by Guy Page

A Vermont school choice advocacy group is asking concerned Vermonters to contact their legislators and attend a Tuesday press conference as the Legislature considers school choice legislation. 

Act 73, the state’s education funding and governance reform law passed last year, has come under fire for restricting school choice. A national public-interest law firm has filed a lawsuit challenging a new Vermont law that restricts which independent schools families can choose under the state’s longstanding town tuitioning system. Also, the federal One Big Beautiful Bill’s $1700 tuition school choice tax credit has come under fire from House Ways & Means Chair Emilie Kornheiser, who says Vermont should ‘opt-out’ of the tax break – which is allowed under the OBBB. 

EdWatchVT released the following statement this morning:

The Vermont Legislature needs the voice of Vermont parents.

Families should have real options in their children’s education. Yet decisions being made at the Vermont State Legislature are moving in the opposite direction removing school choice in the town tuitioning system for some students instead of expanding it to all Vermont students and controlling costs for taxpayers through a legislatively capped per-student funding formula. All parents in choice and non-choice towns need to speak with one voice and stand together: We want choices in education.

Ask yourself, as a parent: If you could choose any school for your child, public or independent, what would you pick? A school closer to work? One that makes better geographic sense? One that focuses on your child’s needs? A safer environment free from bullying? Better support for special education?

Ask yourself as a taxpayer: For more than 150 years, families in about 90 Vermont towns have been able to choose the public or independent school that best fits their child. This system uses a capped tuition amount that costs taxpayers about $10,000 less per student than current state wide per pupil spending of $30,000. Do you want costs controlled?

Instead of eliminating a model that works and saves money, Vermont should expand it so every family has a real educational choice. As a parent, guardian, or taxpayer, tell your legislators: Vermont families want more affordable choices in education, not less. 

Here is how to do this:

Contact legislators now. Tell members of the House and Senate Education Committees to protect school choice and expand it to all Vermont students. Here are emailing instructions from EdWatchVT:  https://www.edwatchvt.org/legislator_contact

If you are so inclined, you can attend a school choice press conference sponsored by Legislators and EdWatchVT. To be held on March 17, 2026 at 1:00 PM. Cedar Creek Room, Vermont State House: Second floor, Room F. Arrive at 12:45 to give time to get to the Cedar Creek Room.

To stay informed. Join the EdWatchVT email list for updates on school choice issues. Sign up here: https://www.edwatchvt.org/join