Legislative Update 1.15.11

[Gary Gilbert]

Last week the House Education Committee established broad categories to focus on this year in addition to concerns about funding.  These are:
1. The achievement gap driven by poverty;
2. Governance, including the role of the commissioner, state board, local boards and the different categories of schools that exist in Vermont;
3. Education expenditures within and out of state;
4.PreK-16 to eliminate barriers to successful transition for students through their college careers;
5. Child centered education and services ages 0-6; and 
6. Workforce development with a focus on community involvement, and the coordination of existing resources.

This week the committee will receive an update on finances from the Joint Fiscal Office and economist Tom Kavet, a report on governance issues, learn about voluntary school consolidation activities, and begin to hear about what is or could be done to address the educational gap attributed to poverty from Sec. Doug Racine AHS, as well as organizations i.e. Voices for Vermont’s Children, Building Bright Futures, and Champlain Valley HeadStart.

The weekly calendar for all committees can be found on the legislative web page at www.leg.state.vt.us. I can be reached on these or other issues in Monpelier during the week or by a message left at my home. Please let me know if you wish provide information or 
if you need help in getting assistance from your government.

Representative Gary Gilbert
Frankiln 1 Fairfax/Georgia

ggilbert@leg.state.vt.us

State House 1-800-322-5616

111 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05633

Home 849-6333

[Chris Santee]

Hi Gary, thanks for mentioning that "concern for funding" right up top !

# 4 in your list mentions Pre-K through 16.
As the good people of Vermont are already taxed to their limits,
could you tell me how you plan to fund this ?

[rod anode]

is that age ? pre k through 16 or are they adding 4 more years to high school?

[Gary Gilbert]

The PK-16 Council exists to increase cooperation among our high schools and colleges. The goal is to increase the skills, knowledge, and aspirations of high school students so that they will be better prepared to succeed in college and the work force. At this time too many students drop out of college before graduation leaving them with college debt and no degree. High school students who have had the opportunity to take college level classes have experienced the expectations of colleges and know what they are getting into and do not need remedial college classes.  Colleges will be able to retain more students to fill the spaces they have and students that have received college credit while still in high school will graduate sooner and with less debt than those that did not. There is no  charge for this program as it is in the interest of our public schools and colleges and no one is paid to participate as it falls into the mission of all our schools and colleges.

[ohhman]

But Gary, I wonder if you really answered ALL Chris' question & I am not clear if you did.  You said PRE-K......does that mean NOW they are thinking of including preschool in this??!!!  Hope you've been reading the ongoing discussion on full day kindergarten!   WHERE  will this $$$ come from??  & once again, as we listen to ALL discussions on items added to our budget, both school & town, remember people, it all comes out of the same place, no matter how you figure.... OUR POCKETS!!!! 
I, like many others, notice all our bills going up...lights, heat,gas, food, etc.,  BUT I still have not seen my pay increase in more than a few years BUT do feel very fortunate to be employed!

[Chris Santee]

Here's a link to get us started:
http://pluto.ccv.vsc.edu/

[Chris Santee]

Here's a second website that looks strikingly similar to the first:
http://www.prek16vt.org/