Rep. Wood: Ed reform moves ahead with much work still to do
June 20, 2025 | By Rep. Theresa Wood
The legislature passed H.454 – the education reform bill – and it is headed to the governor’s desk where he is expected to sign the bill. I supported the House version of the bill, and I ultimately voted in support of sending the bill to the governor for signature – a procedural vote after the bill was passed on a voice vote.
I closely followed the path of this bill and the final conference committee report included the vast majority of the House bill. There were some notable differences, particularly around tuition paid to private schools.
Not all change happens in one bill, and this is no different. There will be additional bills and reports next year, and for a total of approximately 4-5 years before full implementation is realized.
Also, while many people tuned in during the final days of the session, this process was not rushed. Over the last two legislative sessions, there have been hours of meetings and public hearings, days and days of testimony from students, educators, administrators, community members, etc., and ultimately the work of the conference committee and final votes.
There also has been a great deal of misinformation about the content of the bill itself. Here are highlights of what the bill accomplishes:
Creates more equitable access to education for all students in the state, regardless of where they live
Establishes a more sustainable and predictable education funding model, including a transition process
Develops a comprehensive strategy to bend the cost curve in education
Eliminates Vermont education funds from being paid to out-of-state and out-of-country private schools
Prioritizes funding of public schools; significantly restricts funds going to in-state private institutions and reduces the overall number of private schools eligible for state funds (the most restrictions that have ever been in place)
Requests further recommendations on the establishment of fewer school districts to be acted upon in the 2026 legislative session, including how the public will weigh in on any potential school changes
Establishes minimum class sizes
Establishes a process to make recommendations to reduce special education costs
Reestablishes a school construction process
Having spent 12 years on school boards, I know how challenging it is to provide a quality education at a cost that taxpayers can afford. Over the course of last year’s election and during this year’s debate, I heard from many individuals that reform is needed. Each person has their own ideas about how that reform should take shape.
Ultimately, if the legislature did not pass H.454, we would be left with the status quo. In the end, we made a choice to act and to continue the work that will be necessary as we move forward.
Rep. Theresa Wood, D-Waterbury, represents the Washington-Chittenden House district, which covers Waterbury, Bolton, Huntington and Buels Gore. She chairs the House Human Services Committee. twood@leg.state.vt.us