Vermont Community Schools Coalition

The Vermont Community Schools Coalition is a group of individuals and organizations committed to investing in community schools that name the root causes of inequity, build collective power to address them, and work to transform relationships toward a shared experience of equity in schools, communities, and the state.

VCSC’s mission is to keep equity at the center of Vermont’s community school design and implementation. Equity recognizes power imbalances and involves shifting and redistributing power to people who don’t have it now to create a collaborative school and community environment for the benefit of students, the communities, and the state.

Act 67 of 2021 established Vermont’s Community Schools Framework enshrining Vermont’s commitment to the four nationally recognized community school pillars and created an additional pillar focused on equity, garnering national recognition.

The five pillars of Vermont Community Schools are:

  • Active family & community engagement

  • Integrated student supports

  • Expanded & enriched learning time &opportunities

  • Collaborative leadership&practices

  • Safe, inclusive, and equitable learning environments

photo credit: Andy Duback/ UVM News

map courtesy of the Catamount Community Schools Collaborative

Grant funding over three years has helped schools start the transition to community schools. 

Current Vermont grantee school districts and supervisory unions:

  • Addison Northwest Unified School District

  • Burlington School District

  • Caledonia Central Supervisory Union             

  • Essex North Supervisory Union

  • Kingdom East School District

  • North Country Supervisory Union

  • Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union

  • St. Johnsbury School District

  • Washington Central Unified School District

  • White River Valley Supervisory Union

  • Windham Southeast Supervisory Union

Ongoing research, support and evaluation of Vermont’s community schools is coordinated by the Catamount Community Schools Collaborative (CCSC). In partnership with the Vermont AOE, community schools grantees, and the Community Schools Coalition, the CCSC supports community school implementation and sustainability through participatory research, professional development and a community of practice. Promising preliminary results include:

  • Cabot School SeniorX program building off work-based and place-based learning that incorporates local industry and in-state economic opportunities (students working with local, family-owned businesses).

  • Place-based and outdoor education at White River Valley and Vergennes integrating the native environmental habitat.

  • North Country Supervisory Union Restorative Truancy and Mentorships Programs connected to long-term outcomes for students related to attendance, educational/social development, and economic opportunity.

  • Hazen Union School wellness initiatives including a student wellness center, wellness

         workshops, outdoor activities connecting with nature, and various community-building

         activities.

What is needed now is an annual appropriation to sustain a community schools grant program that can support and expand these proven community school models. They  are closing equity gaps and aligning with our student-centered, community-based approach to teaching and learning, helping realize Vermont's goals for PK-12 education.

Contact: Carlen Finn, Policy Associate, Voices for Vermont’s Children, carlenf@voicesforvtkids.org  ✦  802-229-6377