Vermont Teacher of the Year also becomes a candidate for the National Teacher of the Year award sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers.

This page also contains other educator awards as well as awards given in recognition of exceptional programs and activities taking place in Vermont's schools.

Mission
The State Board and Agency of Education provide leadership, support and oversight to ensure that the Vermont public education system enables each student to be successful.

Vision
Every learner completes his or her public education with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in college, continuing education, careers, and citizenship. The public education system provides flexible learning environments rich with 21st century tools that promote self-development, academic achievement, and active engagement in learning. It operates within a framework of high expectations for every learner with support from educators, families and the community.

Vermont State Board of Education & Agency of Education Strategic Plan for 2010-2014 PDF
Pursuant to Section 180 of Title 16 which requires the State Board of Education to “adopt through a public process a statewide strategic education plan to describe how the agency will help schools boards to improve student performance” and that it be reviewed and updated every five years, the Board voted to approve the Strategic Plan at its meeting on August 17, 2010. The plan has been renewed to 1) reflect current practice and views, 2) assure that all students graduate from high school having achieved proficiency in reading, math, science, writing and 21st Century skill development and are prepared to enter college or training in a career of their choosing, and 3) integrate the tenets of transformation. The agency will now move ahead with the development of its implementation plan.

• Strategic Plan BrochurePDF

Agency of Education's Budget Recommendations and Annual Report

The agency is currently organized into a Finance & Administration division and four Education Program divisions. Each division is further divided into teams providing specific programs and services.

The communications staff at the agency manages both media relations and public information for the range of constituencies interested in and served by the agency. As part of its public information services, use the following links to view:

• Vermont Department of Economic Development Bid Web Site OSL
  View most contracts for personal services and educational support.

• Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services Web Site OSL
  Access information about larger contracts and certain contracts for Information Technology systems.

NOTE: The phone number listed below is for nondiscrimination policy questions ONLY.
For questions NOT related to nondiscrimination policies,
use the agency's general phone numbers Web page.

The Vermont Agency of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, marital status, sex, disability, age, gender identity or sexual orientation in its programs or activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding NONDISCRIMINATION POLICIES ONLY:

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