By VDC staff

Vermont education leaders are closely monitoring a volatile federal landscape, facing uncertainty over future funding and navigating a series of executive orders and policy shifts emanating from Washington D.C. These concerns were brought to the forefront during a joint hearing of the Senate and House Education Committees on Thursday, March 13.

Anne Bordenaro, Director of Federal and Education Support Programs at the Agency of Education, provided an overview of the current situation, emphasizing the “extreme flux” of federal funding. 

A continuing resolution now in Congress maintains funding levels for core education programs. In the event of a shutdown, federal programs would continue, but communication with federal staff could be limited, Bordenaro said.

Bordenaro highlighted that education funding is forward-funded, meaning FY25 appropriations will primarily impact the 2025-2026 school year, with the first allocations expected in July and October of 2025. “The bottom line of what I’m saying is we are not anticipating cuts of any substantial size to our core education programs for the twenty five, twenty six school year, and that is good news,” she stated.

Looking ahead to FY26 (the 2026-2027 school year), Bordenaro indicated greater uncertainty. The President’s budget proposal is expected soon and may include cuts through a reconciliation strategy, requiring no Democratic support. Republican leadership is reportedly seeking substantial savings to offset increases in other areas, potentially impacting Medicaid and SNAP funding, which could indirectly affect schools by influencing poverty data used for various education programs, Bordenaro said.  

Bordenaro also noted that past House budget proposals have called for significant cuts to Ed funding programs, although these did not pass the Senate. “Any cuts that might be enacted for FY twenty six wouldn’t impact schools till school year twenty six, twenty seven,” she clarified.

Concerns were also raised about staff reductions at the U.S. Department of Education, primarily affecting the Office of Civil Rights, the Institute of Education Sciences, and the Office of Postsecondary Education. While the offices dealing directly with K-12, such as Special Education, Career and Technical Education, and Elementary and Secondary Education, have not seen significant cuts, reduced responsiveness in the coming months is anticipated, Bordonaro predicted.

Bordenaro also addressed recent executive orders, including a dear colleague letter on Title IX enforcement, which reverts to the 2020 regulations where discrimination based on gender does not include gender identity or sexual orientation. Additionally, she discussed an FAQ on DEI and Title VI, emphasizing that while the federal government acknowledges First Amendment rights and lacks authority to dictate curriculum, schools must still ensure they are not creating hostile environments based on race. 

A new, simplified web form for filing harassment and discrimination complaints has also been introduced. Bordenaro advised educators to continue their planned activities while consulting with legal counsel for specific concerns.

In a significant blow to local food initiatives, a federal local foods grant of $1.2 million awarded to Vermont last year has been eliminated nationwide. This funding was intended to help schools and preschools procure local food for their meal programs. While this doesn’t impact the state-funded local food incentive program, it is a disappointment for Vermont producers and will require schools to seek alternative, potentially less local and higher-cost, food sources, Bordonaro said.

Chelsea Myers, Executive Director of the Vermont Superintendents Association, echoed the concerns about federal uncertainty, noting that school districts have faced a “barrage” of executive orders, congressional activity, and court decisions. She highlighted a shift in the Office for Civil Rights’ approach to investigations, citing activity in Maine where findings of Title IX noncompliance were issued without traditional investigations or voluntary resolution opportunities. Myers also pointed to a potential executive action to dismantle the Department of Education, leading to significant job cuts.

A particular point of concern, Myers said, is the launch of a public portal, ndei.ed.gov, encouraging reports of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices in schools, labeled as “divisive and indoctrination.” This initiative, coinciding with a potential threat of federal funding cuts for schools failing to eliminate such programs, is stoking fear among educators.

Myers also drew attention to potential FY26 funding cuts based on past Trump administration proposals and the FY25 House appropriations proposals, which suggested considerable cuts to vital Title programs, with Title I facing a potential 25% reduction. She warned that districts serving high proportions of vulnerable populations would be most impacted. Other areas of concern include potential restrictions to Medicaid reimbursement for school-based mental health services and the expansion of federal programs supporting private school vouchers.

Myers also said Supreme Court activity also presents potential challenges, with cases reviewing the E-rate program, which helps schools access broadband services, and cases concerning religious freedom and the inclusion of LGBTQ+ themes in curriculum, as well as the participation of non-secular schools in charter programs.

Brooke Olsen Farrell, Superintendent of Slate Valley, provided a stark example of the potential impact of federal funding cuts. As a high-poverty district relying heavily on about $2.7 million in federal funds for crucial staff like academic interventionists, school psychologists, and administrators, “if we lost federal funding, it would be catastrophic,” she stated. Due to the federal uncertainty, the school board has added contingency clauses to the contracts of grant-funded personnel. Olsen Farrell also noted the uncertainty among principals regarding how to respond to executive orders.

In light of these challenges, Myers presented four requests to state leadership: clear guidance and support for interpreting federal activity; safeguarding against the expansion of vouchers; a statewide approach to contend with potential funding cuts; and recognition of the impact of this uncertainty on educator morale.

This news report was written with the assistance of goldendomevt.com.