Barre, VT. –The U.S. Department of Education (USED) today sent a letter to the Vermont Agency of Education asking for revisions and clarifications to sections of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Vermont State Plan. The agency submitted the plan to USED in early April.
The letter comes after several other states received feedback on state plans from the federal department. The implementation date of the federal plan is still on track for the 2018-19 school year. Secretary Rebecca Holcombe said, “our conversation with USED was highly productive, and their questions helped us to think more deeply about several issues. I think the feedback will help us to ensure a final plan is of the highest quality."
The agency now has 15 calendar days to respond to the feedback we received and submit a revised state plan no later than August 22, 2017. Written feedback is available online for the public to view.
"This is part of a process and dialogue moving forward with USED to create a plan that satisfies the federal law while keeping in mind our Vermont education priorities,” said Deputy Secretary Amy Fowler. “We are committed to getting a plan approved that is reflective of Vermont’s goals. In Vermont, we believe that if schools teach well and children are engaged and supported, young people will thrive – not just on tests, but in their communities and in the economic life of the state.”