Gov. Scott to education leaders: We must finish the job

August 28, 2026 - 18:51

Dear education leader:

For the past few years, we have spent a great deal of time talking about the mechanics of schooling. Property tax rates, funding formulas, where district lines fall, and who sits in charge of what. These are not small matters, and I do not dismiss them. They shape budgets, staffing, and the daily operations of every classroom in this state.

But I want to be clear about something. Those topics are not the heart of this conversation. They never were.

What this is really about is the promise we made to the children of Vermont. That promise does not change with a reassessment cycle or a legislative session. It does not bend to political winds or administrative reorganizations. It is simple and it is fixed: every child in this state will get a fair shot at a strong education, no matter their zip code, their family's income, or the challenges they bring through the schoolhouse door.

We have made real progress. I have seen it in schools from the Northeast Kingdom to the southern border. Teachers working longer hours, paraeducators stepping up, principals finding creative ways to stretch every dollar. That work matters, and I am grateful for it.

But we are not done. Not even close.

There are still too many students who are not reading at grade level by third grade. Too many who graduate without a clear path to a job or further learning. Too many families who feel shut out of decisions that affect their kids.

So I am asking you, as leaders, to finish the job. Not just manage it. Not just report on it. Finish it.

That means making the hard calls now, not later. It means looking at what actually works in the classroom and scaling it up, even if it is uncomfortable. It means telling the truth about where we are falling short, and then doing something about it.

We have the resources. We have the people. We have the will, if we choose to use it.

The next few years will define whether we were the generation that closed the gaps or the one that just talked about them. I know which side I want to be on. I am asking you to join me there, and to see this through to the end.