VBE Statement in Reaction to Passage of School Choice Bill

(05/05/00) While we are happy for the tiny group of students who will experience educational freedom due to the passage of a school choice bill, the cries of joy that result will amount to little more than a muted whisper. Hardly any Vermont children will be effected by it. It only involves high schools. It only involves public schools. It only involves a handful of students per school. And, if there is a good reason for a school to exempt itself from the program, no students will be allowed to choose in that particular situation.

"It took four years for the legislature to tip toe to this educational freedom, an ironic contrast to the rush to pass other more radical legislation over the past few years. Several legislators made valiant efforts to push meaningful school choice reforms forward, up to the very moment when this choice bill was on the House floor. Instead, some legislators chose to enact only this school choice 'fig leaf' to hide from their constituents -- during an election year -- the naked truth that they have no intention of ever supporting a real school choice program.

Libby Sternberg
Executive Director
Vermonters for Better Education