Maddy summaryThis House concurrent resolution honors Michael Gonneville, a physical education instructor at Northfield Elementary School in Vermont, for his 46 years of teaching and for creating the school's Walking Wednesdays program. The resolution recognizes Gonneville's role in establishing a walking-to-school initiative that has continued for 17 years, connecting students, families, and community members in a mile-long walk from Norwich University to the school. It also acknowledges the program's special tradition where students recite the Pledge of Allegiance with veterans at The Veterans' Place Inc. during their weekly walk. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies to Gonneville, the school principal, and the supervisory union superintendent.
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Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution commemorates Vermont's April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse, a rare astronomical event visible across much of the state. It officially recognizes the historic nature of the eclipse, noting that the last total solar eclipse visible in Vermont occurred nearly a century ago in 1932. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of the document to the Vermont Space Grant Consortium and the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, which are partners in educating the public about the event. This ceremonial measure serves to acknowledge the significance of the eclipse for Vermont residents and visitors rather than to change any laws or policies.
Maddy summaryThis House concurrent resolution commemorates the 100th anniversary of U.S. Navy Torpedoman 2nd Class Henry Breault becoming the first submariner to receive the Medal of Honor. The document honors Breault's heroic act of returning to a sinking submarine to rescue a trapped crewmate, an event that occurred on October 28, 1923, when his vessel collided with a commercial ship in the Panama Canal. The resolution formally recognizes this historical milestone and directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the document to the Submarine Force Library and Museum and to historian Ryan Walker. This legislative action serves as a ceremonial acknowledgment of Breault's service and sacrifice rather than establishing new laws or policies.
Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that honors Sergeant at Arms Janet Miller for her service to the Vermont General Assembly. It recognizes her long career, which includes managing security, coordinating events, and overseeing the Legislative Council before she was elected to her current role five times. The resolution also acknowledges her specific contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, including helping the legislature transition back to in-person meetings. The bill directs the Secretary of State to send a copy of this honor to Janet Miller, who has announced her retirement effective March 1, 2024.
Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that officially recognizes the week of February 26 to March 1 as Public Schools Week in Vermont. It does not create new laws or change policies but instead acknowledges the importance of public schools as community institutions and major employers. The resolution directs the Secretary of State to send copies to various education-related organizations, including the Vermont Secretary of Education and state education associations. This measure serves to honor the role of public schools in Vermont society without affecting any operational or funding aspects of the education system.
Maddy summaryThis House resolution honors Vermont television journalist Stewart Ledbetter for his 40 years of news reporting. The bill formally recognizes his career achievements, including his work as a news director, political campaign moderator, and recipient of multiple broadcast awards. It directs the House Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to Ledbetter and WPTZ, the television station where he worked.
Maddy summaryThis bill would allow incarcerated individuals in Vermont to receive time off their sentences for earning higher education degrees or credentials. Under the proposal, offenders would get six months off for completing a certificate program with at least 30 credit hours, one year for an associate or bachelor's degree, 18 months for a master's degree, and two years for a doctoral degree. The legislation also directs that any cost savings from reduced incarceration time be transferred to the state's education budget to support colleges and universities. This change directly affects the Department of Corrections and institutions of higher education in Vermont.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont's Agency of Education to contract with a virtual learning provider to offer online education options to state students. It establishes eligibility criteria for full-time virtual learning, including enrollment in public middle or high school, approval through a personalized learning plan, and meeting minimum academic standards set by the agency. Additionally, the bill mandates that school districts count eligible virtual learning students toward their average daily membership for funding purposes. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2024, and allows the agency to adopt necessary rules to implement these provisions.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires Vermont state agencies to create a report on why college graduates are leaving the state and how to keep them. It mandates that the Agencies of Education, Commerce and Community Development, and the Department of Labor work with colleges to analyze retention rates and develop a plan to improve them. The plan must include strategies like better connections between schools and employers, expanded career counseling focused on local industries, stronger campus-community ties, and streamlined licensing pathways for graduates. The report is due by July 1, 2025, and the act takes effect on July 1, 2024.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all licensed Vermont educators to complete professional learning on evidence-based literacy instruction, with current teachers finishing by January 2025 and new teachers completing it within their second year of teaching. It also mandates that educator preparation programs be reviewed and updated to ensure they teach evidence-based literacy practices, including the development of a standardized examination to test candidates' knowledge in this area. Additionally, the bill extends the Advisory Council on Literacy through 2027 and requires state agencies to produce a report on college student retention in Vermont, proposing initiatives to improve career pipelines and community connections for graduates. The legislation also transfers rulemaking authority over educator licensing from the Standards Board for Professional Educators to the Agency of Education.