Education & Early Childhood

Visit the J. Warren & Lois McClure Foundation to learn more about education research in Vermont.


Recent News

Thursday
May022013

Enough Said: Vermont Works for Women Report Released

Vermont Works for Women released a report that reveals that many young women in Vermont describe themselves as ill-equipped and under-prepared for the challenges of school, work, career, economic independence, and adulthood—absolutes that await them in the not-too-distant future.

Read the report.

Monday
Mar252013

Study reveals high per-pupil cost for Community High School of Vermont

A new report from the Vermont Legislative Joint Fiscal Office reveals a high per-pupil cost associated with the Community High School of Vermont, an accredited Vermont program for those who are in Dempartment of Corrections custody. The high per-pupil cost is partly due to low enrollment.

Read the report.

Monday
Jan282013

Vermont has top U.S. high school graduation rate

Vermont has the highest high school graduation rate in the nation, according to a U.S. Department of Education report released Tuesday. An estimated 7,874 students entered high school in 2006 and all but 675 completed it by 2010. This puts Vermont’s graduation rate at 91.4 percent, well above the national median— 78.6 percent.

Learn more.

Tuesday
Jan152013

Education Recap 2012

The main education-related focuses of 2012 were school consolidation, test scores, university restructuring, and the Secretary of Education appointment. Three main factors — less fortuitous economic times, global competition for jobs and the advent of online classes — will continue to have an impact on Vermont’s public schools and post-secondary education.

Learn more.

Thursday
Sep062012

Burlington and Winooski unite to align their educational systems with the demands of 21st century life

To help build a strong and dynamic future for Winooski and Burlington, the two school districts are joining hands in “remodeling” aspects of the educational system—to better prepare all students for a rapidly-changing, global society.

Read the full article.

Friday
Aug032012

Vermont ranks third-best in nation for child well-being

Gov. Peter Shumlin announced July 25 the results of a survey that ranked Vermont the third-best state for overall child well-being, noting that in one category - health indicators - Vermont leads the nation. "I'm proud to continue Vermont's long-standing commitment to our children, ensuring they have access to health care, great education, and a safe environment," the Governor said at a news conference at the Family Center of Washington County.

Read the full article

Tuesday
Jun262012

A Conversation With Bill Gates About the Future of Higher Education

Bill Gates never finished college, but he is one of the single most powerful figures shaping higher education today. That influence comes through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, perhaps the world's richest philanthropy, which he co-chairs and which has made education one of its key missions. The Chronicle sat down with Mr. Gates in an exclusive interview Monday to talk about his vision for how colleges can be transformed through technology.

Read and listen to the full interview.

Tuesday
Apr172012

Editorial: Dual enrollment? A slam dunk

Vermont ranks second in the nation in high school graduation rates. But only 44 percent of Vermont high school graduates will enroll in a college next year. That's 47th in the nation in terms of graduates continuing to higher education.This editorial details the issue and calls on Legislatures to pass two postsecondary education-related bills hitting the State House this week.

Read the full editorial

Wednesday
Apr112012

Right to organize makes child care workers full policy partners

Recently the Senate heard testimony on S.29, a bill which would allow early childhood educators to band together and bargain with the state on issues the state controls, including child care subsidy payments and professional development and training. The bill would allow child care providers to have a seat at the table to decide issues that affect their profession and the families they serve.

Read the full article

Monday
Apr092012

Summary of the Annual Statistical Report of Schools

Every Augst, each Vermont Local Education Agency is required to submit an Annual Statistical Report to the Vermont Department of Education providing an accounting of annual revenues and expenditures to the people of Vermont, their legislature, and the executive branch of government. The Vermont Department of Education compiles the financial information submitted by each district and annually publishes the results in the Summary of the Annual Statistical Report of Schools (SASRS).

Monday
Apr022012

High School Math Might Get a Little Bit Tougher

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin and Vermont Education Commissioner Armando Vilaseca are proposing stiffer high-school graduation requirements that could make passing algebra II a requirement for a diploma starting with the Class of 2017.

Link to full article

Thursday
Mar222012

Vermont high school grad rate rises

A newly released national report recognizes Vermont for making gains in improving its high school graduation rate, and the state was also noticed for being one of only two states that improved its rate toward the goal of 90 percent graduation by 2020.

Link to full article

Wednesday
Mar072012

Child Poverty on the Rise

Each year the Vermont Department of Education puts out a report on the number of students in the state who will receive free or reduced lunch plans in school. The annual report lets district finance managers know how much money schools will be receiving in U.S. Department of Agriculture payments for the school nutrition program. The statewide average this year is just more than 40 percent, up from last year's average of almost 38%.

Link to full article

Tuesday
Feb212012

State auditor’s report reveals more than $400,000 stolen from Vermont school system

State Auditor Thomas M Salmon, CPA, CFE, released today a situation report indicating that since 2000 approximately $415,000 has been reported missing from 16 supervisory unions or school districts. The report is the result of an investigation triggered by an incident of wire transfer fraud at the Washington South Supervisory Union last fall. 

Link to full article

Thursday
Feb162012

Vermont reading test scores stagnate

Vermont students have consistently ranked among the top 10 states on reading proficiency tests. Despite those high marks, a large percentage of Vermont children still do not read at a proficient level.

Link to full article