Rep. Emma Mulvaney-Stanak (Burlington) and other State Representatives Taylor Small (Winooski), Tanya Vyhovsky (Essex) and Brian Cina (Burlington), alongside Rights & Democracy discuss Vermont's current education funding policy and how it impacts our communities. The first 30 minutes include an overview on Vermont's education funding system and the enabling legislation (Act 173) to examine the weighted per pupil formula as part of how funding is calculated. Afterwords, the shift into a conversation about the status of the legislative taskforce charged with examining the education spending/funding system and how their recommendations frame the policy debate when the legislature reconvenes in January 2022.
From Emma Mulvaney-Stanak - "Burlington and Winooski have student populations with a variety of needs and higher costs to deliver education so all of our students can thrive - language access is one example. Our current funding formula depends on metrics that do not adequately account for today's student population and schools - in particular diverse student populated schools and small, rural schools who have unique needs. I believe we need a funding system that does not pass inequitable burdens onto local taxpayers due to the unique needs of local students/schools. We need to modernize our funding formula and truly embraces the concept that Vermonters fund an education system for all students, not just their local students. One very tangible policy change is to examine the weighted per pupil spending formula to match today's needs."
For more information, contact Emma Mulvaney-Stanak at emulvaneystanak@leg.state.vt.us.
