CVTSE members Burlington and Winooski School Districts have had their pupils undercounted for the purpose of distributing Vermont education funds for over two decades. This is because they serve many students who are English language learners and many from low-income households. They aren’t alone. A 2019 education research study conducted by UVM and Rutgers also identified rural and small schools as having their pupils seriously undercounted for purposes of distributing education funds. The majority of Vermont schools have been on the losing side of this flawed formula.
Some people suggest that to address these long standing inequities, we should add additional money into our system and target it towards the undercounted districts, such as districts with a large population of ELL or low-income students. But we know from experience that this type of targeted aid is unreliable, as its parameters are subject to change from year to year. Districts cannot do long term planning or hire proper staff when they don’t have funding they can count on year after year. Instead of raising additional funds, we have an elegant solution that does not require additional revenue and comes directly from the 2019 UVM/Rutgers study. We are asking the legislature to please #FixTheFormula and bring #equity to all Vermont children.
Burlington and Winooski School Districts have a Message…
Posted: August 5, 2021 by mschauber
CVTSE members Burlington and Winooski School Districts have had their pupils undercounted for the purpose of distributing Vermont education funds for over two decades. This is because they serve many students who are English language learners and many from low-income households. They aren’t alone. A 2019 education research study conducted by UVM and Rutgers also identified rural and small schools as having their pupils seriously undercounted for purposes of distributing education funds. The majority of Vermont schools have been on the losing side of this flawed formula.
Some people suggest that to address these long standing inequities, we should add additional money into our system and target it towards the undercounted districts, such as districts with a large population of ELL or low-income students. But we know from experience that this type of targeted aid is unreliable, as its parameters are subject to change from year to year. Districts cannot do long term planning or hire proper staff when they don’t have funding they can count on year after year. Instead of raising additional funds, we have an elegant solution that does not require additional revenue and comes directly from the 2019 UVM/Rutgers study. We are asking the legislature to please #FixTheFormula and bring #equity to all Vermont children.
Category: News