Public Dollars Require Public Oversight

We’re also gathering stories from Vermonters who have experienced these inequities firsthand. You can share yours anonymously here.

To the Vermont General Assembly, Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders, and Governor Phil Scott:

We, the undersigned, believe that all schools in Vermont that receive public funds must be held to the same set of rules, regulations, and standards. This includes hiring licensed teachers, offering open enrollment, requiring due process before dismissing students, ensuring financial transparency, meeting curriculum standards, and reporting outcomes to the public as articulated in the State’s Education Quality Standards.

Right now, private/independent schools that take public funding are not required to meet the same set of standards as public schools. This means Vermont taxpayers are funding schools that operate with little transparency, where children can be excluded, poorly served, or even harmed, without the protections our public schools are required to provide.

Recent reports of abuse and neglect at some of these schools have made the risks clear. These are not isolated incidents. They point to a system that lacks consistent oversight and allows schools receiving public money to operate by a different set of rules. No student should be less safe, less supported, or less protected because of the type of school they attend.

With public funding comes a duty to the public: Taxpayers deserve to know how their money is used. And families deserve safe, consistent, and fair expectations no matter which publicly funded school their child attends.

This is not about closing schools or taking away choices. It is about setting a clear, fair, and fiscally responsible standard that protects children and ensures public trust. Same dollars, same rules.

We urge you to act. As you move forward with education reform, include this fix: Establish one set of standards for all schools that receive public funding. Protect students. Ensure transparency. Restore public confidence.

Add your name if you believe public money must come with public standards and protections. No exceptions.

Reminders: By submitting this form, you agree that the information provided is accurate and truthful to the best of your knowledge. Please provide relevant and accurate information to support the cause.