Friends of Vermont Public Education (FVPE) is pushing for stronger accountability measures

MONTPELIER — Friends of Vermont Public Education (FVPE) is pushing for stronger accountability measures for independent schools that receive public funding as part of House Bill 454. The bill aims to reduce education spending through consolidation and other measures. In recent testimony to the House Education Committee, FVPE board member Neil Odell, a former president of the Vermont School Boards Association, presented the organization’s concerns regarding the bill and the need for uniform standards across all schools receiving taxpayer dollars. Vermont spends over $2 billion a year on public education, and Odell stressed the need to ensure this funding improves student outcomes.