Advocating for Change

The members of Vermont-NEA strongly condemn the indiscriminate actions of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in communities throughout the nation. As a labor union, we support the rights of immigrants to live peacefully and without fear. As educators, we believe that our schools must be sanctuaries for our students, and that absent a judicial warrant, federal immigration authorities must be prohibited from entering our schools. We all have seen the heartbreaking pictures of families torn asunder when ICE agents use migrants’ children as bait to draw out immigrant parents. This must stop. We call on Governor Phil Scott – who has condemned ICE’s occupation of Minneapolis – to join us in reiterating Vermont’s historic welcoming of migrants and to ensure that our local public schools are off limits to immigration raids. As he said, “Enough.”

Educators' voices are needed now more than ever! Apply to learn what it takes to run a successful campaign for elected office.

Act 73 – the newly enacted big education bill – is complex. Here at Vermont-NEA, we have dissected the massive bill and below we offer a rundown of what it does – and doesn’t – do. In short: it created the School District Redistricting Task Force that must propose to the legislature no more than 3 maps that would, if adopted by the legislature next year, radically upends our system of local public schools and, therefore all but eliminate local control. Again, if a new school district map is adopted, the new law would move funding decisions to Montpelier, consolidate school districts, but it would not provide broad middle-class tax relief or simplifying our complicated property-tax based system. Even if a new school district map is not adopted by the legislature next year, several provisions go into effect regardless. For example, the minimum class size requirements go into effect for both public and private schools, and the modest limitations of public money going to private schools become effective. Finally, there are a complicated panoply of provisions, studies, commissions, and decisions that must come together for the bill’s mandates to become policy.

As Vermont educators, you deserve to be paid a good wage, work in safe classrooms, and be allowed to collaborate with your colleagues as you teach the state’s children. Pledge your support now for Vermont Educators’ Bill of Rights.

Our students deserve our support. The best way to do right by Vermont’s kids is to invest in strong public schools that provide opportunities for ALL students. We know that schools with high quality teachers and support professionals; art, music, sports, and other offerings; strong academic programs; and extra support for students who need it are what we all want for our students and our communities. This spring, you have a chance to show your support for Vermont’s local public schools. And while we know that all the talk this year is about exploding tax rates, we know we can’t afford NOT to do right by Vermont’s students – our state’s future. So this spring, we invite you to learn, act, and vote.

Educators, parents, and communities are uniting for better school funding for our students.

You shouldn’t have to choose between following your passion and making a living.

You are the expert in your field. Your elected officials need to hear from you.

Read the latest on our advocacy, our members, and the education trends we're watching.

Click the link below to download the Vermont-NEA Fund for Children and Public Education contribution opt-out form.