Letter to Vermont on Maintenance of Equity — September 1, 2023

Summary

This is a letter dated September 1, 2023 from the United States Department of Education to Heather Bouchey, Secretary of Education at the Vermont Agency of Education, with the name Adam Schott, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Programs, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, printed at the end. The letter states that it recognizes Vermont's ongoing commitment to the maintenance of equity requirements under section 2004(b) of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and notes that the State's action resulted from cooperative efforts involving Governor Scott, appropriators in the State general assembly, and State educational agency leadership and staff. It says the Department looks forward to continuing work with the State in implementation of maintenance of equity requirements.

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Cite this document

“Letter to Vermont on Maintenance of Equity — September 1, 2023.” Original at www.ed.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/department-of-education-9-1-2023-used-www-ed-gov-5214ac79cc-ad548cb961/, SHA-256 94063e0406c2368ea4cfb891debc84f823aef480b245b0b16fc906c3e4a8f5b0.

Full text

                          UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


                                           September 1, 2023

The Honorable Heather Bouchey
Secretary of Education
Vermont Agency of Education
1 National Life Drive, Davis 5
Montpelier, VT 05620-2501

Dear Secretary Bouchey,

I am writing to recognize Vermont’s ongoing commitment to the maintenance of equity
requirements under section 2004(b) of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP). Knowing the
numerous, competing priorities facing States, State educational agencies, and local educational
agencies, Vermont’s work to implement these new, critically important resource equity
requirements is appreciated. We note that Vermont’s action is a result of cooperative efforts
involving Governor Scott, appropriators in your State general assembly, and State educational
agency leadership and staff.

ARP maintenance of equity requirements help ensure that State and local education funding
supports students who experienced longstanding opportunity gaps before, and were
disproportionately impacted by, the COVID-19 pandemic. In implementing these provisions
through a mix of data quality efforts, engagement with Department-provided technical assistance,
and maintenance of State education funding for the communities and students who need it most,
Vermont is taking critical steps to accelerate academic recovery and close opportunity and
achievement gaps.

My team looks forward to continuing our work with yours in implementation of maintenance of
equity requirements. Thank you for your collaboration, and all you do for Vermont’s students,
educators, and families.

                                            Sincerely,

                                           Adam Schott
                                           Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Programs
                                           Delegated the Authority to Perform the Functions and
                                           Duties of the Assistance Secretary
                                           Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
CC: The Honorable Phil Scott
    Office of the Governor
    109 State Street, Pavilion
    Montpelier, VT 05609

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