________________________________________  THE VERMONT EDUCATION REPORT June 09, 2005 - Vol. 5, No. 24 ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯  Covering education news in Vermont and beyond... Informative, provocative, unique... Published by Vermonters for Better Education  VBE is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization whose mission is to enlist parents and the public at large in achieving quality educational opportunities for all the children of Vermont by monitoring the state of education in Vermont; promoting the value of educational freedoms for all parents; and giving parents the evaluative tools with which to identify excellence. Libby Sternberg, executive director: VTBetterEd@aol.com NEWS & ANALYSIS... AND NOW? News reports indicate that the major stumbling block in the budget between the governor and legislature -- language about the state college system -- might be resolved. Now the possible scenario looks like this: the governor vetoes the budget bill, the legislature is called back for an extremely brief session wherein they okay the bill without the state college language in it, the governor signs the budget bill. Although he's expressed extreme displeasure over the early education language in the bill, the governor has not threatened a veto over it. EARLY ED VS STATE COLLEGES: LONG-LASTING CONSEQUENCES Quick quiz - how many people really understand the Vermont State Colleges issue that is at the crux of the budget disagreement between the governor and the legislature?  If you don't know the details, are ambivalent, or just perplexed, join the crowd. Whatever the fiscal ramifications of the VSC problem, this fact remains -- the state colleges are at least subject to some market forces that can act as a check (even a weak one) on spending. No market forces, however, act on the public school system. Therefore the expansion of the public system into universal preschool has long-lasting ramifications for the local taxpayer. Why then is the veto discussion centered on the state colleges and not on early ed? If the early education language remains in the budget, property taxpayers will not see their taxes decline with declining enrollments and shifts in demographics. Instead, their taxes are likely to climb as this new addition to the public school system begins to take on all the attributes of the K-12 system, particularly if the VT-NEA is able to gets its hooks into it, which is highly likely.  The governor, unfortunately, will bear some responsibility for this, despite his tough talk on not wanting to overburden Vermont taxpayers.  STILL A CHANCE? As of this writing, it's possible the legislature will be called back into session to iron out differences in the budget. While the focus from the governor has been the state colleges, it's still possible to let him and legislators know that the early education language in the budget bill MUST BE STRUCK -- or addressed in some way. To reach the governor and leave a message, call 802.828.3333. Let him know you think this is more important than the state colleges issue. To reach legislators, you can leave a message by phoning: 1-800-322-5616 or by faxing: 1-802-828-2424.  Many email addresses are also available on the web. For a full legislative directory (including home addresses and phone numbers and email addresses) go to: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/legdir/legdir2.htm  A POSITIVE, NOT A NEGATIVE MESSAGE The problem with S.132 and the current early education language in the budget bill is that it expands public school services by two grades - for rich and poor alike. And neither S.132 nor the budget language includes a provision that allows money to follow the child to the approved provider of their parents' choosing. If S.132 or the budget bill language were restructured so that public preschool was available for free for low-income children and allowed money to follow these children to the approved providers of their choice, it would not be a problem.  SUMMER SCHEDULE The Vermont Education Report will appear irregularly throughout the summer. Although we'll strive for a twice-a-month schedule, we might show up in your email boxes at unexpected times as news breaks!  *   *   * WHO COVERS EDUCATION IN VERMONT? We do! Consider a gift to Vermonters for Better Education, the publisher of the weekly Vermont Education Report, Vermont's ONLY continual source of education news. Send donations to: VBE, 170 Church Street, Rutland, Vermont 05701. VBE is a nonprofit organization and contributions are tax-deductible.  *   *   * The VERMONT EDUCATION REPORT is published by Vermonters for Better Education 170 Church Street, Rutland, VT 05701, 802.773.5240 Contact VTBetterEd@aol.com for more information.   Subscribe Here SubscribeRemove

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